One-Trick Pony (1980)

Jonah Levin (Paul Simon) is a faded folk-rock musician who was briefly famous with a single hit in the 1960s (hence the film’s title) and is now trying to create a new album in the face of a mendacious, slippery record-company executive (Rip Torn) and a hot-shot producer determined to gimmick-up Jonah’s music to create a hit (a great cameo from Lou Reed).

Battling against changing trends in music and regarded as a “nostalgia act”, Jonah goes from day to day, living hand to mouth by playing small clubs, dealing with cheating agents, lying club owners, and receiving little recognition.

At the same time, he’s struggling to reconcile with his estranged wife, Marion (Blair Brown), who lives in New York with their young son Matty (Michael Pearlman).

Jonah’s on-camera band features Eric Gale on lead guitar, Richard Tee on piano, Tony Levin on bass, and Steve Gadd on drums.

While clearly a vanity project for Paul Simon (who wrote it), One-Trick Pony is a well-written piece of cinema that doesn’t get the credit it deserves. It’s a loving look at a way of life that Simon clearly knows well.

Jonah Levin
Paul Simon
Marion
Blair Brown
Walter Fox
Rip Torn
Lonnie Fox
Joan Hackett
Cal van Damp
Allen Garfield (as Allen Goorwitz)
Modeena Dandridge
Mare Winningham
Matty Levin
Michael Pearlman
Steve Kunelian
Lou Reed
Danny Duggin
Steve Gadd
Lee-Andrew Parker
Eric Gale
John DiBatista
Tony Levin
Clarence Franklin
Richard Tee
Bernie Wepner
Harry Shearer
The B-52s
Themselves
The Lovin’ Spoonful
Themselves
Sam & Dave
Themselves
Tiny Tim
Himself

Director
Robert M Young