Main Cast: Paul Simon, Blair Brown, Rip Torn, Joan Hackett
Release Year: 1980
Country: US
Run Time: 98 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
The struggle of a has-been singer to work his way back up the charts is the focus of this drama by Robert M. Young with screenplay and music by Paul Simon. Simon plays Jonah, a once-popular singer who now opens for punk rock bands. In the ten years since he had a hit song, Jonah's wife has divorced him, but he still sees his young son as often as he can. With his record company on his back to come up with something that sells, Jonah begins to compromise his own talent when he listens to the advice of a trendy producer. Whether or not he can straighten out his personal life and steer his own ship may depend on his ability to trust his own judgment and adjust to the changing times. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
Review
If first-time screenwriter Paul Simon hasn't insisted upon casting first-time leading man Paul Simon in the film One Trick Pony, the results would have probably been a bit more impressive, but as it is the movie is an under-appreciated look at the music industry and one man's struggle to keep his life together, both as a husband and an artist. Simon isn't exactly bad as Jonah, a one-hit wonder whose current music bears previous little resemblance to "Soft Parachutes," a folk-rock antiwar number that charted in the late '60s, but Simon simply lacks the charisma or emotional range to carry the film on his shoulders, which up to a point is what the script (and Robert M. Young's direction) demands of him; he's fine in low-key moments, or when he interacts with his band (played by fellow real-life musicians Steve Gadd, Eric Gale, Tony Levin, and Richard Tee), but when the narrative demands a real performance from Simon, it's clear he doesn't have what it takes. His script, however, is an often witty and incisive look at the casually sleazy world of the music business, not to mention a plausible scenario at how Simon's career might have gone if he'd never been able to follow up "The Sound of Silence." And the film's supporting cast often picks up the slack for Simon, including Rip Torn as a phony-hipster record company executive, Allen Goorwitz as an egocentric radio programmer, and Lou Reed as an especially slimy record producer (and for better or worse, both Simon and Reed have been in the business long enough to understand the character all too well). The always charming Blair Brown gives her all as Jonah's wife Marion, but sadly her leading man isn't at the same level she is in bringing their crumbling relationship to life, though she gets high marks for effort. And Robert M. Young obviously understands that this is a music film where the characters really are more important than the music, and ultimately it's the people who make this film interesting, even if the material deserved a more seasoned actor in the lead. ~Mark Deming ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Mare Winningham - Modeena Dandridge; Michael Pearlman - Matty Levin; Lou Reed - Steve Kunelian; Steve Gadd - Danny Duggin; Eric Gale - Lee-Andrew Parker; Tony Levin - John DiBatista; Richard Tee - Clarence Franklin; Harry Shearer - Bernie Wepner; Sam & Dave; Tiny Tim; Patti Austin - Back-up Singer; The B-52's; Jordan Cael - Lee Perry; Lisa Carlson - Groupie; Susan Forristal - Cal's Girl Friend; Allen Garfield - Cal van Damp; Merv Griffin - Acappella Singer; Carol Levy - Receptionist; The Lovin' Spoonful; Kate Pierson - Member of the B-52's; Glenn Scarpelli - Acappella Singer; Sameen Tarighati - Groupie; David Sanborn - Saxophone Soloist; John Sebastian - Member of the Lovin' Spoonful; Daniel Stern - Hare Krishna; Joe Smith - Narrator at Convention
Credit
Paul Martino - Associate Producer, Michael Hausman - Co-producer, Hilary M. Rosenfeld - Costume Designer, Robert M. Young - Director, Ed Beyer - Editor, Barry Malkin - Editor, David Ray - Editor, Paul Simon - Composer (Music Score), Woods Mackintosh - Production Designer, David Mitchell - Production Designer, Dick Bush - Cinematographer, Michael Tannen - Producer, Justin Scoppa - Set Designer, Chris Newman - Sound/Sound Designer, Larry Jost - Sound/Sound Designer, Paul Simon - Screenwriter
One Trick Pony is a 1980 movie written by and starring Paul Simon. An album of the same name was released concurrently. Despite their similarities, the album and film are musically distinct, each featuring different versions of the same songs, as well as certain songs that appear exclusively on either the film or the album.
Simon plays Jonah, a once-popular rock star who has not had a hit in 10 years, and who now opens for punk rock bands. He is trying to record a new album, but faces a number of obstacles, including a trendy but talentless producer who is trying to convince him to compromise his principles, and an indifferent record company which is pressuring him for something that will sell. He is also trying to restore his relationship with his former wife and his young son.
The movie has been said to be based on experiences Simon's professional and personal life. Walter Fox, the record company executive portrayed by Rip Torn, was rumoured to be based Walter Yetnikoff, who was President of CBS Records, Simon's former label, in the 70s. (Simon went to Warner Bros. Records in 1979.) The movie also featured the last appearance of the original members of The Lovin' Spoonful, in a simulated TV show appearance.
The song "Late in the Evening," off the film's soundtrack, hit #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.
After years of being available only on videocassette, in 2009, the film was finally released by Warner Brothers on DVD.
