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Lucky Boy (1929 film)

March 03, 2023

For the book, see Lucky Boy (novel). For the 2017 film, see Lucky Boy (2017 film).

Lucky Boy is a 1929 American musical comedy-drama film directed by Norman Taurog and Charles C. Wilson and starring George Jessel.[5] The film was mainly a silent film with synchronized music and sound effects, as well as some talking sequences.[6] The film's plot bore strong similarities to that of the hit 1927 film The Jazz Singer, which had originally been intended to star Jessel (the star of The Jazz Singer stage production) before Al Jolson took over the role.[7]

Lucky Boy
Lobby card using the working title The Ghetto
Directed byNorman Taurog[1]
Charles C. Wilson
Screenplay byIsadore Bernstein
George Jessel
Harry Braxton
Based on"The Schlemiel"
by Viola Brothers Shore
Produced byJohn M. Stahl
StarringGeorge Jessel
CinematographyHarry Jackson
Frank Zucker[2]
Edited byDesmond O’Brien
Russell Shields
Music byHugo Riesenfeld
Production
company
Distributed byTiffany-Stahl Productions
Release date
  • February 2, 1929 (1929-02-02)
[3]
Running time
10 reels (8900 ft.)[4]
CountryUnited States
LanguagesSilent (English intertitles)
Synchronized music, sound effects, and dialogue
Budget$90,000
Box office~$1,000,000

Plot

A young Jewish man works in his father's jewelry business, but he does not like it at all—he wants to be an entertainer, something he knows that his father would never approve of. He comes up with a scheme to put on his own show in a theater and show his father that he can be a success, but things do not work out quite as well as he planned.

Cast

Production

 
Lobby card

The film was originally developed with the title The Schlemiel based on a story by Viola Brothers Shore.[11] It was initially filmed without sound by director Norman Taurog under the working title of The Ghetto in April 1928,[12] reportedly in a "record time" of twelve days.[13] Based on his role in the original stage production of The Jazz Singer, Jessel was billed as "The Original Jazz Singer" in advertisements.[14] Jessel was credited with writing the spoken and intertitle dialogue.[15]

Music

The film's theme song (featured four times) was "My Mother's Eyes", which (along with the titular song "Lucky Boy") was composed by Abel Baer with lyrics by L. Wolfe Gilbert.[3] The film also featured a score by Hugo Riesenfeld;[16] "You're My Real Sweetheart" and "In My Bouquet of Memories" by Sam M. Lewis, Joe Young, and William Axt; "Keep Sweeping the Cobwebs Off the Moon" by Sam M. Lewis, Joe Young, and Oscar Levant; and "My Blackbirds are Bluebirds Now" by Irving Caesar and Cliff Friend.[17]

Alongside Lucky Boy's theatrical release, "My Mother's Eyes" was released by RCA Victor as a single (Victor 21852),[18] backed with "When the Curtain Comes Down" written by Carl Hoefle, Al Lewis & Al Sherman.[19] As well as becoming Jessel's signature number, the song was re-recorded several times, including an instrumental version by Tab Smith (1952), Frankie Valli's debut 1953 single (which also featured in the 2005 jukebox musical Jersey Boys and its 2014 film adaptation), and the titular song from the Sonny Stitt album, My Mother's Eyes (1963).[20]

Preservation

Considered to be lost for many years, Lucky Boy is still in existence with a copy of the film held in the UCLA Film and Television Archive.[21]

