The Dirk Diggler Story

Around a decade before it became Boogie Nights, Paul Thomas Anderson made this student film with essentially the same basic plot. Shot as a mockumentary rather than a drama, the film follows the rise and fall of Dirk's career in pornography, with success leading to drugs and many other vices. The plot generally works and it mixes the absurd with a decent story that is impressive when you consider that this film was made by a 17 year old. It does engage although it must be said it is very rough.

The tale itself is fine but the filming appears to have been onto video tape and generally the quality it poor, with a slow motion sequence at the end being particularly choppy. The "fly on the wall" nature of the film helps cover up a little for the limitations of the time but still, it is a student film. Performances are hard to judge because people do feel a bit wooden and unnatural, but then in fairness they are supposed to be porn actors – not the most comfortable with dialogue at the best of times! Stein is OK as Diggler but really the only performance that sticks in the mind is Ridgely, who does play well and seems better than the limits of the film around him.

As a short film it is decent but better when considered it was made by a 17 year old fighting limits at every turn. It is mostly worth seeing as a curio piece now though, a companion for fans of Boogie Nights, which is by a million miles a superior piece of work.

This was PT Anderson's first film, made when he was just 17, it's shot on video and was edited together on two VCRs. This is just an amazing film, shot as a documentary on the rise and fall of porn star Dirk Diggler, covering his career through the late 70s and into the 80s, featuring excellent deadpan narration. All of which was later re-written and expanded on for his second full-length film, Boogie Nights. The film features lots of on set footage as we watch Dirk in action during filming; this is interspersed with interview footage with his friends and fellow porn stars. Some of the major characters that would feature in Boogie Nights are already here, including Reed Rothchild, Dirks best friend and sidekick in their films, here played by a huge bodybuilder, with an amazing mullet haircut. Also present is director Jack Horner, here played by Robert Ridgley, who was in Boogie Nights playing the Colonel, he turns in a great world weary performance as Dirk's mentor, never once taking off his massive shades, his performance is excellent and he's easily the best in the film. Dirk himself is played by Mike Stein, a good friend of Andersons, who plays Dirk perfectly, with long flowing dark hair and a slim muscular physique. His performance is great as he goes from top of the world star to bottom of the ladder gay porn films, one of the differences in this film is that here Dirk is bi-sexual and Reed is his lover as well as friend. Anderson manages to cover lots of ground in the short 30 minute running time, covering Dirks porn career and then his successful album, which we get to see being recorded. Here we get to see him singing exactly the same song Mark Wahlberg sings, `The Touch'; the mixing of the album even features the discussion about the bass line drowning out the vocals. After this we get to see Dirk's attempt to get into the world of TV, through his own show `Angels Live In My Town'. The opening credits sequence is fantastic, easily the equal of the same scene in Boogie Nights, with Dirk running up and down alleyways, jumping over fences and doing karate kicks, all the while decked out in flares, waistcoat and cool shades. After this its all down hill for Dirk as the drugs begin to take over his life. The main thing that comes through from this short film is that Anderson is very assured about what he wanted to do, the film runs along very quickly and he gets amazing performances out of the actors. There is a great attention to detail and he manages to create a great sense of authenticity on the sets of the different films we see getting made. Anderson uses his limitations very well and creates a rawness and reality with the video footage looking very realistic in capturing the mood of the characters as they reminisce about Dirk. The dialogue is also spot on and features some classic lines and some very funny moments. The final of the film plays out in slow motion as we see Dirk and Reed hanging out while the Carpenters `Memories' plays over the top. The film is a great insight into what was to come for Anderson as well as showing how talented he must have been at 17 to be able to make something as realistic and entertaining as this. It's a must see if your into Boogie Nights or if you just want to see a very entertaining film.

Dirk Diggler Story, The (1988)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

Fake documentary on porn star Dirk Diggler (Michael Stein), which director Anderson would later turn into Boogie Nights. The film was shot on videotape and edited from VCR to VCR yet you can still see the talent behind the camera. The film kept me entertained throughout its 31-minute running time. The video is raw, the performances raw and the editing is raw but it makes for an interesting little film especially when you compare it to the feature version. The ending here is a lot better than the one in Boogie Nights.

I'm not the biggest PTA fan. I like some of his films, others I think are a little overrated. Out of sheer curiosity, I decided to see this on a friend's bootleg DVD of PTA's first two shorts. Anyway, I was shocked as to how good this was. It was funny as hell, smart, satirical, a great mockumentary! Considering it was made by an 18 year old, this was magnificent. I envy him, because I couldn't direct myself out of a paper bag at 18, this guy made a true and true portrait of a character that would eventually put him on the map as a hot new director.

The actors had great timing, especially the old man who played Jack Horner. He was very good. The sunglasses were awesome, the intentionally cheesy, porn dialogue was hysterical. Well shot, considering it was on a home video camera, well written and well directed. I still can't believe how young he was! 18! Barely out of high school! Obviously a must-see for PTA fans, and aspiring young filmmakers for that matter, as well.

well, first off, i LOVE boogie nights. i think it is one of the best films ever made. anderson is my hero, and i basically get anything he does. it works for me.

that being said, this one is clearly the work of a teenager getting his feet wet. anderson is smart enough to utilize a form and story that would play into his lack of experience. there bis clearly something under the surface of this film.

still, it is a tough watch. first, my print was terrible, which is probably due to it being a nearly 20 year old film shot on 1/2" video and duped dozens of times. it is entirely understandable and excusable, but it doesn't make it any easier to watch. the color bleeds, shots are tough to see, and the sound is blown out. the performances are typical of such amateur films, and the actors are obviously not pros. it is dated a bit as well...note reeds mullet and 80s era gym clothes...remember, unlike boogie nights, this film is not a period piece, so all the embarrassing clothing / hairstyles are unitended, which makes them even funnier, if you ask me...this is proof if we ever needed it, that people actually though that mullets, those terrible fluorescent gym clothes and oakleys spoke for them. what they said, i have no idea, because i think all they could ever say would be "look at me, i'm a thick skulled idiot whose only accomplishments in life are my pumped up arms, my fake tan, and the ability to grow my hair, although i wont even full commit to that...go figure...

it is most interesting as an archive piece. if boogie nights hadn't been made, and anderson not become the powerful, original voice he is, this probably would not be that noteworthy.

he gets extra points in my book merely for finishing the work. anyone who has tried to make such a piece knows that finishing is an accomplishment in and of itself. and thank God he did finish, because this guy is the best hope for the future of cinema. kudos to him.