Reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

March 27, 2024
6.0
Al Jolson's "Jakie" is to be the sixth in a line of cantors from the Rabinowitz family. He has a fine voice and some musical talent - he just wants to take them to Broadway instead of to the synagogue. His father (Warner Oland) is horrified, his mother (Eugenie Besserer) disappointed but he still decides to follow his star! He loves the music of the 1920s - jazz, ragtime, swing - and changing his name to "Jack Robin" and after a decade of slogging, and travelling the world, manages to enlist the help of established star "Mary Dale" (May McAvoy) and look set to get his very own "Follies" show on stage. With less than 24 hours to go, his father's rather malevolent friend "Moisha" (Otto Lederer) shows up to tell him that his dad is poorly and that there is nothing the old man would like better than for his son to sing at the Day of Atonement - the same day as the show! Now we know that the last encounter between the father and son had led to the latter banishing the former from their home, so what might the younger man do now? Much is made of the last few scenes from this film, but I think this story is more interesting when we consider that the real thrust of it has nothing at all to do with colour, but with a sort of cultural evolution. Of a rebellion against a religiosity that older, often themselves from persecuted generations, people are desperate to see continue despite it being something that their offspring cared far less about preserving. "Jakie" has been brought up by two loving and caring people, yet he has chosen a path that creates an insurmountable barrier - but need it be. Is it just belligerence? Intolerance? Ignorance? The acting, writing and the singing, unfortunately, don't really do it any favours - the sound quality and the production limitations render the numbers a bit wooden and sterile, but as a technical example of where films are heading - and of the freedoms of expression that they were soon to provide - it's worth a watch.

Recommendation Movies

7.3
Drama
View
7.3
A Place in the Sun
A Place in the Sun1951
8
Comedy
View
8
The Circus
The Circus1928
7.5
Animation
View
7.5
The Adventures of Prince Achmed
The Adventures of Prince Achmed1926
7.1
Crime
View
7.1
The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog
The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog1927
6.9
Drama
View
6.9
Broken Blossoms
Broken Blossoms1919
6.9
Comedy
View
6.9
42nd Street
42nd Street1933
7.5
Drama
View
7.5
The Crowd
The Crowd1928
7.7
Adventure
View
7.7
Die Nibelungen: Siegfried
Die Nibelungen: Siegfried1924
7.4
Comedy
View
7.4
The Scarecrow
The Scarecrow1920
7.3
Romance
View
7.3
Lonesome
Lonesome1928
6.8
Drama
View
6.8
College
College1927
6.4
Drama
View
6.4
Ike: Countdown to D-Day
Ike: Countdown to D-Day2004
4.7
Music
View
4.7
Everybody Sing
Everybody Sing1938
7.9
Fantasy
View
7.9
Ugetsu
Ugetsu1953
7.2
Animation
View
7.2
Steamboat Willie
Steamboat Willie1928
7.8
Drama
View
7.8
Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans
Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans1927
6.7
Adventure
View
6.7
Team America: World Police
Team America: World Police2004
8.3
Comedy
View
8.3
City Lights
City Lights1931
7.9
Adventure
View
7.9
A Trip to the Moon
A Trip to the Moon1902
5.8
Comedy
View
5.8
Four Rooms
Four Rooms1995
© 2024 MoovieTime. All rights reserved.Made with Nuxt