References

  1. ^ "'Ghetto' Finished". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Vol. 42, no. 219 (Tri-State ed.). Spokane, WA. Associated Press. June 1, 1928. p. 25 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Shrek, Jay M., ed. (January 26, 1929). "While Other Companies are Talking 'Talkie' Pictures, Tiffany-Stahl is Delivering Them". Exhibitors Herald World. Vol. 94, no. 4. Chicago, IL. pp. 6–7 – via Internet Archive.
  3. ^ a b Munden, Kenneth W., ed. (1997) [1971]. The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures Produced in the United States. Vol. F2: Feature Films, 1921–1930. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. p. 466. ISBN 978-0-520-20969-5.
  4. ^ McNeil, H. N., ed. (January 12, 1929). "Lucky Boy". Movie Age. Vol. 7, no. 8. Minneapolis, MN: Associated Publications Inc. p. 16. ISSN 0006-8527.
  5. ^ "Lucky Boy Sentimental; Hero, Played by George Jessel, Has Rough Road Attaining Stardom. Other Photoplays". The New York Times. February 25, 1929.
  6. ^ Progressive Silent Film List: Lucky Boy at silentera.com
  7. ^ Barrios, Richard (1995). A Song in the Dark: The Birth of the Musical Film. Oxford University Press. pp. 12–16, 145–146. ISBN 978-0-19-508811-3.
  8. ^ Ross, Allan C., ed. (May 25, 1928). "'Ghetto' New Jessel Title". Democrat and Chronicle. Vol. 96, no. 59. Rochester, NY: Jerome D. Barnum. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Kingsley, Grace (May 16, 1928). "Writer is Chosen Director". Los Angeles Times. Vol. 47, no. 165. Part 2, p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Dickson, Edward A., ed. (June 1, 1929). "Plays, Pictures and Players". Los Angeles Evening Express. Vol. 58, no. 58. Dickson & Earl. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Fox, Stuart (August 1, 1976). Jewish Films in the United States: A Comprehensive Survey and Descriptive Filmography. Boston, MA: G. K. Hall. p. 27. ISBN 9780816178933.
  12. ^ Edwin M. Bradley (February 29, 2016). Unsung Hollywood Musicals of the Golden Era: 50 Overlooked Films and Their Stars, 1929-1939. McFarland. pp. 12–16. ISBN 978-1-4766-2400-6.
  13. ^ Trueblood, Ralph W., ed. (June 5, 1928). "Without Forty Winks". The Los Angeles Times. Vol. 47. The Times-Mirror Company. Part 2, p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Donald Crafton (November 22, 1999). The Talkies: American Cinema's Transition to Sound, 1926-1931. University of California Press. pp. 310–311. ISBN 978-0-520-22128-4.
  15. ^ Conkling, D. H., ed. (February 10, 1929). "Broadway Comedian Stars in 'Talkie' at Arcade Theater". The Palm Beach Post. Vol. 20, no. 365. West Palm Beach, FL: The Post Publishing Co. Section 1, p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "On Stage and Screen". The Salt Lake Tribune. Vol. 118, no. 13. Salt Lake City, UT: Salt Lake Tribune Publishing Company. Associated Press. October 28, 1928. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ Bradley, Edwin M. (August 11, 2004). The First Hollywood Musicals: A Critical Filmography of 171 Features, 1927 through 1932. McFarland. pp. 26–27. ISBN 978-0-7864-2029-2.
  18. ^ Irving Zuelke Music Company (March 8, 1929). "My Mother's Eyes". The Post Crescent (Ad). Vol. 50, no. 240. Appleton, WS: The Post Publishing Company. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ Johnson, Axel B., ed. (March 28, 1929). "Analytical Notes and Reviews". Phonograph Monthly Review. Vol. 3, no. 6. Boston, MA: The Phonograph Publishing Co. p. 213 – via Internet Archive.
  20. ^ Wilde, Amanda (May 7, 2015). "'My Mother's Eyes': The History Of A Ballad for Moms". KUOW. KUOW News and Information. from the original on January 11, 2020.
  21. ^ Taurog, Norman. "Lucky Boy" (1929) [Various]. MP Motion Picture Collection, ID: 78925. Los Angeles, CA: Film & Television Archive, UCLA Library.

External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lucky Boy.

