Mayor Of The Sunset Strip (USA, director George Hickenlooper): Rodney Bingenheimer is short and kind of funny-looking. He also knows just about everyone in the music business, from David Bowie to Cher to Coldplay. This film explores how Rodney’s love affair with the famous took him from groupie to disc jockey at Los Angeles’ famous KROQ. Along the way, he worked as Sonny and Cher’s gopher, acted as Monkee Davy Jones’ stand-in, and opened his own club (Rodney Bingenheimer’s English Disco).
This is the second film I’ve seen this weekend that explores our fascination with fame and the famous. But where I Love Your Work tried (and in my case, failed) to get us to sympathize with the movie star, this film had no trouble getting us on Rodney’s side. After his parents divorced when he was three, Rodney lived with his mother until she pretty much abandoned him as a teenager. His search for a surrogate family took him to Los Angeles in the mid ’60s, where his innocence and small stature made him irresistible to hippie girls.
The scenes which were hardest to watch were of Rodney spreading his beloved mother’s ashes from a boat in England, and of his unrequited love for his “friend” Camille.
The soundtrack is also a great collection of the classic and the downright wacky. I hope his friend Ronald Vaughan’s band “Isadore Ivy: Spaceman-at-Large” is included.
As an added bonus, Rodney was at the screening, and though not comfortable with all parts of the film, he must be applauded for his willingness to let the film show him as he is. The only sad thing is that he’s down to one three-hour shift a week at KROQ, and he’s clearly aware that he’s not as “hot” as he once was. It’s like his family is abandoning him all over again. Sadly, that’s the nature of fame. It’s just not possible to find unconditional love among those hungry for stardom.
(9.5/10)
where can i get a copy if isadore ivy *spaceman at large*????
To get a copy of ISADORE IVY: SPACEMAN-AT-LARGE
—it’s only available direct from me as I don’t
have a record label right now.
You’d have to send $10 U.S. Postal Money Order
($13 International Money Order)
to:
RONALD VAUGHAN
1626 N.Wilcox Ave.#125
Hollywood,Ca.90028
(323)871-8054 x.533
ronaldwvaughan@yahoo.com
Ronald now has his own site.
http://spacemanatlarge.scenejumper.com
Thanks, “Bishop” !
Yes, I do indeed have my own fansite….
started by webmaster “Bruce” of Florida.
Still looking for a video/record deal…
and Jennifer Love Hewitt!
Price of my CD has gone up to $13 (U.S.) and
$15 (Foreign)….
After 2006 RODNEY B. will get a long-overdue
“STAR” on the Hollywood Walk of Fame!
And I have a couple of collectibles: a genuine
leather jacket he wore…as well as that space
suit from the film! If interested, please contact
me privately.
FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, the “Rodney on the ‘Roq”
show is streaming on the Internet!!(As of Feb.20,
2006)
A friend of mine started a second site on me…
check out the music and photos on:
myspace.com/ronaldvaughan
“Mayor of the Sunset Strip” is
a film that SCREAMS to be re-cut.
If such was done for the original
“Superman” movie,then….
300 hours of celebrity footage
shouldn’t be wasted!
BTW, RODNEY B. just got another
honor…On May 30,2007 he was
given the Key To The City of
West Hollywood,California!
As well as,of course, RODNEY getting a
STAR ON THE HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME
(March 9,2007)
I still have about 20 left of my CD. Current
price is $20 each. In U.S. Dollars (for overseas
orders); or U.S. Post Office Money Order (for
USA orders.)
THESE MAY BE THE LAST EVER unless I
get a record label. Thanks for your interest.