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The Singing Fool

December 14, 2023

The Singing Fool is a 1928 American musical drama part-talkie motion picture directed by Lloyd Bacon which was released by Warner Bros. The film stars Al Jolson and is a follow-up to his previous film, The Jazz Singer. It is credited with helping to cement the popularity of American films of both sound and the musical genre.

The Singing Fool
Directed byLloyd Bacon
Written byC. Graham Baker (scenario)
Joseph Jackson
(dialogue & titles)
Based on"The Singing Fool" (short story)
by Leslie Burrows
StarringAl Jolson
CinematographyByron Haskin
Edited byRalph Dawson
Harold McCord (uncredited)[1]
Music by(see article)
Production
company
Distributed byWarner Bros. Pictures
Release dates
September 19, 1928 (New York City)[1][2]
September 29, 1928 (United States)[1]
Running time
102 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$388,000[3][4]
Box office$5,916,000[5]

Plot edit

After years of hopeful struggle, Al Stone (Jolson) is on his way to stardom. He plays a blackface minstrel.

"I'm Sittin' on Top of the World", he sings to an appreciative speakeasy crowd. But, as Al discovers, getting there is one thing. Staying there is another. Singing waiter Stone gets his huge break on a magical night when his song wows a big-time producer and a gold-digging showgirl he fancies. Broadway success and marriage follow, but sure enough, hard times are on the way. Al's fickle wife abandons him, taking the beloved son he calls Sonny Boy with her. Heartbroken, Al becomes a devastated loner until friends from the speakeasy that launched his career rescue him from a life on the streets. Soon, Al is back in lights. But another crisis awaits: Sonny Boy is in the hospital and dying.

Cast edit

Production edit

Like The Jazz Singer, The Singing Fool was a melodrama with musical interludes, and as such was one of the film industry's first musical films. Produced during the transition period between silent film and talkies, the movie was released in both sound and silent versions.

The Singing Fool was a part-talking feature, which featured a synchronized musical score with sound effects along with synchronized musical and talking sequences, although in this film roughly 66 minutes of talking and singing were included.[3] Al Jolson's first all-talking feature, Say It With Songs, would appear in 1929.

Reception edit

The Singing Fool solidified Jolson's position atop the movie world; not until Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs would any sound-era film be more financially successful than this audience-pleasing blend of sentiment and show biz. With a worldwide gross of $5.9 million,[5] it would remain the most successful film in Warner Bros. history until the release of Sergeant York in 1941.[3]

According to Warner Bros records the film earned $3,821,000 domestically and $2,095,000 foreign.[4]

For the majority of movie audiences, The Singing Fool became their first experience with a talking film, since few movie theaters had been equipped with a sound system in 1927. The film's positive reception was also viewed as a signifier that sound films were here to stay. "Here is complete vindication for the advocates of sound pictures", wrote Film Daily. "The Singing Fool is the finest example of sound pictures made to date."[6] Mordaunt Hall of The New York Times wrote that the dialogue was "a little halting" and that Dunn was "not convincing", but recognized that the main point of interest in the film was "not in its transparent narrative, but in Mr. Jolson's inimitable singing", and on that basis it was "capital entertainment."[7] John Mosher of The New Yorker also recommended the film, writing, "Fortunately, throughout this picture one has Al Jolson's own songs to listen to, for the story has been contrived to exploit to the full his special talents. Whenever the action begins to slump and lag, Al has only to step forward and do his stuff, and the day is saved."[8] One trade paper commentator stated that The Singing Fool "will be to talking pictures what The Birth of a Nation has been to silent pictures".[3]

For a time, the film also made Davey Lee, Jolson's 31⁄2 year old co-star, the most popular child star since Jackie Coogan. Lee was re-teamed with Jolson in Say It With Songs and starred in a few other films—including 1929's Sonny Boy—until his parents pulled him out of the movie business.[3]

The film is recognized by American Film Institute in these lists:

Songs edit

Popular songs from the catalogs of DeSylva, Brown and Henderson, and Rose and Jolson were primarily used.

Deleted scenes edit

Al Jolson's rendition of "The Spaniard That Blighted My Life" is missing from extant prints of the film. This is due to a lawsuit initiated by the song's author, Billy Merson. Merson claimed that he, as a performer, owed his income to his own renditions of the song, and that Jolson's version would diminish his ability to earn a living. The song was removed from all prints of "The Singing Fool" shown in the United Kingdom. Unfortunately, the only surviving copies of the film are also from the U.K., hence are missing the song. These copies also have the majority of the original decorative Warner Brothers title cards replaced with simple British made ones which were used to remove Americanisms which the British would not understand or appreciate (a common practice during the silent era). Only the soundtrack survives on extant Vitaphone discs.

