Film Lens
Derailroaded: Inside The Mind Of Wild Man Fischer is a 2005 documentary directed by Josh Rubin and Jeremy Lubin that chronicles the life of Lawrence Fischer, known as Wild Man Fischer. The film uses archive footage, interviews with Fischer and those who knew him, and shows his experiences in mental institutions as a child. Fischer was a street singer in Los Angeles during the 1960s and made a cameo on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In in 1968, the same year Frank Zappa helped him record his first album, An Evening with Wild Man Fischer.
The documentary presents Fischer's eccentric personality and unique music while addressing his struggles with paranoia and schizophrenia. Despite collaborations with notable artists like Zappa and Rosemary Clooney, Fischer's mental health issues hindered his career. By 2004, he was institutionalized and medicated, which controlled his schizophrenia but also suppressed his creativity.
Why Watch
- •Meet Wild Man Fischer, a unique outsider artist.
- •See rare footage from the 1960s street music scene.
- •Find out about Fischer's collaborations with Frank Zappa.
Did You Know
•Wild Man Fischer appeared on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In in 1968.
•Frank Zappa produced Fischer's first album in 1968.
•The film premiered at the SXSW Film Festival in 2005.
•Rotten Tomatoes reports a 71% positive review rate from critics.
Perfect For
Outsider art enthusiastsFans of Frank ZappaDocumentary lovers