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List Price: $24.95 | | Label: Homevision
Salesrank: 47230
Released: June 22, 2004 |
| Our Price: $16.83 |
| Used Price: $12.33 |
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MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
The Line King tells the amazing story of Al Hirschfeld, creator of thousands of famous drawings of stars and celebrities for more than sixty years. Nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Documentary Feature (1996), The Line King celebrates Hirschfeld’s many years of work for The New York Times, where his drawings were a centerpiece of the Sunday Arts section. With appearances by Lauren Bacall, Carol Channing, Joan Collins, Barbara Walters, Robert Goulet, and many others, The Line King is a fascinating portrait of the artist as a cultural icon.
The Line King - The Al Hirschfeld Story Reviews:
This one is really great! 
2009-12-09 - If one enjoys drawing, art, or interesting people, this is one great DVD. I have appreciated his work for many years but never realized what a truly interesting individual he was. This is highly entertaining and inspires me to do more with my feeble efforts at artwork. I just regret that I did not get it earlier.
Illustrious Illustrator of Broadway 5
2009-12-07 - A very good documentary on one of the best American 20th century portrait illustrators.
Aside from being an artist, I miss Al's Sunday New York Times weekly theatre illustration, within which were hidden the name of his daughter,
"NINA", and the number of the "NINA's" in the line drawing entered by his signature.
The 5 stars are for all of us who grabbed Section 2 on Sunday morning, (or Saturday night),
and begun reading the Sunday Times by searching for the NINA's. If you first read the headlines, minus perhaps .5 stars, the most.
If you grew up with the "NINA's", you will enjoy this documentary.
An excellent supplement provided is a follow up of the artist several years after this documentary was made.
If you had no idea what a "NINA" was when you first begun reading this review, but have interest in line drawings, illustrations, accomplished illustrators, etc...
I would say it is a recommended 4 star diverting documentary.
Find the Ninas
2007-02-08 - Mr Hirschfeld is one of the inspirations for my work, this documentary tells the story of his life, loves, influences, and subjects. The history of theater and entertainment in New York City through most of the twentieth century are there too. For me, the close-ups of him working illustrate the real effort in producing those elegant simple lines. A long, creative and productive life. Bravo.
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A Title Well Earned 
2005-03-22 - Amid the entertainment super-stars of the twentieth century--Carol Channing, Lauren Bacall, Joan Collins, Barbara Walters, and more--the white-bearded, bright-eyed Al Hirschfeld cuts a humorous and humble figure. This visual historian doesn't make the stars beautiful in his drawings; he makes them interesting. ESP-like, the line of Hirschfeld's pen reveals an essential and vital character within each of the performers he draws, capturing the rare exuberance with amazing specificity: the gestures, the movements, the facial expressions-all become playfully recognizable as the spirit manifest. What the documentary does especially well is show Hirschfeld at work, and talking about the work. He was 90 years old when interviewed in the film, but seems almost childlike in his delight for his life-long passion. Hirschfeld emerges as the century's most beloved cartoonist, truly earning him the title of The Line King.
Interesting and Beautiful
2004-10-02 - It's not often I write "thank God someone made this" in my notes while reviewing a film. But Susan Dryfoos' "The Line King - The Al Hirschfeld Story" deserves such praise and more.
A lovely biography of entertainment caricaturist Hirschfeld, this film is a fascinating look behind the pen of a man who transcended his genre to become almost an art form unto himself.
Dryfoos thankfully showcases hundreds of drawings throughout the film as entertainers, artists and others discuss a man who described his goal as not to make a subject beautiful, but interesting.
Hirschfeld, of course, being the most interesting character of all. The camouflaged "Nina"s, the barber chair in which he created decades of work, the almost Santa Claus-ish look of the artist - all add up to a man that, if he were imagined by a Hollywood writer, would be deemed wholly unbelievable by cartoonists such as myself.
Myself being a stay-at-home-dad, I was fascinated to learn that he was raised by his father while his mother supported the family. I also connected with his respect for his wife's editorial abilities. My wife is often consulted (OK, harangued) about my latest cartoons and her advice is always spot on, even when I don't like to admit it.
There are a few goofy moments, Hirschfeld's surreal bongo solo and his attempts as using a computer and graphics tablet, but overall the film is a wonder from beginning to end. A fitting tribute to an artist whose work was both interesting and beautiful.
