One-Trick Pony (1980)

Jonah (Paul Simon) is an aging rock star trying to put together a new album in the face of an indifferent record label and a talentless producer. At the same time, he's struggling to save his failing marriage.

Director:

Robert M. Young

Writer:

Paul Simon

Stars:

Paul Simon, Blair Brown, Rip Torn

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Paul Simon	...	Jonah
Blair Brown	...	Marion
Rip Torn	...	Walter Fox
Joan Hackett	...	Lonnie Fox
Allen Garfield	...	Cal van Damp (as Allen Goorwitz)
Mare Winningham	...	Modeena Dandridge
Michael Pearlman	...	Matty Levin
Lou Reed	...	Steve Kunelian
Steve Gadd	...	Danny Duggin
Eric Gale	...	Lee-Andrew Parker
Tony Levin	...	John DiBatista
Richard Tee	...	Clarence Franklin
Harry Shearer	...	Bernie Wepner
Kate Pierson	...	Self (as The B-52s)
Fred Schneider	...	Self (as The B-52s)

Storyline

Jonah (Paul Simon) is an aging rock star trying to put together a new album in the face of an indifferent record label and a talentless producer. At the same time, he's struggling to save his failing marriage.

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Plot Keywords:

hare krishna | topless female nudity | rock star | nude woman in bath | man and woman in bath | 

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Taglines:

Rock 'n' roll will give you some laughs...but it won't do you any favors.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Music | Romance

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

During the party held after the 'Solute to the Sixties Night' show, the music 'Take Me to The Mardi Gras' can clearly be heard, which is a song written by Paul Simon, while made a hip-hop classic by Bob James. The song in the film is Bob James version from his album 'Two.'

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Goofs

When Jonah and Matty practice baseball in the park, the ball is returned to Jonah by someone obviously taller than eight-year-old Matty.

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Quotes

Jonah: Well, what was I supposed to say? "Yes, Walter, I am sort of fucking your wife"?
Lonnie Fox: Is that what we're doing, sort of fucking?

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Connections

Featured in Vintage Video: One-Trick Pony (1980) (2020)

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Soundtracks

Nobody
Written and Performed by Paul Simon

User Reviews

Coulda-Shoulda-etc.

This reminds me of another movie involving intricate characters, great music, and a radio station. It was called "Choose Me" (1984), and was I have to say a much better-coherent-film.

One Trick Pony starts off promisingly, but falls short as some sequences seem to be extended in order to accomodate Paul Simon's excellent music (ie, long pans across city scapes as Simon and his band ride from gig to gig in their van). It also looks as though large chunks were edited out, in order to cut it's running time down; Such as when Simon meets Mare Winnigham (Saint Elmo's Fire) after a gig, then ends up sleeping with her, then is seen leaving her house without as much as a goodbye...Maybe that was the point, to show us his ephemeral lifestyle on the road. But I dunno though, as Simon's acting also leaves a lot to be desired. But then, he's a singer.

Blair Brown (Altered States)is good as his ex wife who he seems to sleep with whenever he's depressed about something(???). But otherwise it's an atmospheric (due to the music) but unremarkable film, and could''ve been so much more.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 October 1980 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ace in the Hole

Filming Locations:

Concord Hotel, Kiamesha Lake, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$150,809, 5 October 1980

Gross USA:

$843,215

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$843,215

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1