THE LAST IMPRESARIO is a documentary about Michael “Chalky” White, a man who has been billed as “the most famous person you've never heard of”… He has also been called the unofficial mentor to fashion wild child Kate Moss, and I have to admit that prior to watching the doco, I’d never heard of him.
I am so glad that I have now however, for White really is one of the – to quote Morrissey –last of the famous, international playboys. An unashamed bon vivant and the man who they say transformed Britain’s cultural scene in the 1970s, his fascinating life story is the subject of Gracie Otto’s documentary, which gives us all an amazing look into the even more amazing life of the 'enfant terrible' of London’s theatre-land.
THE LAST IMPRESARIO is a documentary about Michael “Chalky” White, a man who has been billed as “the most famous person you've never heard of”… He has also been called the unofficial mentor to fashion wild child Kate Moss, and I have to admit that prior to watching the doco, I’d never heard of him.
I am so glad that I have now however, for White really is one of the – to quote Morrissey –last of the famous, international playboys. An unashamed bon vivant and the man who they say transformed Britain’s cultural scene in the 1970s, his fascinating life story is the subject of Gracie Otto’s documentary, which gives us all an amazing look into the even more amazing life of the 'enfant terrible' of London’s theatre-land.
The theatre and film impresario has most definitely played a vital role in the industry, producing more than 200 shows and films over the last 50 years, including hugely influential (and controversial) successes such as Monty Python’s The Holy Grail and John Waters’ Polyester. He was responsible for bringing erotic review Oh! Calcutta! to the stage back when just saying the name aloud was unthinkable, and he also backed productions such as The Rocky Horror Show and A Chorus Line, to name a few.
He was the man who introduced Yoko Ono and avant garde dancers and choreographers Merce Cunningham and Pina Bausch to the world stage, and despite now being in his eighth decade, is still living the party lifestyle and has a set of friends that reads like a veritable who’s who of A-list celebrities. Names of note include Kate Moss (who calls White the one person who could keep up with her debauchery), Anna Wintour, John Cleese, Yoko Ono, Naomi Watts, John Waters, Richard O’Brien and Barry Humphries, and fifty of his closest friends contribute to the eye-opening film.
Just as anyone would, over the years White has documented the time spent among friends and shares some of the photos from his personal albums in the film. Many of these are extraordinary in the context of friendly snaps, as archive photos show White carousing with the likes of Jack Nicholson, Michael Caine, Johnny Depp, Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Michael Douglas and half the British royal family. It is a line-up to rival Taylor Swift’s Instagram account by far, and damn does everyone look young, virile and terribly attractive!
Overall the film is a very impressive feature debut for the 28-year-old Australian director and sometime actor Otto, who us half-sister of The Lord of the Rings co-star Miranda and a real star considering her youth. It’s a great watch – the celebrity name-dropping hooks you from the get-go – but it doesn’t delve too far into White’s weaker side, which is a shame I think.
Although several interviewees drop verrrry strong hints about the producer’s prodigious drug habits and their part in his later downfall, viewers are ultimately left to read between the lines. Whether this is deliberate or his friends didn’t want to snitch on a mate I don’t know, but it would have been interesting to know a little bit more of the bigger picture.
So there you have it – a hell of a lot about the most famous person you’d never heard of… now go watch!