"JEWISH SOUL: TEN CLASSICS OF YIDDISH CINEMA""
This welcome new five-disc Blu-ray box set from Kino Lorber gives us a new admiration for vintage Yiddish films. Diverse and surprisingly entertaining and absorbing, the entries in this collection provide laughter, tears and insights.
Restored by Lobster Films, Paris, the 10 films, primarily in Yiddish, with snippets of Hebrew and English, feature conscientious new translations by historian Allen Lewis Rickman. He manages to retain the power of dramatic moments, as well as to keep the sparkle in the wordplay. These movies provide a better understanding of Yiddish theatre, as well, as most of the cast members came directly from the stage.
The first disc opens with the classic horror story, "The Dybbuk." Spirits rising from the dead, a possessed bride and tragic love -- what more could one ask? This is a gripping 1937 version, benefitting from some scenes that reflect the influence of German expressionist cinema of the 20s and 30s. This disc also contains "American Matchmaker." This breezy 1940 romantic comedy stars "the Jewish Fred Astaire," the charming Leo Fuchs, who gets the chance to croon several tunes. It was directed by Edgar G. Ulmer, known for directing darker fare, such as "The Black Cat" and film noir gem "Detour."
"Her Second Mother" is an appealing comedy-drama in which a young woman, crushed to learn she was adopted, takes the rap for her sister, who had been duped by an embezzling, married boyfriend. Stealing the picture is the hilarious Yetta Zwerling, who plays a garrulous, gambling-addicted neighbor woman who's always bickering with her struggling hubby. Like several other films in the set, this one was directed by Joseph Seiden.
The Kino set moves to a drastic change of tone. "Mir Kumen On" ("Children Must Laugh") is a compelling 1936 documentary that takes us to a rural Polish tuberculosis sanitarium that brings health and joy to poor Jewish kids from the city. The idyllic nature of this facility is clouded by the added prologue that informs us that the Nazis later swooped in and transported children and staff to a death camp.
1939's "Tevya" is one of the most engaging films here. It's based on Sholem Aleichem's beloved character, Tevya the Dairyman, who was immortalized in the musical "Fiddler on the Roof." The earlier film version is a poignant depiction of life in Eastern Europe under the thumb of the Tsar. It doesn't shy away from the insidious anti-Semitism that was prevalent. The Jews are tolerated, but resented by the Gentiles. Intermarriage deeply disturbs both communities. When his daughter marries out of the faith, Tevya must decide whether to cut her out of his life completely. Maurice Schwartz, the legendary Yiddish theatre star, makes Tevya a tremendously sympathetic character. Schwartz wrote and directed the film.
In "Overture to Glory," we enter the synagogue and listen to the stirring voice of a cantor who soon forsakes his religious calling to seek a career as a professional opera singer. "Eli Eli" introduces us to an elderly couple forced to sell the family farm, who turn to their ungrateful, city-dwelling adult children.
"The Jewish King Lear," based on a popular Yiddish play, is set in 1892 Vilna. It focuses on a wealthy merchant and his fractured family. It's a powerful drama with a moving performance by Maurice Krohner in the title role.
"Motel the Operator" slaves over a sewing machine in a little factory. During a strike over unfair wages and treatment, he suffers a brain injury at the hands of the boss's goons. His wife, starving, is forced to give their baby up for adoption. She goes mad. But maybe their son can have a happy ending.
The phenomenon of American Yiddish-language films was coming to an end, when "Three Daughters" was released in 1949. Directed by Joseph Seiden, the movie features the head of the family who's agonizing over the assimilation the younger generation is embracing. One daughter carries a terrible secret, another reluctantly marries a successful businessman, while she's still in love with a musician.
So the range here goes from impressive artistic projects to formulaic, but fun B-movie fare. It's all enjoyable to experience. Whether sentimental, amusing or melodramatic, the movies in this set all expand our knowledge of Yiddish culture, traditions and sensibilities.
This important Kino collection comes with an informative booklet and wonderfully illuminating commentary tracks for several of the films.
