Personality Crisis: One Night Only

Play trailer

Personality Crisis: One Night Only

2022

2h 7m

Biography

Documentary

Music

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

24 Reviews

68%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Continuing his vibrant and invaluable documentaries about iconic American artists and musicians such as George Harrison: Living in the Material World, No Direction Home: Bob Dylan, and the Fran Lebowitz portrait Public Speaking, Martin Scorsese turns his camera on another beloved New York institution: the singular David Johansen. Equally celebrated as the lead singer-songwriter of the androgynous '70s glam punk groundbreakers The New York Dolls and for his complete reinvention as hepcat lounge lizard Buster Poindexter in the '80s, the chameleonic Johansen has created an entire genre unto himself, combining swing, blues, and rock for something at once mischievous and deeply personal.

Watch on Paramount+

Stream Now

Dmitry Samarov

Chicago Reader

What raises this above the typical nostalgia-logged music doc is the clear sense that Johansen is not reliving his long discography onstage but continuing to live it in that moment.

Apr 26, 2023

Full Review

Tim Cogshell

FilmWeek (LAist)

Just by looking at this history you get a deep richness about American culture.

Apr 24, 2023

Full Review

Brian Tallerico

RogerEbert.com

It's impossible not to walk away from this project without a greater appreciation of Johansen as an artist.

Rated: 3/4

Apr 17, 2023

Full Review

Alan French

Sunshine State Cineplex

For Personality Crisis: One Night Only, directors David Tedeschi and Martin Scorsese combine forces. They explore his eclectic career using archival footage and footage from a recent lounge show.

Rated: 7/10

Apr 22, 2023

Full Review

Fletcher Powell

KMUW - Wichita Public Radio

This film is immensely entertaining.

Apr 21, 2023

Full Review

Johnny Loftus

Decider

At its center, Personality Crisis: One Night Only is a platform for a consummate showman, and David Johansen, together with the exquisite framing and lighting of his Carlyle Cafe set, seats the viewer in the room.

Apr 17, 2023

Full Review

Read all reviews

Laura H

Made me remember how vital David and the Dolls have been in my life. At every decade the music was energizing, quirky fun. Rooted in blues, soul, classic opera...... Who wouldn't want to spend two hours listening to the songs and stories? What I didn't expect was to fall in love with the man. I understand his health is failing lately. Prayers of love to the family.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/13/25

Full Review

David A

There are few like Johansen, and this set was part lounge act and historical document of one of the greatest rock artists.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/06/23

Full Review

Caroline T

David is a one-of-a-kind performer and New Yorker. A must watch for us old punks.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/28/23

Full Review

S R

Painfully boring. The personality crisis is David's, he can't be authentic for one moment.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/10/25

Full Review

Davey M

Fans of David Johansen will probably love this movie. I found the interviews and the old footage interesting but the live Carlyle performance, which takes up the bulk of the film, boring. I found myself fast forwarding through the songs to get to the next historic part.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

04/17/23

Full Review

David S

David Johansen is a wonderful performer. This is an intimate performance movie filmed at the legendary Cafe Carlyle. It is beautifully shot and edited. I thought it was one of the most interesting and moving films I have seen this year!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/16/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Martin Scorsese

Director

David Tedeschi

Director

David Johansen

Self

Margaret Bodde

Producer

Martin Scorsese

Producer

Justin Wilkes

Producer

Ellis Park

100%

%

Ellis Park

Watchlist

Sloane: A Jazz Singer

%

%

Sloane: A Jazz Singer

Watchlist

Ego: The Michael Gudinski Story

100%

%

Ego: The Michael Gudinski Story

Watchlist

Desire: The Carl Craig Story

%

%

Desire: The Carl Craig Story

Watchlist

Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story

%

%

Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Continuing his vibrant and invaluable documentaries about iconic American artists and musicians such as George Harrison: Living in the Material World, No Direction Home: Bob Dylan, and the Fran Lebowitz portrait Public Speaking, Martin Scorsese turns his camera on another beloved New York institution: the singular David Johansen. Equally celebrated as the lead singer-songwriter of the androgynous '70s glam punk groundbreakers The New York Dolls and for his complete reinvention as hepcat lounge lizard Buster Poindexter in the '80s, the chameleonic Johansen has created an entire genre unto himself, combining swing, blues, and rock for something at once mischievous and deeply personal.

Director: Martin Scorsese, David Tedeschi
Producer: Margaret Bodde, Martin Scorsese, Justin Wilkes, Sara Bernstein
Genre: Biography, Documentary, Music
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 14, 2023
Runtime: 2h 7m

Most Popular at Home Now