Director: John Maggio Cast: Paul Anka, Irving Azoff, Michele Kahl, Alicia Anka, Frankie Avalon, Bill Burr Cinematography: Justin Zweifach Editing: Seth Bomse Producers: Monica Berra, John Maggio
If the most exciting moments in a documentary about a songwriter of more than 900 songs come when he tells how some of them they were created, the film has probably achieved its goal.
Producer/director John Maggio presented the world premiere of his film Paul Anka: His Way at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). It is an honest film right from its title, as Maggio puts all his skills as an experienced film and television documentarian (although this is his first foray into the world of music) at the service of his protagonist, so that the film is made “his way”.
The film unfolds largely through interviews with Paul Anka and archival footage, mostly of his performances. Interviews with side characters and casual current recordings of Paul Anka travelling, playing with his granddaughter or preparing to sing add to the portrait that emerges.
If there is one thing that Paul Anka shows throughout the film, it is his humility and closeness. Not only when he rehearses with his orchestra to cover a Nirvana song, when he gives generous tips or when he stops for an ice cream with strangers in Tokyo, but especially when he talks about his own compositions, which include writing for and with a string of prominent pop stars.
In this sense, one of the first exciting moments comes when he explains how he started creating music after taking piano lessons and playing In the Still of the Night. He realized which were its main chord progressions and used them for his first songs.
From there, took these few songs and presented himself, at the age of 15, to producer Don Costa at the ABC offices in New York. His first single, in 1957, would be Diana, a hit with which he closes his concerts to this day. Nevertheless, he avoids portraying himself as a genius. His humbleness, as well as the normalcy in which he talks about the stars for whom he has composed, gives the character and the film a closeness that connects with the audience; from beginning to end.
Following a chronological order, with small jumps to the present, Maggio lends most of the voice to the protagonist but gives us a glimpse into the difficulties of the life of an entertainer. The father who sleeps close by, becomes a celebrity by night, and is always the greatest presence in a room, as his daughter Alicia Anka confesses.
In this sense, the film mostly shows Anka’s friendly smile while offstage, and his perfect pitch singing and connection with the audience in every performance. The strength of the work, however, lies in the music and the rhythmic and precise editing with which it has been edited.
Musically, it is not only a complete compilation of Anka’s songs, such as My Way, Put Your Head on my Shoulder, She’s a Lady, You’re Having my Baby or the unreleased Wee Small Hours. It is also a tribute to the American music of the 1950s, represented, among others, by Buddy Holly, Sammy Davis, Jr. and, of course, Frank Sinatra. The selection of the songs and their inclusion throughout the film was superb.
On the other hand, the selection of moments of his life, interspersed with conversations in which Anka appears comfortable and sincere, makes it very easy to watch, so its barely 100 minutes length becomes short.
This is not the first documentary to be made about Paul Anka. Back in 1962, the National Film Board (NFB) produced the short film Lonely Boy, and there are several subsequent long TV productions about his life, but Paul Anka: His Way is the first one with a feature documentary film format.
In many scenes the camera follows him almost invisibly, so we can learn about his voice warm-up routines, the relevant place family has in his life, or his continuous care about health and wellbeing. Nevertheless, it would have been nice to witness some of his weaknesses or minor ailments caused by age.
Above all, thanks to the fact that Paul Anka has taken special care of his career to keep singing and composing throughout the years, we can walk through his life (before the promised musical about it) and enjoy his compositions all over again, as well as the passion and dedication he continues to put in each of them.
Nearly 70 years after the release of Diana, the question is not when Paul Anka will retire, but what his next hit will be.
- Screening Dates: Fri, Sep 13, 11.00 a.m. TIFF Lightbox; Sat, Sep 14, 9.00 a.m. Scotiabank Theatre. Find out more [HERE].
Written by Antonio Peláez Barceló for Ludwig-Van
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