Tiny Tim: King for a Day (2020)

Tiny Tim: King for a Day (2020). Tiny Tim: King for a Day: Directed by Johan von Sydow. With ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic, Jonas Mekas, Richard Barone, Susan M. Khaury Wellman. The story about the outcast, Herbert Khaury’s rise to stardom as Tiny Tim. Either considered a freak or a genius Tiny Tim left no one unaffected.

“Greetings again from the darkness. Iu0026#39;m not sure how many people under age 50 even know who Tiny Tim was. Perhaps they recall a mention of his most popular song u0026quot;Tiptoe Through the Tulipsu0026quot; in one of the Harry Potter books, or remember hearing the song in the 2010 horror film INSIDIOUS; but if they happen to recognize his name, I expect very few in that age group understand the cultural phenomenon that was Tiny Tim … albeit for a short period of time.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eFilmmaker Johan von Sydow opens with a clip of Tiny Tim singing u0026quot;Iu0026#39;ve Got You Babeu0026quot;, a hit song for Sonny and Cher. Itu0026#39;s likely a jarring opening for those unfamiliar with him, but it captures his unique style and stage presence. Weird Al Yankovic is the narrator that guides us through the story, and there are interviews with Tiny Timu0026#39;s widow Susan, his daughter Tulip (yep), and personality Wavy Gravy (best known for the WOODSTOCK movie), as well as friends, musicians, directors, and others who provide insight into the man and his life and career.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu0026quot;Tiptoe through the Tulipsu0026quot; was actually a hit song from 1929, and Tiny Tim reinvented it as a novelty song – and we see the clip of him performing it in 1968 for a national audience on u0026quot;Rowan and Martinu0026#39;s Laugh-Inu0026quot;. Yankovic reads passages from Tiny Timu0026#39;s diary, and we gain perspective on what itu0026#39;s like to go through life as a u0026quot;freaku0026quot;. From the diary we learn, u0026quot;God told me to sing the sissy wayu0026quot;, and that was evidently his motivation for using the falsetto … allowing him to be billed as u0026quot;The Human Canaryu0026quot; early on. His first album, u0026quot;God Bless Tiny Timu0026quot;, was released in 1968, but it was the following year that caused the biggest splash. In December 1969, Tiny Tim married 17 year old Miss Vicki Budinger live on u0026quot;The Tonight Show with Johnny Carsonu0026quot;, and 45 million viewers tuned in.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBorn in New York as Herbert Butros Khaury, he was focused at an early age on being famous – on making an impact. Carrying a shopping bag on stage and pulling out a ukulele, Tiny Tim crafted a stage persona that took over his life. Of course the thing about fame is that itu0026#39;s often fleeting. Director von Sydow pulls much of the story from the biography, u0026quot;Eternal Troubadour: The Improbable Life of Tiny Timu0026quot;, by Justin Martell and Alanna Wray Mcdonald. Sure, thereu0026#39;s the photo by Diane Arbus, but thereu0026#39;s also the mob control and gigs with the traveling circus. In 1995, he married lifelong fan Susan Gardner. This was the year before his death, and we see the clips of his time on stage as he has a heart attack, and just prior to his final collapse a couple of months later. How can so much sadness come from a man who entertained so many? We are reminded of the song, u0026quot;Tears of a Clownu0026quot;, yet when oneu0026#39;s goal is fame, the piper must be paid.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBeing released in theaters on April 23, 2021.”