See also edit

References edit

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e The Singing Fool at the American Film Institute Catalog
  2. ^ Furia, Philip; Patterson, Laurie (2010). The Songs of Hollywood. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press. p. 26. ISBN 9780199792665.
  3. ^ a b c d e Bradley, Edwin M. (1996). The First Hollywood Musicals: A Critical Filmography of 171 Features, 1927 Through 1932. McFarland & Company. pp. 10–12. ISBN 9780786420292.
  4. ^ a b Warner Bros financial information in The William Shaefer Ledger. See Appendix 1, Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, (1995) 15:sup1, 1-31 p 7 DOI: 10.1080/01439689508604551
  5. ^ a b Glancy, H Mark (1995). "Warner Bros Film Grosses, 1921–51: the William Schaefer ledger". Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television. 15: 55–73. doi:10.1080/01439689500260031.
  6. ^ "The Singing Fool". Film Daily. New York: Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc.: 6 September 23, 1928.
  7. ^ Hall, Mordaunt (September 20, 1928). "Movie Review – The Singing Fool". The New York Times. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
  8. ^ Mosher, John (September 29, 1928). "The Current Cinema". The New Yorker: 77.
  9. ^ "AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs Nominees" (PDF). Retrieved August 5, 2016.

Further reading

  • Staff (September 23, 1928) "Two Sound Pictures", The New York Times
  • Green, Stanley (1999) Hollywood Musicals Year by Year (2nd ed.), pub. Hal Leonard Corporation ISBN 0-634-00765-3

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Singing Fool.

