[78-L] Two omissions from my column in April issue of "In The Groove"

[Julian Vein]

Steve Ramm wrote:
he Jazz Singer Redux –Warners – through its Warner Archives reissue 
program has just released The Jazz Singer. No, not the Al Jolson 
classic, or the Neil Diamond schmaltzfest, but – the Danny Thomas 
vehicle from 1952 co-starring Peggy Lee.  I remember seeing it in 
theaters as a child (I would have been eight) before I ever heard of the 
Jolson classic. It’s not been out on home video before (to my knowledge) 
or on TV, so I was curious.

The WA version is not “restored” but there are no visual defects or 
scratches in it. What surprised me is how this film drags. It’s 103 
minutes long and the story keeps repeating itself. First Thomas is going 
to follow his father as a Cantor in the Philadelphia-based synagogue 
(obviously filmed in LA, not Philly) that seems to be attached, via a 
courtyard, with his father’s residence. Then he is going to be a 
Broadway musical star. Then he is going to be a Cantor again and then he 
plans to be a nightclub singer. Okay, the story is based on the same 
stage play as the Jolson one but – maybe because it’s an all “talkie” 
(and boy is there talking) – it seems slower. Lee actually wrote one of 
the songs – not a jazz song – and does get one full-length number 75 
minutes into the film.  I guess you can’t expect a film you saw as a 
child to hold up almost 50 years later. This one didn’t – at least for 
me – though I had to see it to prove the point to myself. Stick with the 
Jolson version in the superb DVD box version from Warner’s consumer 
division, or the wonderful WA titles I’ve recommended from the 30s.

==========================
Saw it recently on TV. Thomas looked like a refugee from "Bilko"! Was 
the word "synagogue" actually mentioned? Thomas's dad referred to it as 
"the Temple".

      Julian Vein


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