Copyright 13 October 1939 by 20th Century-Fox Film Corp. New York opening at the Roxy: 13 October 1939. U.S. release: 13 October 1939. Australian release: 1 February 1940. Copyright length: 9,048 feet. 100½ minutes. Australian length: 8,739 feet. 97 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: Hollywood director signs ingénue, turns her into a star.
NOTES: The scene from The Jazz Singer is not a clip from the Warner Bros, film but a re-enactment which must have delighted Jolson no end as here he actually gets to sing "Kol Nidre". In the original his voice was dubbed by Cantor Joseff Rosenblatt
COMMENT: Alice Faye's first Technicolor film. The photographers have treated her most kindly and director Cummings has allowed her numerous attractive close-ups. She looks great in her Herschel costumes too. And her acting is nothing short of utterly entrancing.
Unfortunately, however, Alice doesn't get to sing a single note. It seems that three songs (including "Whispering" by John Schonberger, Richard Coburn and Vincent Rose) were recorded and shot by Alice. But they are no longer in the film. Presumably they were deleted merely to shorten the running time.
What is worse is the fact that the script for Hollywood Cavalcade - for all its good intentions - is not really worthy of her talents. Don Ameche comes over as a boringly brash and unendingly garrulous lead, while the rest of the cast is strictly second-rate. Yes, I include Al Jolson hamming it up with his "Kol Nidre" and Buster Keaton unfunnily throwing custard pies. Even the Keystone Cops lack the verve, the vitality, the split-second timing of the originals.
SYNOPSIS: Hollywood director signs ingénue, turns her into a star.
NOTES: The scene from The Jazz Singer is not a clip from the Warner Bros, film but a re-enactment which must have delighted Jolson no end as here he actually gets to sing "Kol Nidre". In the original his voice was dubbed by Cantor Joseff Rosenblatt
COMMENT: Alice Faye's first Technicolor film. The photographers have treated her most kindly and director Cummings has allowed her numerous attractive close-ups. She looks great in her Herschel costumes too. And her acting is nothing short of utterly entrancing.
Unfortunately, however, Alice doesn't get to sing a single note. It seems that three songs (including "Whispering" by John Schonberger, Richard Coburn and Vincent Rose) were recorded and shot by Alice. But they are no longer in the film. Presumably they were deleted merely to shorten the running time.
What is worse is the fact that the script for Hollywood Cavalcade - for all its good intentions - is not really worthy of her talents. Don Ameche comes over as a boringly brash and unendingly garrulous lead, while the rest of the cast is strictly second-rate. Yes, I include Al Jolson hamming it up with his "Kol Nidre" and Buster Keaton unfunnily throwing custard pies. Even the Keystone Cops lack the verve, the vitality, the split-second timing of the originals.