Stuff

The 1940s brought two musicals worthy of your attention.

1946 brought us “The Jolson Story”. This is a much sanitised version of the life of Al Jolson. While there are vague events that are true, it is largely a work of fiction with characters and events created for the purpose of the film. Jolson looks good, and even he (for real) remarked about how nice it made him. His only fault is that he is a workaholic. And arrogant.

Larry Parks plays the singer and is quite splendid. Jolson himself sings the songs and there are many favourites to enjoy.

The film was such a hit that a sequel was made very quickly, “Jolson Sings Again”. In a kind of weirdly surreal way, this continues the story up to the creation of the first film. Parks plays Jolson meeting Parks being cast in the first movie. The real Jolson watches.

Sadly, huge chunks of the first movie are included, as padding and because so many of the best tunes had already been included in the first.

But you feel you have to watch it.

Earlier in the decade, Cagney appeared as composer/performer George M Cohan, a name best associated with Broadway in New York. You may not know of Cohan, but you will know some of his tunes, especially “Over There” and “Give My Regards To Broadway”.

Cagney does his rather stiff legged dancing but apparently it was quite similar to Cohan’s. The producers took steps to accurately reproduce many aspects of the original productions too.

For us, the best part is the sound, which won an Oscar, as did Cagney. In fact, it won four Oscars, and while the story is dated and excessively patriotic (in war time), it’s still a great story.

It’s not Xmas, but it will be soon.

This 1947 ‘comedy’ is one of my favourite films.

There is no way that it could take place anywhere but New York. Macy’s big store is the centre of attention but others are mentioned.

The plot is simple: the genuine Santa Claus is employed by Macy’s to talk to children and learn about their gifts. But the in-store ‘psychiatrist’ seeks to prove he is not really Santa, just a crazy old man. Is he really Santa or not?

The film features a very young Natalie Wood. She plays the rather obnoxious child of Mrs Walker, Maureen O’Hara, who has always told her that Santa does not exist.

The story covers a lot about mental health. The role of the psychiatrist is very prominent. He undermines people’s confidence, tells them they have problems and offers to ‘treat’ them.

In the end, the truth about Kris Kringle, Edmund Gwenn, has to come out. In a court case, can be be proved legally that he really is Santa?

No spoilers here. Watch the film.

Of course, Gwenn is just wonderful in the roll. It is well documented that the cast and crew got on extremely well. And the film has some wonderful moments, one being when Santa talks to the little orphan girl in Dutch and they sing a little song (and there are no subtitles). Sublime!

I want to mention one more film of the 1930s. It was a great era for film, and there are certainly dozens more films we could include, but here we have “Make Way For Tomorrow”.

It’s a 90 minute (or so) film directed by Leo McCarey (who also did films for Laurel and Hardy and The Marx Brothers) and it stars Victor Moore and Beulah Bondi. If you don’t recognise the names, you will the faces, though it is hard under the makeup.

The story is a simple one: Bark and Lucy are an elderly couple who come on hard times. They lose their home. Their adult children are reluctant to look after them, so they have to move to separate retirement homes. Before they do, they enjoy one carefree night together in the city. The random people they meet show more kindness to them than any of their children.

Orson Welles said it is the saddest film ever made. Others have said it is just a depressing tear jerker about old people. I have watched it with someone who said it was a happy film because they got a nice day together. To me, that just makes it even sadder.

That’s it’s probably true to life and happening all the time, even now in some way, just makes it even worse.

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