George Jessel was still bitter over his "Jazz Singer" snub (apparently he had demanded more money, so they went to the next option - Al Jolson) - so for "Lucky Boy" at Tiffany he starred, sang almost all the songs, wrote the dialogue and penned the titles for this hybrid musical, released the day after "The Broadway Melody" but to far less fanfare. Tiffany-Stahl was a very ambitious, independent studio that considered itself the MGM of poverty row. Initially filmed as a silent, "The Ghetto", and the initial feature of up and coming director Norman Taurog, once talkies began to take hold Tiffany informed Jessel that the film could only be released with songs and speech. Jessel was already starring on Broadway in "The War Song" so he bought the show's cast with him. This included a young Glenda Farrell who made the most of her uncredited bit as a sassy secretary. Tiffany also offered Jessel a 25% share of the profits but he asked for a flat fee, something he must have regretted with the movie's huge popularity.
"My Blackbirds Are Bluebirds Now" is the first of many songs that confidant song plugger Georgie Jessel (well it is a reworking of the singer's life) puts over - much to the disgust of his poppa who wants him to go into the family jewelry business. He puts on a show "Georgie Jessel's Bronx Follies" with one of the worst acts ever seen on the movies - a sister singing act "Patty and Fields", who absolutely murder "Sweeping the Cobwebs From the Moon" before mercifully getting the hook. The show isn't a success and Jessel heads West, by this time having sung the movie's theme song "My Mother's Eyes" several times.
This is were the plot becomes more involving, he meets the Ellis', Mrs. Ellis (Gwen Lee) having a dalliance with the man who is supposed to be marrying her husband's daughter Eleanor (pretty Margaret Quimby). Even though at the movie's start you met Becky (Mary Doran) a tenement girl who strongly believes in Georgie, the stage is now set for Georgie and Eleanor to find true happiness together. Gwen Lee is given the only bit of drama: she receives a ruby ring from lover Trent and tries to pass it off as a fake to her husband. Enter jeweller Jessel who knows a real ruby when he sees it, but the emotions expressed by the distressed Lee shows him it would be helpful all around to call the stone a fake!!
Even though it was a complete rip off of "The Jazz Singer", it was given favourable reviews - Time's reviewer actually preferred it to "The Broadway Melody" (they must have been mad!!!) and Variety also compared Jessel to Jolson with "even though no one can put over a song like Al, Jessel is a very finished performer"!!
"My Blackbirds Are Bluebirds Now" is the first of many songs that confidant song plugger Georgie Jessel (well it is a reworking of the singer's life) puts over - much to the disgust of his poppa who wants him to go into the family jewelry business. He puts on a show "Georgie Jessel's Bronx Follies" with one of the worst acts ever seen on the movies - a sister singing act "Patty and Fields", who absolutely murder "Sweeping the Cobwebs From the Moon" before mercifully getting the hook. The show isn't a success and Jessel heads West, by this time having sung the movie's theme song "My Mother's Eyes" several times.
This is were the plot becomes more involving, he meets the Ellis', Mrs. Ellis (Gwen Lee) having a dalliance with the man who is supposed to be marrying her husband's daughter Eleanor (pretty Margaret Quimby). Even though at the movie's start you met Becky (Mary Doran) a tenement girl who strongly believes in Georgie, the stage is now set for Georgie and Eleanor to find true happiness together. Gwen Lee is given the only bit of drama: she receives a ruby ring from lover Trent and tries to pass it off as a fake to her husband. Enter jeweller Jessel who knows a real ruby when he sees it, but the emotions expressed by the distressed Lee shows him it would be helpful all around to call the stone a fake!!
Even though it was a complete rip off of "The Jazz Singer", it was given favourable reviews - Time's reviewer actually preferred it to "The Broadway Melody" (they must have been mad!!!) and Variety also compared Jessel to Jolson with "even though no one can put over a song like Al, Jessel is a very finished performer"!!