Museum of the Yiddish Theatre |
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Today! 7:45 to 9:45 in the evening, and an
entire week. In the film there participates: Anna Appel, Paul Baratov, Florence Weiss, Miriam Riselle, Leah Naomi, Yudl Dubinsky, Michael Goldstein, Benjamin Fishbein, Max Vodnoy et al. Personal appearance at the premiere by Moishe Oysher and David Pinski! Special Midnight show for all the Yiddish actors.
The entire cast will perform personally. |
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Episodic or not, "The Singing Blacksmith" never loses sight of the business at hand. Sometimes that business is to rib the ancient Jewish custom of matchmaking. It does its job inoffensively and, with the help of two comic matchmakers, makes the ribbing an amusing highlight. When it has settled down to characterizing the blacksmith, it fixes the burden firmly on the shoulders of Moishe Oysher. And that, too, is a good choice, for he is [a] splendid actor with diversified talents: a fine comic strain, an invigorating baritone voice, and a sensitive feeling for his drama. On the Continental screen, Oysher is Yankl the smithy -- a boisterous fellow who has learned his trade by apprenticeship and has made it pay. Without responsibilities, he enjoys life and refused to settle down. Strong, personable and fun-loving, he charms the village girls. But when he sees Tamara, the orphaned niece of the town's most aristocratic family, he realizes that he really hasn't been happy. Refusing to recognize the difference in rank. Yankl engages a matchmaker to arrange the marriage and pledges himself to abandon his easy living. Tamara accepts him though her uncle warns her against him. Their married life is happy until one of the smithy's old flames breaks with her husband and comes to Yankl's house to room. He is tempted to return for a spree and almost does -- but not quite -- in the gay celebration that follows the birth of his first son. There is no smooth gradation of emotion in Yankl's reform. If there were, "The Singing Blacksmith" might easily be the best thing the Yiddish screen has produced. But even in its episodic manner, it manages to be bright, frequently thrilling, entertainment. To those who know the language, the dialogue, is evidently richer than the English captions which, nevertheless, are adequate. -- H.C. |
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You can see the entire film (for now) at:
https://youtu.be/USQh7Abbd_0
Cast listings
courtesy of www.imdb.com.
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