BallWubba Wow! What a bizarre film! Unfortunately the few funny moments there were were quite overshadowed by it's completely weird and random vibe throughout.

FirstWitch A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

BelSports This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

Francene Odetta It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

jjnxn-1 Rich looking redo of the legendary Jolson film that revolutionized the film industry ushering sound in and silence out. The thing is that it was the technology that was the big deal about the film not the story which is pure hokum. However that seems to be something that the studio chose to ignore assuming the name recognition of the title would draw the crowds. The film did okay but it's a cornball exercise from start to finish. The main story was dated in '27 and is certainly no fresher in '52.Danny Thomas just didn't have the strength of personality to make it on the big screen. Watching him it becomes apparent why he made it on TV and not cinema. He has a nice, likable demeanor, the sort that worked so well for Perry Como and Dinah Shore when they likewise abandoned the big screen for the small, but he doesn't dominate his scenes the way a leading man has to. He does sing well although not nearly well enough to be the rage of New York he's supposed to be.That master of all genres Michael Curtiz moves the movie along well enough but it's too schmaltzy for him to be able to make it really memorable.Putting all that aside the best reason to catch the film is the presence of Peggy Lee in the cast. This was her acting debut and while she doesn't have the instantly easy relaxed acting style of Doris Day the role doesn't put big demands on her, she did much better a few years on in Pete Kelly's Blues. It doesn't matter though when she sings which fortunately is often. When she does that all the hokeyness melts away and the viewer is treated to a legend doing what she does best, sing. An extra bonus is that she performs one of her biggest hits, Lover, in an elegant club setting giving you an idea of what it was actually like to see her in person.Worth catching for Miss Lee but the story is sappy.

GeoPierpont I was pleasantly surprised to find the stylistic arrangements of Ms. Peggy Lee crooning several favorite tunes of the day. She has a most melodic voice and is absolutely stunning! I found her performance the most worthwhile aspect of this film.Danny Kay appears to try overly hard to make his character believable and moves more towards the theatrical vs emotionally wrought. Kay's comedy routines fall flat and is overshadowed by Ms. Lee in every scene. I could not wait to see more of her and was disappointed in her mostly secondary role. I think the only scene that let her acting chops shine bright was the phone call to Kay from the swanky New York apartment party.High recommend for Lee's rare film performance and sumptuous temple interior shots.

DKosty123 Michael Curtiz second musical directed in 2 years with Danny Thomas, this one a remake of the 1927 classic of the same name. The movie is quite watchable. Especially nostalgic is the color shots of Times Square as it used to be before today's LCD ads. Fans of Peggy Lee should catch this one. She looks fantastic and sounds great in the songs she does. The songs are good too. Thomas plays the Cantors son who wants to be a popular singer. Thomas does a lot of stand up comedy in this movie.Thomas is quite touching doing a special song for his mother late in the film. It is kind of strange that the same night he is called to his dying father's bedside. Why is mom at the show while dad is home ill? That is a little different for this era the film was made. The film is pretty good overall. Thomas fans will not want to miss this one either.

harveytk I saw this film back when it opened in the very early 50's at , I think,The Brooklyn Museum with my aunt and cousin. I must have been 6-7 years old at the time, and to this day I have never forgotten the film. I particularly remember Danny Thomas singing wonderfully in the film and was very taken with not only his performance of Jerry Golding but also of Eduard Franz who played his father. Wonderful remake of Jolson's original version which opened almost 20 years before I was born. I have always been a huge Jolson fan since I was a small boy, and I wonder if this film did not reinforce that. Sorry it is rarely shown on any Cable network. I have the original soundtrack and listen to it all the time. Great songs, great story, great acting, great film! By the way, I did not like the 1980 version at all.The story of a Korean war veteran returning home to start a new life as an entertainer instead of taking over the reins of succeeding his father as a Cantor was, I think, very relevant for that time and I think was depicted beautifully. Glad the plot had Mr. Franz recovering from his illness to enjoy his son's success at the end of the film. Nice touch!