December 14, 2023
singing, fool, 1928, american, musical, drama, part, talkie, motion, picture, directed, lloyd, bacon, which, released, warner, bros, film, stars, jolson, follow, previous, film, jazz, singer, credited, with, helping, cement, popularity, american, films, both, . The Singing Fool is a 1928 American musical drama part talkie motion picture directed by Lloyd Bacon which was released by Warner Bros The film stars Al Jolson and is a follow up to his previous film The Jazz Singer It is credited with helping to cement the popularity of American films of both sound and the musical genre The Singing FoolDirected byLloyd BaconWritten byC Graham Baker scenario Joseph Jackson dialogue amp titles Based on The Singing Fool short story by Leslie BurrowsStarringAl JolsonCinematographyByron HaskinEdited byRalph DawsonHarold McCord uncredited 1 Music by see article ProductioncompanyWarner Bros PicturesDistributed byWarner Bros PicturesRelease datesSeptember 19 1928 New York City 1 2 September 29 1928 United States 1 Running time102 minutes 1 CountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishBudget 388 000 3 4 Box office 5 916 000 5 Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Production 4 Reception 5 Songs 6 Deleted scenes 7 See also 8 References 9 External linksPlot editAfter years of hopeful struggle Al Stone Jolson is on his way to stardom He plays a blackface minstrel I m Sittin on Top of the World he sings to an appreciative speakeasy crowd But as Al discovers getting there is one thing Staying there is another Singing waiter Stone gets his huge break on a magical night when his song wows a big time producer and a gold digging showgirl he fancies Broadway success and marriage follow but sure enough hard times are on the way Al s fickle wife abandons him taking the beloved son he calls Sonny Boy with her Heartbroken Al becomes a devastated loner until friends from the speakeasy that launched his career rescue him from a life on the streets Soon Al is back in lights But another crisis awaits Sonny Boy is in the hospital and dying Cast editAl Jolson as Al Stone Betty Bronson as Grace Josephine Dunn as Molly Winton Arthur Housman as Blackie Joe Reed Howes as John Perry Davey Lee as Sonny Boy Edward Martindel as Louis Marcus Robert O Connor as Bill cafe owner Helen Lynch as Maid Agnes Franey as Balloon girl The Yacht Club Boys as Singing quartet Jack Stoutenburg uncredited Carl M Leviness as Carl a Waiter at Clicquot Club uncredited William H O Brien as Waiter at Blackie Joe s uncredited Bob Perry as Doorman at Blackie Joe s uncredited Production editLike The Jazz Singer The Singing Fool was a melodrama with musical interludes and as such was one of the film industry s first musical films Produced during the transition period between silent film and talkies the movie was released in both sound and silent versions The Singing Fool was a part talking feature which featured a synchronized musical score with sound effects along with synchronized musical and talking sequences although in this film roughly 66 minutes of talking and singing were included 3 Al Jolson s first all talking feature Say It With Songs would appear in 1929 Reception editThe Singing Fool solidified Jolson s position atop the movie world not until Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs would any sound era film be more financially successful than this audience pleasing blend of sentiment and show biz With a worldwide gross of 5 9 million 5 it would remain the most successful film in Warner Bros history until the release of Sergeant York in 1941 3 According to Warner Bros records the film earned 3 821 000 domestically and 2 095 000 foreign 4 For the majority of movie audiences The Singing Fool became their first experience with a talking film since few movie theaters had been equipped with a sound system in 1927 The film s positive reception was also viewed as a signifier that sound films were here to stay Here is complete vindication for the advocates of sound pictures wrote Film Daily The Singing Fool is the finest example of sound pictures made to date 6 Mordaunt Hall of The New York Times wrote that the dialogue was a little halting and that Dunn was not convincing but recognized that the main point of interest in the film was not in its transparent narrative but in Mr Jolson s inimitable singing and on that basis it was capital entertainment 7 John Mosher of The New Yorker also recommended the film writing Fortunately throughout this picture one has Al Jolson s own songs to listen to for the story has been contrived to exploit to the full his special talents Whenever the action begins to slump and lag Al has only to step forward and do his stuff and the day is saved 8 One trade paper commentator stated that The Singing Fool will be to talking pictures what The Birth of a Nation has been to silent pictures 3 For a time the film also made Davey Lee Jolson s 31 2 year old co star the most popular child star since Jackie Coogan Lee was re teamed with Jolson in Say It With Songs and starred in a few other films including 1929 s Sonny Boy until his parents pulled him out of the movie business 3 The film is recognized by American Film Institute in these lists 2004 AFI s 100 Years 100 Songs Sonny Boy Nominated 9 Songs editPopular songs from the catalogs of DeSylva Brown and Henderson and Rose and Jolson were primarily used There s a Rainbow Round My Shoulder words and music by Billy Rose Al Jolson and Dave Dreyer Golden Gate words by Billy Rose and Dave Dreyer music by Al Jolson and Joseph Meyer I m Sittin on Top of the World words by Sam Lewis and Joe Young music by Ray Henderson It All Depends on You words and music by Lew Brown B G DeSylva and Ray Henderson Keep Smiling at Trouble words by Al Jolson and B G DeSylva music by Lewis Gensler Sonny Boy words and music by Lew Brown B G DeSylva and Ray Henderson Sonny Boy became the first song from a movie to sell over a million copies It eventually sold over 3 million copies of sheet music piano rolls and phonograph records The Spaniard That Blighted My Life Billy Merson see below Source 1 Deleted scenes editAl Jolson s rendition of The Spaniard That Blighted My Life is missing from extant prints of the film This is due to a lawsuit initiated by the song s author Billy Merson Merson claimed that he as a performer owed his income to his own renditions of the song and that Jolson s version would diminish his ability to earn a living The song was removed from all prints of The Singing Fool shown in the United Kingdom Unfortunately the only surviving copies of the film are also from the U K hence are missing the song These copies also have the majority of the original decorative Warner Brothers title cards replaced with simple British made ones which were used to remove Americanisms which the British would not understand or appreciate a common practice during the silent era Only the soundtrack survives on extant Vitaphone discs See also editList of early sound feature films 1926 1929 List of early Warner Bros talking featuresReferences editNotes a b c d e The Singing Fool at the American Film Institute Catalog Furia Philip Patterson Laurie 2010 The Songs of Hollywood Oxford and New York Oxford University Press p 26 ISBN 9780199792665 a b c d e Bradley Edwin M 1996 The First Hollywood Musicals A Critical Filmography of 171 Features 1927 Through 1932 McFarland amp Company pp 10 12 ISBN 9780786420292 a b Warner Bros financial information in The William Shaefer Ledger See Appendix 1 Historical Journal of Film Radio and Television 1995 15 sup1 1 31 p 7 DOI 10 1080 01439689508604551 a b Glancy H Mark 1995 Warner Bros Film Grosses 1921 51 the William Schaefer ledger Historical Journal of Film Radio and Television 15 55 73 doi 10 1080 01439689500260031 The Singing Fool Film Daily New York Wid s Films and Film Folk Inc 6 September 23 1928 Hall Mordaunt September 20 1928 Movie Review The Singing Fool The New York Times Retrieved February 20 2015 Mosher John September 29 1928 The Current Cinema The New Yorker 77 AFI s 100 Years 100 Songs Nominees PDF Retrieved August 5 2016 Further reading Staff September 23 1928 Two Sound Pictures The New York Times Green Stanley 1999 Hollywood Musicals Year by Year 2nd ed pub Hal Leonard Corporation ISBN 0 634 00765 3External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Singing Fool The Singing Fool at the American Film Institute Catalog The Singing Fool at IMDb Synopsis at AllMovie Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Singing Fool amp oldid 1179411510, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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