Eddie Cantor- My Baby Just Cares For Me (2)

[ajabrams]

In reference to one of the comments below--Eddie is singing "Bud Rogers is not her man" not Buck Rogers. The lyric refers to Buddy Rogers, a popular juvenile romantic lead at the time this film was made. Rogers was married to Mary Pickford.

[fromthesidelines]

Keep in mind that it wasn't "offensive" at that time for musical comedy stars such as Eddie Cantor, Al Jolson, George Jessel, et. al., to perform in "blackface" in vaudeville, on Broadway [as Eddie did in the original production of "Whoopee!']...and movies.

[darkhorsegeorge]

oh wow people are thinking this is racist? they did this ALL the time. blackface was rarely done in malice. the marx bros got into the same hot water and yet they had a huge musical number with black people in a day at the races. this is ridiculous. i dont think hed be doing this with racist undertones

[baghend]

Eddie Iskowitz would know all about racism- being a Jew- and he was no racist. This-blackface- was the times- politically incorrect now and certainly offensive now- but we have moved on, hopefully. (though not the South for the most part) The America of the times was Jim Crow and blacks were being lynched in Alabama- and Jews persecuted everywhere.

And I don't think there's a law about being offended is there? Its not hate to make fun of some one or some group. Lighten up.

[GooglFascists]

@baghend Don't EVER accuse our beloved Eddie of racism! He had a young

Sammy Davis Jr. on his TV show in the 50s and after a dance number Cantor

embraced Davis & wiped Davis' brow on camera. The sponsors threatened to

cancel Cantor's show, and his answer was to HOLD Sammy Davis over as a

guest for TWO MORE WEEKS.

Eddie Cantor was a national treasure and there's never been another like him.

If he was around today he would be a strident voice against the police state

advancing in America

[chaksheba]

What movie is this from?

[ElachimArtist]

where did you get this good print from? The film is sadly not available on DVD.

[merbenzgill]

eddie cantor sang with no high performance sound tracks like now that make you sound good he was good and put across a song better then any one could . folks that tried tro sing his songs are a flop he had such a high range of singing and could dance as well all tihings pass and new come in none like him

[HarborGuy]

It was part of our History. Get over it..........It happened. Now we have it in reverse with "white face" and that is accepted. What goes around comes around!

[adnukum]

and the girls behind him are so nice to look at and the piano player makes me envious

[adnukum]

I LOVE THIS WITH MY WHOLE HEART.

[adnukum]

THIS MAKES ME DANCE AROUND THE ROOM HAPPY!!!!!!!!!

[millfordsange]

ugly

[utterlyviolet]

Do you think Simone knew about this version when she sang her version? I'm all for Eddie, but I thought Simone was against derogatory depictions of American-Americans.

[RobbieTyler1]

MY BABYS NO GILBERT FAN... (John Gilbert American Actor died age 36 in 1936 of a heart attack. He suffered terribly when "talkies" came out due to having a funny voice put his name in youtube to hear him)

RONALD COLEMANS NOT HER MAN ( English actor died in 1958 at 67)

MY BABY DON'T CARE FOR LAWRENCE TIBBETT (American opera singer 1896 - 1960)

BUCK ROGERS IS NOT HER STYLE (popular sci- fi character) AND EVEN CHEVALIERS SMILE (Maurice Chevalier 1888-1972 was a French actor & singer)

[maxiemom1]

@RobbieTyler1 Just for the record, John Gilbert' did NOT have a funny voice (ever seen "Queen Christina"? He sounds a lot like Joseph Cotton!). He was the victim of a vindictive L. B. Mayer who DELIBERATELY had the treble on his microphone turned up so his voice would sound funny...  Also watch his "Romeo and Juliet" scene with Norma Shearer in the "Hollywood Revue" from 1929. which PROVES his voice was just fine. That story needs to DISAPPEAR!

[jknuttel]

@RobbieTyler1 Thanks for this info. A minor correction: There is no "e" in Ronald Colman's last name.

