The Line King: The Al Hirschfeld Story

Amid the entertainment super-stars of the twentieth century—Carol Channing, Lauren Bacall, Joan Collins, Barbara Walters, and more—the white-bearded, bright-eyed Al Hirschfeld cuts a humorous and humble figure. This visual historian doesn't make the stars beautiful in his drawings; he makes them interesting. ESP-like, the line of Hirschfeld's pen reveals an essential and vital character within each of the performers he draws, capturing the rare exuberance with amazing specificity: the gestures, the movements, the facial expressions—all become playfully recognizable as the spirit manifest. What the documentary does especially well is show Hirschfeld at work, and talking about the work. He was 90 years old when interviewed in the film, but seems almost childlike in his delight for his life-long passion. Hirschfeld emerges as the century's most beloved cartoonist, truly earning him the title of The Line King.

We took the New York Times when I was growing up, and the first thing I looked at on Sundays was the Arts & Leisure section. There was almost always a lovely Al Hirschfeld drawing, Broadway people at work or play, in that unmistakable style that matched the art on the sleeve of the cast recording of MY FAIR LADY. I didn't know about the Nina game, but his drawings fluidly and affectionately caught the essence of what was going on. Looking at this documentary, with extensive sequences of Hirschfeld talking, I was not astonished that he looked like one of his own drawings; cartoonists have a habit of doing that. I was just annoyed I couldn't find the Ninas in his eyebrows. That's where they had to be!

The best part of this film is the extensive assortment of Hirschfeld art, from his earliest sculptures, through his watercolors, to his theatrical caricatures, from the 1920s to his latest works. You can see the growing simplicity as he strips away the unnecessary to find the essence of his own art. A rollicking good time and an essential work in understanding show business.

Thoroughly delightful bio/doc about a thoroughly delightful fellow. Perhaps its best feature is managing to be admiring in tone without crossing over into hagiography. My guess is that soft peddling the talking heads other than Hirschfeld's, especially the craniums of actors and drama critics, had a lot to do with this. I also appreciate that director Susan Dryfoos was able to cover a 99 year life in a breezy, diverting ninety minutes. Give it an A minus.

PS...Of all the enviable aspects to this guy's life... a loving wife/daughter, seemingly affectionate parents, great success, fame and acclaim doing what he loved to do...the one of which I'm most jealous is that he never exercised and still almost made it to 100!

You'll learn a lot about the man and his work here and that's pretty much the point of a good documentary. You'll gain an appreciation for his stuff (if you didn't already have it) and want to get some of your own. Well worth a watch.