The Jazz Singer (1952)

Just out of the service from Korea, a young Jewish man (Danny Thomas) is expected by his father (Eduard Franz) to take over his duties as a cantor in the local synagogue when he retires. But the young man has show business aspirations. A remake of the 1927 movie and directed by Michael Curtiz (WHITE CHRISTMAS). The film was later remade in 1959 for TV with Jerry Lewis (with Franz again playing the father) and again as a feature film with Neil Diamond in 1980. The 1927 film is a landmark movie because it was the first sound film. As cinema however, it creaks and this version isn't an improvement. The title is a misnomer as Thomas isn't a jazz singer though his leading lady Peggy Lee is. Danny Thomas lacks a strong screen presence and he's not a particularly dynamite entertainer. He's not shown at his best but he went on to a major career in television. As the love interest, Peggy Lee is wasted as an actress (she would do better three years later receiving a supporting actress Oscar nomination for PETE KELLY'S BLUES) but her singing is the film's highlight. The film did receive an Oscar nomination for its musical scoring. If you're a Peggy Lee fan, you might want to check it out. Everyone else would be wise to steer clear of it. With Mildred Dunnock, Allyn Joslyn and Tom Tully.