[sirsamfay99]

Eddie Cantor...one of the greatest entertainers ever. Why bring up arguments about blackface when it was just a theatrical convention? Cantor spoke out about prejudice against black performers when it was not at all fashionable to do so.

[WTFCrewBomber]

I can't believe intelectual effort was wasted debating about a performace in an 80 year old movie. You all do know who the president is right?

[sallygal7]

If you just listen to the singing it's actually a very good version of this song. Can't touch Nina Simone, though.

[garzaeduardo]

what a ton of shit!!!

[errolfan]

I love the reaction of the chorus girls in this number. They actually seem to be interested in Eddie's antics. The laugh from the girl next to him at 1:14 shows that it must have been an early take. The first time I heard the rhyming of Tibbetts with kibbutz, I laughed too.

[jannetie]

@errolfan

That's actually "kibitz".

[jannetie]

@errolfan

That's actually "kibitz", you know, like 'your mother is out kibitzing with Mrs. Schwartz over the back fence'...

[TheDrippy3]

I know a black guy who likes Amos and Andy. Of course I think Green Acres is funny sometimes, even though almost everyone acts like they're retarded or trying to scam someone or both. That Lucky Charms thing might get a little rough if the leprechaun had 8 children, a drinking problem, couldn't read and was constantly getting in fights. And one of the charms was a pink elephant.

[anotherjoshua]

of course it was racist. who would debate that? black face turned an entire group of human beings into cartoon characters. the fact that it was a theatrical tradition doesn't mitigate the insulting nature of it. it just means they were insensitive and saw blacks as undignified, clownish figures.

[colinwells4]

@anotherjoshua Couldn't agree more!

[heart95ful]

My grandpa was a great dancer ...it's too bad that nobody knew he was Eddie's dance double!! I get to sign on to you tube to watch him whenever I want to...

[MrGallagher]

I love the reactions of the girls behind him. In fact, has the one on the left ever seen this number? Her reactions imply this is the first time she's ever heard it, she charmingly laughs all the way through it. :-)

[whkelly]

@hcig

"im a racist"

Seriously man? It's the 21st century. Join it.

[1noblegent]

Blackface was an artistic political tool that allowed performers to rebel against laws and social customs that forbade white people from performing ethinic music. Blackface was a weapon at the forefront of the battle for civil liberties in the U.S. and Europe. Blackface was a necessary tool and should be appreciated as such for the cause of racial integration. With out it this nation and the world perhaps would still be segregated.

[WSenator1]

If you want a STARK contrast to this clip, check out Nina Simone's version of this song on YouTube.

[voglesque89]

@WSenator1 Nina Simone is pretty great

[WSenator1]

@voglesque89 - Pretty great, she is. Seeing her video and hearing her voice does a lot more for me than Eddie Cantor's rendition.

[tencooktcats]

few years ago hollywood didnt like being reminded by ted danson that many early stars started in blackface-probably cause its still done by so many musicians/actors-they just forgot to blacken up

[KittenToez]

I think it's sad they couldn't get a real black guy, but blacks did whiteface, too.

[falvo244]

@KittenToez

[WSenator1]

@KittenToez - They did it so they could taste something of the big time (like Bert Williams in the Ziegfeld Follies). Otherwise they'd be living hand to mouth like most black folks of the time - or worse.

[scotpens]

Compare this peppy, upbeat Eddie Cantor number with Julie London's sultry, jazzy rendition from her 1964 TV concert in Japan -- it's almost like a completely different song.

[Tootsy39]

ehhhmagawd how dare he!

[LKayL1]

He looks frightening.

[jdsmyhero85]

How is this video in such great quality?  The copy I have is total crap...this is beautiful!

[TheCrimsonSkull]

It was off the Laserdisc which is of fantastic quality.

[jdsmyhero85]

Eddie was and still is SO CUTE!!! I just LOVE him!

