Harry Nilsson

American singer, songwriter and musician Harry Nilsson achieved the peak of his commercial success in the late 1960's and early 1970's. On all but his earliest recordings he is credited simply as Nilsson. He is known for the hit singles "Everybody's Talkin'" (1969), "Without You" (1971), and "Coconut" (1972), the first two of which won him Grammy Awards for vocal performance. His songwriting credits during that period included the song “One”, made famous by the rock band Three Dog Night. Hallmarks of Nilsson's music included his genre-bending style (called "salon rock" by some) and his remarkable tenor voice which ranged over three octaves. Nilsson was much admired by The Beatles and formed lasting friendships with them, especially with John Lennon and Ringo Starr. A complicated personality, Nilsson proved to be one of the few major pop-rock recording artists of his era to achieve significant commercial success despite never performing live concerts.  He contributed songs to a few films including Robert Altman's "Popeye" (1980) and singing the standard "How About You?" for the soundrack of "The Fisher King" (1994). After a period of declining health, Harry Nilsson died at the age of 52 from heart disease at his home outside Los Angeles.

Skidoo (1968)

Ex-gangster Tony Banks is called out of retirement by mob kingpin God to carry out a hit on fellow mobster "Blue Chips" Packard. When Banks demurs, God kidnaps his daughter Darlene on his luxury yacht.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Otto Preminger
CAST:  Jackie Gleason  •  Carol Channing  •  Frankie Avalon  •  Fred Clark

Ex-gangster Tony Banks is called out of retirement by mob kingpin God to carry out a hit on fellow mobster "Blue Chips" Packard. When Banks demurs, God kidnaps his daughter Darlene on his luxury yacht.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Otto Preminger
CAST:  Jackie Gleason  •  Carol Channing  •  Frankie Avalon  •  Fred Clark

Return Engagement (1983)

Return Engagement is a 1983 documentary film directed by Alan Rudolph about the tour debate between Timothy Leary and G. Gordon Liddy.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alan Rudolph
CAST:  G. Gordon Liddy  •  Timothy Leary  •  Harry Nilsson  •  Carole Hemingway

Return Engagement is a 1983 documentary film directed by Alan Rudolph about the tour debate between Timothy Leary and G. Gordon Liddy.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alan Rudolph
CAST:  G. Gordon Liddy  •  Timothy Leary  •  Harry Nilsson  •  Carole Hemingway

Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin' About Him?) (2010)

Musical

The life and work of the enigmatic singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Scheinfeld
CAST:  Harry Nilsson  •  Richard Perry  •  Doug Hoefer  •  Jimmy Webb

The life and work of the enigmatic singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Scheinfeld
CAST:  Harry Nilsson  •  Richard Perry  •  Doug Hoefer  •  Jimmy Webb

Son of Dracula (1974)

Due to be crowned King of the Netherworld by his mentor Merlin the Magician, Count Downe–the son of Count Dracula–falls in love with the beautiful but human Amber and finds himself in conflict with Baron Frankenstein, who is vying for the same honorary title.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Freddie Francis
CAST:  Harry Nilsson  •  Ringo Starr  •  Freddie Jones  •  Suzanna Leigh

Due to be crowned King of the Netherworld by his mentor Merlin the Magician, Count Downe–the son of Count Dracula–falls in love with the beautiful but human Amber and finds himself in conflict with Baron Frankenstein, who is vying for the same honorary title.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Freddie Francis
CAST:  Harry Nilsson  •  Ringo Starr  •  Freddie Jones  •  Suzanna Leigh

Did Somebody Drop His Mouse? (1972)

Never released 1972 film of the making of Harry Nilsson's record "Son of Schmilsson" in London.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Perry
CAST:  Harry Nilsson  •  Richard Perry  •  Ringo Starr  •  Ray Cooper

Never released 1972 film of the making of Harry Nilsson's record "Son of Schmilsson" in London.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Perry
CAST:  Harry Nilsson  •  Richard Perry  •  Ringo Starr  •  Ray Cooper

The Music of Nilsson (1972)

Harry Nilsson's melancholy, satirical performance film finds the singer/songwriter in top form as he's accompanied by duplicates of himself, animated sequences, and gorilla costumes; yet the strongest sections simply feature Nilsson, an instrument and a microphone.  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Harry Nilsson

Harry Nilsson's melancholy, satirical performance film finds the singer/songwriter in top form as he's accompanied by duplicates of himself, animated sequences, and gorilla costumes; yet the strongest sections simply feature Nilsson, an instrument and a microphone.  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Harry Nilsson

A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night (1973)

A live TV special of Harry Nilsson performing his album of standards "A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night".  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Harry Nilsson

A live TV special of Harry Nilsson performing his album of standards "A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night".  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Harry Nilsson