EVOCATEUR: THE MOUTH THAT ROARED

Rather than talk about another horror film being released (WORLD WAR Z is a good movie by the way) I thought I'd take a look at a movie few people may have heard of but that is well worth watching. Documentaries rarely get the attention they deserve and it's only those that choose outlandish subjects that get the most attention. That happens to be the case here with EVOCATEUR: THE MORTON DOWNEY JR. MOVIE.

For those old enough to recall Morton Downey Jr. suddenly appeared on the scene of late night television in the late 80s. His was a talk show unlike any other. Keep in mind this was before Jerry Springer brought about "real guests" with unusual problems. Downey rose in popularity like a rocket, with ratings that were phenomenal and then plummeted nearly as fast. What most didn't know was the man behind the scenes. This film offers a look at that as well as his popularity.

The son of famous tenor Morton Downey Sr., Downey always wanted to follow in his father's footsteps as a singer. Unfortunately he didn't have near the voice. In addition to that his home life was one where he always felt not just a rivalry with his father but somehow overshadowed by the man's success. This was a driving force in his life, what made him the overachiever he later became.

One of the most surprising things in the film is to discover that Downey was a supporter of the Democratic Party and good friend of the Kennedy family, especially Ted Kennedy. The man who would later become the voice of Conservatives actually leaned to the left in his earlier years. That all changed as his need for acceptance and popularity drove him in a different direction.

Downey was a singer and always involved in the entertainment industry but it wasn't until he found his niche as a talk show host that he received the attention and notoriety that he dreamt of.  After an appearance on the Wally George show, another confrontational talk show host, Downey was approached to host a show of his own on a New Jersey station that was just going national via cable. That became The Morton Downey Jr. Show.

Now for those who never saw it this show as about as confrontational as you can get. It far exceeded those who came before it like George or even the Joe Pyne show. Downey would have guests on who often were involved in things he didn't like or who had differing opinions from him. Or so it seemed. As he would offer questions to these guests he often literally got in their faces and was cheered on by his studio audience, an integral part of his show.

The audience for Downey's show was blue collar workers and teens who often had as much if not more attitude than he himself had. They would cheer and rant at the guests, call for their removal from the stage and sometimes even be included in the conversations as representatives from groups opposed to the guests. They would either get into interesting back and forth good humored patter with Downey or at times be silenced by him and escorted from the studio.

The most surprising thing to learn in this movie is that his show was only on for 2 years. It seemed longer. The behind the scenes look offered here shows that Mort was in it for the fame and that most of the confrontations were staged. It was all about ratings and they were there. His downfall involved a possibly staged incident where he was supposed to have been attacked by skinheads in an airport bathroom.

The best part of the movie is the glimpse of the man behind the scenes as told by not just his fans but by those who knew him. His friends and family give a better look at someone driven by a need for acceptance and fame. It clouded his judgment at times but also created one of the most notorious names in television. In the end after watching the entire film I felt sad for Downey more than anything.

Some of the clips shown here are interesting, some are funny and some help us recall the past in ways that are clouded these days by the press (the best stand out is Mort and Al Sharpton during the Tawana Brawley case). For those who never saw the show you might be surprised. For those who hated him you might change your mind. And for those who loved him you will continue to do so. This is an interesting film with an interesting subject and well worth the watch.

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