[RayDAider]

As an Irishman, I'm highly offended at Kelloggs Lucky Charms cereal. I really think they should stop making it or call it something else and change the image, or maybe I should just get over it. Hmm?

[voglesque89]

That's not at all comparable, my friend.

[jdsmyhero85]

@voglesque89 Why not??????

[hcig]

@voglesque89

actually, it IS, black face was rarely done in malice, just like when actors would portray an asian, they would squint their eyes, or when playing a celt, they would put on a red wig and freckles

its kind of insulting, but not done out of hate, so no matter the history (because it has nothing to do with the history) it should simply be taken as entertainment.

now lets see if anybody takes me out of context, and claims i just said im a racist.

[voglesque89]

@hcig I am not going to grant validity to a comparison between breakfast cereal leprechauns and the history of racial portrayance in american entertainment. What the original complaint would be similar to is me, for example, being offended by troll dolls because they're iconic of scandinavian culture. I'm all for keeping this argument grounded outside of fairy tale, which is why I took issue with the original poster making light of how blackface makes some people feel.

[Jeffari1]

@voglesque89 Hahaha breafast cereal leprechauns.. Remember in that movie Leprechaun when the leprechaun eats the lucky charms cereal and gets all disgusted and spits it out. Haha that was some good shit.

[WalDemento999]

@hcig There's 6 billion people on this planet, somebody's going to think you're racist. But I don't think you're racist, I'm just giving you a heads up.

[chinashopjada]

@hcig

your are correct

& actually original blackface was done by blacks....but once minstrel became popular producers decided they'd rather have white actors, singers & dancers pretending to be black for white audiences instead of hiring actual black folks to do minstrel songs & music.

[jarsonist]

@voglesque89 Well yes it is! It's the same thing! Grow 0up or get the fuck out? The micks, the krauts, the paddys, the wops, the guineas, the polacks, the frogs, the HUNS! Fuck off, you moron!

[jdsmyhero85]

@RayDAider That was AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[WSenator1]

@RayDAider - Did they lynch Irishmen for looking at non-Irish women? Did the Irish pick cotton in Alabama? Did Irish have Jim McCrow laws to keep them in slavery? Did they have minstrel shows where non-Irish performers made up in greenface?  Somehow I don't think that all Irishmen are as imbecilic as you are.

[ls3033]

@RayDAider I'm Irish too, but no. What would be the same is if lucky charms portrayed the Irish monkeyman caricatures that used to be common in Victorian England. (look that up if you don't know what it is) But that is not the case--please, learn from the history of oppression that the Irish people have suffered and understand that is a reason to EMPATHIZE with racial oppression, not to dismiss it.

[mineurbizness]

@RayDAider so sorry about your feelings theres no option in this u would have to get over it...to much money is being made on the name brand cereal

[soulierinvestments]

Long way to Nina Simone

[WSenator1]

@soulierinvestments - That's no lie!

[theboombody]

Darn, I looked for this on Netflix and couldn't find it. Maybe it'll be public domain soon.

[falvo244]

Theboombody,

This, as well as a number of other Eddie Cantor films, were released to videotape in the 1990's. A friend of mine from college had them, & loaned them to me. So, I have copies I made of those tapes, for myself.

If you do an E-Bay search, you'll likely be able to find previousely viewed tapes of "Whoopee" for sale. I hope you do get a copy, as it's a great film!

[sne19]

i dont find this funny, one thing comes to mind ( uncle tom )

[Bonnies76]

Well, that "one thing" comes from your mind, not Mr. Cantor's. What I see is a talented and funny entertainer of the twenties and thirties.

[falvo244]

Um, the Uncle Tom character in "Uncle Tom's Cabin" was a black slave, who co-operated with the slaveowner Simon Legree. So, how does "Uncle Tom" apply here?

If you were refering to the colored cook in the 3 Stooges film: "A Plumbing We Will Go", I could see you saying he was an "Uncle Tom", playing to whites' expetations of how a negro would act (e.g.: "This house has sho' gone crazy"). It would also apply to the black actors in T.V.'s "Amos n' Andy".