March 03, 2023
lucky, 1929, film, book, lucky, novel, 2017, film, lucky, 2017, film, lucky, 1929, american, musical, comedy, drama, film, directed, norman, taurog, charles, wilson, starring, george, jessel, film, mainly, silent, film, with, synchronized, music, sound, effect. For the book see Lucky Boy novel For the 2017 film see Lucky Boy 2017 film Lucky Boy is a 1929 American musical comedy drama film directed by Norman Taurog and Charles C Wilson and starring George Jessel 5 The film was mainly a silent film with synchronized music and sound effects as well as some talking sequences 6 The film s plot bore strong similarities to that of the hit 1927 film The Jazz Singer which had originally been intended to star Jessel the star of The Jazz Singer stage production before Al Jolson took over the role 7 Lucky BoyLobby card using the working title The GhettoDirected byNorman Taurog 1 Charles C WilsonScreenplay byIsadore BernsteinGeorge JesselHarry BraxtonBased on The Schlemiel by Viola Brothers ShoreProduced byJohn M StahlStarringGeorge JesselCinematographyHarry JacksonFrank Zucker 2 Edited byDesmond O BrienRussell ShieldsMusic byHugo RiesenfeldProductioncompanyTiffany PicturesDistributed byTiffany Stahl ProductionsRelease dateFebruary 2 1929 1929 02 02 3 Running time10 reels 8900 ft 4 CountryUnited StatesLanguagesSilent English intertitles Synchronized music sound effects and dialogueBudget 90 000Box office 1 000 000 Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Production 4 Music 5 Preservation 6 References 7 External linksPlot EditA young Jewish man works in his father s jewelry business but he does not like it at all he wants to be an entertainer something he knows that his father would never approve of He comes up with a scheme to put on his own show in a theater and show his father that he can be a success but things do not work out quite as well as he planned Cast EditGeorge Jessel as Georgie Jessel Gwen Lee as Mrs Ellis 8 Richard Tucker as Mr Ellis Gayne Whitman as Mr Trent 9 Margaret Quimby as Eleanor Rosa Rosanova as Mamma Jessel William H Strauss as Papa Jessel Mary Doran as Becky 10 Patty and Fields amateur night act Joe Sevely amateur night act Glenda Farrell as a secretary uncredited William Gargan as Bit Part uncredited Sig Ruman as Bit Part uncredited Charles C Wilson as a stage emcee uncredited Production Edit Lobby card The film was originally developed with the title The Schlemiel based on a story by Viola Brothers Shore 11 It was initially filmed without sound by director Norman Taurog under the working title of The Ghetto in April 1928 12 reportedly in a record time of twelve days 13 Based on his role in the original stage production of The Jazz Singer Jessel was billed as The Original Jazz Singer in advertisements 14 Jessel was credited with writing the spoken and intertitle dialogue 15 Music EditThe film s theme song featured four times was My Mother s Eyes which along with the titular song Lucky Boy was composed by Abel Baer with lyrics by L Wolfe Gilbert 3 The film also featured a score by Hugo Riesenfeld 16 You re My Real Sweetheart and In My Bouquet of Memories by Sam M Lewis Joe Young and William Axt Keep Sweeping the Cobwebs Off the Moon by Sam M Lewis Joe Young and Oscar Levant and My Blackbirds are Bluebirds Now by Irving Caesar and Cliff Friend 17 Alongside Lucky Boy s theatrical release My Mother s Eyes was released by RCA Victor as a single Victor 21852 18 backed with When the Curtain Comes Down written by Carl Hoefle Al Lewis amp Al Sherman 19 As well as becoming Jessel s signature number the song was re recorded several times including an instrumental version by Tab Smith 1952 Frankie Valli s debut 1953 single which also featured in the 2005 jukebox musical Jersey Boys and its 