AllMovie

The career of celebrated songwriter and flamboyant performer Peter Allen is told through rare archival footage and in-depth interviews in this documentary from The Boy from Oz co-creator Ben Gannon and writer/director Stephen Maclean. In addition to penning songs that would help launch the careers of such popular singers as Olivia Newton-John and Melissa Manchester, Allen also scored hits with such songs as "I Go to Rio" and the Oscar-winning "Best That You Can Do" from the film Arthur before losing his battle against AIDS in 1992. Though Allen may be gone, his musical legacy lives on as filmmakers speak with family, friends, and contemporaries to offer a vivid look at the life of a man who lived to entertain. In addition to interviews with Bernadette Peters, Ann-Margaret, and Lily Tomlin, vintage performance footage of Allen as well as seldom-seen clips of the songwriter interacting with mentor Judy Garland and future wife Liza Minnelli offer a rare glimpse into the life of a songwriting legend.