But I don't see how it applies here.

[diddymuck]

uncle tom was beaten to death by two overseers for NOT capitulating with Legree (a Northerner, BTW). Uncle tom was not an ancient man, but around 30. He wasn't called Uncle by the white family but the fellow captives who saw him as inspirational. And further the two overseers who beat him to death immediately converted to the other side after Tom's noble demise.

[NYInterfaith]

This is great and a performer should not have to shoulder the nation's burden of racism just because of this style. There is a lot of love in what he does, I think.

In fact I think both white face and black face and travesties like men in frocks can still be funny and liberate us from our labels.

Snazzy!

[SeeburgMusic]

I'm watching it in blackface

[theboombody]

This video description is hilarious.

"Don't hurt me. I didn't do it.  I just showed it."

[falvo244]

Eddie Cantor is wonderful, & such a talented preformer!! And, it's a great example of 2-strip Technicolor!!!!

Reagrding the fact that he's doing a blackface act... All I'll say is that we can't expect people 70 years ago to behave according to our present day social mores. He was a product of his time.

All in all, it's a wonderful clip! Thank's SO MUCH for sharing it!!!!

[MuzzyVanH]

yes,...at least he didn't have a 'wardrobe malfunction',....just talent!

[antoniod]

That he's in blackface isn't as offensive as the heroine saying "How dare you speak to me like that" when she doesn't recognise him.

[joehancock01]

yaaay hes in black face...

[schellack78]

I love Eddie Cantor, i hope u don´t mind my using a short part of this video for my remix of the Ambrose-version of this song (here on YouTube)

[viddrome]

Amazing to realize that Nina Simone created an entirely different hit composition from this tune. Her version doesn't sound anything like this- other than the lyrics. Both great versions with their own appeal.

[FadahRon]

@viddrome YOU WHITES sometimes! Commit all kinds of atrocities on the earth, especially to blacks and then walk around like you did nothing wrong. Not only did you lot rape, murder, and profiteer from 400 years of the black slavery haulacust , but also steal land from defenceless, peaceful indigenous tribes murder them, then call it USA, Australia, Brazil, New Zealand ...whatever. THEN on top of THAT jump around and lampoon the people you fucked over without remorse or shame.

[viddrome]

@FadahRon Haha - yeah. And your point is? Look that this video. Now THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT! Eddie Cantor is funny with the black face and big fat white lips.

[MorganPolander]

What in the hell was going on in the story line that leads to this scene??

[Losun]

Eddie was confronted by the guy with the gun, and who asked him about his identity, to which he answered that he is a singing cook, and then the guy started doubting him, and asked him to sing. Pretty hilarious, because the scene is so tense, and him breaking into a happy tune, makes it all very funny

[MorganPolander]

Thank you very much. Now a another piece of the universal mystery has fallen into place.

[RedHotJazzLover]

A moment before this, Eddie Cantor's character is in the kitchen, about to cook some "waaff-fulls", & had just turned on the gas stove. Before lighting it, a man came in saying, "The Sheriff is here." He panics & climbs into the unlit gas stove to hide from the Sheriff. Just then, a guy goes by lighting a cigarette & tosses the hot match carelessly toward that end of the room, & "*BOOM*!!!" the stove explodes and out comes 'Henry Williams' well-done. No "excuse"; just explains his "disguise."

[MorganPolander]

Thank you very much. Now I can sleep better at nights.

[geniedurden]

We have several black church congregations here who "mime" in "white face". I believe the mime and white face came from France. I assume "white face" and "black face" are just forms of theatrics.

[strangersxcandy]

i like watching these clips. but i must say.. please, if you are white telling black people its no big deal and they shouldnt be offended.. take a step back. its easy to say so what when its not your race being made "fun of". anyway, great voice, seems like a talented man from what ive seen, nothing like todays acts.