2014 film adaptation and the titular song from the Sonny Stitt album My Mother s Eyes 1963 20 Preservation EditConsidered to be lost for many years Lucky Boy is still in existence with a copy of the film held in the UCLA Film and Television Archive 21 References Edit Ghetto Finished Spokane Daily Chronicle Vol 42 no 219 Tri State ed Spokane WA Associated Press June 1 1928 p 25 via Newspapers com Shrek Jay M ed January 26 1929 While Other Companies are Talking Talkie Pictures Tiffany Stahl is Delivering Them Exhibitors Herald World Vol 94 no 4 Chicago IL pp 6 7 via Internet Archive a b Munden Kenneth W ed 1997 1971 The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures Produced in the United States Vol F2 Feature Films 1921 1930 Berkeley CA University of California Press p 466 ISBN 978 0 520 20969 5 McNeil H N ed January 12 1929 Lucky Boy Movie Age Vol 7 no 8 Minneapolis MN Associated Publications Inc p 16 ISSN 0006 8527 Lucky Boy Sentimental Hero Played by George Jessel Has Rough Road Attaining Stardom Other Photoplays The New York Times February 25 1929 Progressive Silent Film List Lucky Boy at silentera com Barrios Richard 1995 A Song in the Dark The Birth of the Musical Film Oxford University Press pp 12 16 145 146 ISBN 978 0 19 508811 3 Ross Allan C ed May 25 1928 Ghetto New Jessel Title Democrat and Chronicle Vol 96 no 59 Rochester NY Jerome D Barnum p 11 via Newspapers com Kingsley Grace May 16 1928 Writer is Chosen Director Los Angeles Times Vol 47 no 165 Part 2 p 10 via Newspapers com Dickson Edward A ed June 1 1929 Plays Pictures and Players Los Angeles Evening Express Vol 58 no 58 Dickson amp Earl p 14 via Newspapers com Fox Stuart August 1 1976 Jewish Films in the United States A Comprehensive Survey and Descriptive Filmography Boston MA G K Hall p 27 ISBN 9780816178933 Edwin M Bradley February 29 2016 Unsung Hollywood Musicals of the Golden Era 50 Overlooked Films and Their Stars 1929 1939 McFarland pp 12 16 ISBN 978 1 4766 2400 6 Trueblood Ralph W ed June 5 1928 Without Forty Winks The Los Angeles Times Vol 47 The Times Mirror Company Part 2 p 10 via Newspapers com Donald Crafton November 22 1999 The Talkies American Cinema s Transition to Sound 1926 1931 University of California Press pp 310 311 ISBN 978 0 520 22128 4 Conkling D H ed February 10 1929 Broadway Comedian Stars in Talkie at Arcade Theater The Palm Beach Post Vol 20 no 365 West Palm Beach FL The Post Publishing Co Section 1 p 4 via Newspapers com On Stage and Screen The Salt Lake Tribune Vol 118 no 13 Salt Lake City UT Salt Lake Tribune Publishing Company Associated Press October 28 1928 p 11 via Newspapers com Bradley Edwin M August 11 2004 The First Hollywood Musicals A Critical Filmography of 171 Features 1927 through 1932 McFarland pp 26 27 ISBN 978 0 7864 2029 2 Irving Zuelke Music Company March 8 1929 My Mother s Eyes The Post Crescent Ad Vol 50 no 240 Appleton WS The Post Publishing Company p 20 via Newspapers com Johnson Axel B ed March 28 1929 Analytical Notes and Reviews Phonograph Monthly Review Vol 3 no 6 Boston MA The Phonograph Publishing Co p 213 via Internet Archive Wilde Amanda May 7 2015 My Mother s Eyes The History Of A Ballad for Moms KUOW KUOW News and Information Archived from the original on January 11 2020 Taurog Norman Lucky Boy 1929 Various MP Motion Picture Collection ID 78925 Los Angeles CA Film amp Television Archive UCLA Library External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lucky Boy Lucky Boy at IMDb Synopsis at AllMovie Lobby cards at Vitaphone Varieties blog My Mother s Eyes at the Internet Archive Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lucky Boy 1929 film amp oldid 1135063178, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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