The Donn of Tiki: Clever title, fascinating documentary

The Donn of Tiki (2024) • View trailerFour stars (out of five); Unrated, but akin to PG, for occasional crime referencesAvailable via: Amazon Prime and other VOD optionsBy Derrick BangErnest Gantt — possibly Ernest Raymond Beaumont Gantt — was the living embodiment of that classic line from 1962’s The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance: “When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.” Donn Beach died in June 1989, and therefore wasn't available for the filmmakers. Theydid the next best thing, teaming with Mystery Meat Media to deliver Beach's portionof a lengthy interview via this droll stop-motion puppet.Gantt, much better known as Donn Beach, was the public face of the Don the Beachcomber bars and restaurants, which — during their heyday — had numerous locations throughout the United States. Along with Victor Jules Bergeron Jr., the public face of the similar Trader Vic’s chain, they revolutionized the tiki bar scene. That became quite a thing from the late 1930s to the early 1970s ...…