[panamintjoe]

Cantor got into some hot water with NBC in the 1950s when he featured a young Sammy Davis Jr. on his TV show two weeks straight. When the NBC execs made some threatening moves Cantor responded by booking Davis for the rest of the season.

[FadahRon]

@panamintjoe Oh right, so Cantor is a nice guy then?? Let'see. Now Sammy Davis Jr is the most dim-witted docile uncle tom any white racist could ever wish to befriend. He's willing to accept his white "friends" walking around in front of him in blackface, and put with every other abuse subjected to him, like a battered puppy dog that's lost all self respect. Just so he can lick the few crumbs of fame that falls from the Massah's table. Can you imagine Malcom X putting out like that??

[amenssister]

Black Face. Really. ok

[panamintjoe]

Is Eddie actually singing in the medium and long shots here? If so, where is the microphone, swinging back and forth above him? Thanks so much.

[safeinpants]

I'd guess they used the audio from the close shots for the whole number, then dubbed it over the long shots. (This was before musical numbers were pre-recorded.)

[Repulso]

Great clip!!

And if this clip offends anybody, well that's just too bad. Live with it.

[thepratingknave]

Oh, Eddie, you're such a card! Seriously, how can anyone *not* like this guy, I mean - oh, yeah. The blackface. *sigh*

Which leads me to this. I don't mind blackface, or at least this example of it, because I know it was very popular at the time and was considered to be just *rip-roaringly* hilarious. Minstrel shows were still a great American pastime.

But if some people don't enjoy it, well, then that's okay too. Different strokes for different folks, I say.

[thepratingknave]

Eddie was the furthest thing from racist a person could be. If the people who accuse him of being a racist because he blackened his face would read a little about him, that would become apparent.

Eddie was a completely brilliant performer. Now a severely underated and underappreciated performer. I wish everyone could put the blackface and other related elements in perspective and just enjoy Eddie for Eddie.

[thepratingknave]

There's been a Chaplin revival, a Keaton revival, a Marx Brother's revival, and so on. I believe that the use of blackface in his films is the one thing that has prevented the Cantor revival from happening.

It really is a shame.

If they knew Eddie like we know Eddie...

[holey396]

:o it is so beutiful.

[powerdon215]

This is great because back then Whites didn't try to hide their racism!!!

[thepratingknave]

...

Eddie was not a racist. Read about him.

Also, please read about the history of American theatre and performance art, specifically vaudeville in the early twentieth century.

[FadahRon]

@powerdon215 Coudn't have said better myself brov

[dholm5058]

Eddie cantor is peerless as a showman,song stylist,comedian,and oh yes husband and father.Those who would impune his character because of the blackface are way out of historical context and are obviously racist in their mindset.Too bad for them, for the rest of us we can savor the brilliance of this truly thrilling performer!!!!!

[WSenator1]

@dholm5058 - The thing is, I agree with you. I heard that Eddie Cantor was a real good guy, including to black folks. He idolized Bert Williams, for example, the foremost black talent of his day. And I can even block out the blackface on this clip and recognize EC's great talent. But no matter how you slice it, blackface is an abomination. Those who wish to excuse it are heartless, mindless racists.

[1noblegent]

@WSenator1 My friend, Blackface is not the culprit here. Laws that forbade white people from performing ethnic music were. Blackface is the rebellion tool that allowed performers such as Eddie Cantor to cross over and perform in the face of political seperatists. His artistic statement is: "Ha, you hipocrite, I'm a white guy singing  and dancing to black music. Now you see how rediculous your racist laws are. It's time to change the laws to match social attitudes." Blackface a tool for rights.

[ksteiger]

One reason these films should be seen is to underline how far we have come. It makes me crazy when people say that things now are just like they were 50 years ago. Appreciate the talent in context, and celebrate the progress. It's all good.

[schrema]

I can't believe the comments on this video that dismiss blackface as a cute piece of American nostalgia. I feel sorry for those that can't see past the whitebread performance and recognize the shame in basing entertainment on racial stereotypes.

