A MELODIOUS COMEDY

Taranaki Daily News, 14 October 1933, Page 8 (Supplement)

A MELODIOUS COMEDY

AL JOLBON*S RE-APPEARANCE. “HALLELUJAH EM A TRAMPS Al Jolson was one of the first successes of the talking pictures and he planted the melody of the song “Sonny Boy” in every coiner of the earth. Then, he had a set-back for some considerable period. He has made a wonderful return in. the picture “Hallelujah I’m a Tramp,” to show at the Regent next week, and where the film has already been shown the public has in the words of the song of the same name been ready to give Al Jolson “a hand out.” There is more than that to recommend the picture, which is a whimsical story of tramps and big - city mayors, poverty and riches, a poor man’s love and disappointment. One of the most interesting features of tie picture is the “photographic music.” AH previous forms of music on screen or stage have been thrown overboard and “photographic music” runs throughout the ■ picture and constantly moves with the story. Although Jolson will introduce several new numbers that fit perfectly into the story as a whole, there wiH be no songs, as such, despite the fact that Al is the greatest popular singer America has ever produced. Instead, dramatic action, the flow of photography and the humour and pathos of the characters of the story will be in- ' herent in the' music. In other words, whole scenes will be played to photographic music and lyrics. This form is not like that of the stage comic-opera or . musical comedy, nor is it like the movie stories which are interpreted by popular songs. It is music and lyrics written expressly for the camera. The popular Ralph Morgan, Harry Langdon and Chester Conklin, making a welcome re-ap-pearance, are in support. On the same programme wiH be a British comedy feature, “His Lordship,” with the popular Jerry Vemo.