Slavery is also a part of the historical roots of American industry. Should we embrace that as well? Wake up people, it's 2009.

[arnefogel]

It' not a matter of "not recognizing" the shame, scherma.... It's a matter of recognizing the simple fact that the history of American music is steeped in racism, and learning about the historical context of a performer like Cantor, verifiably one of the most progressive and racially tolerant entertainers of his time.

[thepratingknave]

I don't believe that the majority of the people who commented on this video were dismissing or excusing blackface as being cute or nostalgic. I think what they were trying to do was to put this performance and others like it in perspective through historical context. I haven't seen anyone here praise blackface specifically, or racial stereotyping, and certainly not racism.

[thepratingknave]

In regard to vaudeville and the theatre during the early part of the twentieth century, it is likely that some of the perfomers were racist in varying degrees, and that is unacceptable, but Cantor himself was not a racist, and that can be verified if you do a bit of research on him.

[thepratingknave]

Blackface was inescapable. It was what was expected of a performer in his category. He was a funny-man, and unfortunately, blackface was then considered to be very funny. It was a necessary part of his craft, and so he did it, and that's it. He had no love for it. It was part of making a living.

[thepratingknave]

I don't wish to patronize you or tell you that your feelings on the matter are wrong, or unjustified. Blackface at its core is offensive. I just want to say that I don't believe that most of the people who enjoy Eddie's comedy are bigots, or that they are generally permissive of blackface and other forms of racial stereotyping. Obviously I can not speak for the fanbase in its entirety, but suffice it to say that I've never come across a fan that openly held such beliefs.

[thepratingknave]

I guess in a way I'm also defending Eddie, since he can't be here to defend himself. By all accounts, he was a good man. He was not a racist. I urge you to look past the ugliness of the blackface and see a performer who loved his craft, and that this was only a very small facet of a unique and dynamic individual.

[WSenator1]

@thepratingknave - This has been my understanding as well. He idolized Bert Williams, the great black performer in the Ziegfield Follies, and that he was very supportive of black people in general - and yes, a good man. Still the blackface is very abhorrent and, for me (yes, in the 21st century) something that I'm glad we don't see nowadays.

[aldiboronti]

Amazing entertainer. Blackface is just part of the historical roots of American popular music.

Eddie Cantor is one of the greats. Watch him singing A Girlfriend of a Boyfriend of Mine elsewhere on YouTube, or Makin' Whoopee. His facial expressions, his tone of voice, his gestures - sheer genius!

[horarwgt]

One had to put this footage in historical context. Cantor was a vaudevillian -- and a staple of vaudeville in the eartly 20th century was blackface performances. That was true even with performers who were black themselves -- such as the great Bert Williams. No ill intent should be implied. Remember that back then every ethnic group was stereotyped in vaudeville -- and those stereotypes -- created and often played by group members -- were most cheered by the same ethinic group audiences!

[powerdon215]

Remember that back then every ethnic group was stereotyped in vaudeville -- and those stereotypes -- created and often played by group members -- were most cheered by the same ethinic group audiences!

Thats the biggest BS!!! LOL! Back then Blacks weren't even allowed in the theatres!!! Trying to make it sound like one big happy family, lol!

[horarwgt]

Study a little history, powerdon215. A century ago most ehtnic groups had their own theatres. It was the heyday of heavily ethnic Yiddish theatre, for example, and there were theatres which were almost entirely filled with black patrons. Ever hear of the Cotton Club (home of Duke Ellington), the Savoy or the Apollo Theatre? Study the history -- the singers, the comics, the specialty acts. Yes, some theatres or parts of same were segregated. But blacks DID see and enjoy vaudeville.

[gigglesdgaf]

Just remember that imitation is the highest form of flattery! Back in the vaudevillian days, minstrel shows were done in blackface because black actors were thought to be the most entertaining in that day. Jolson, Cantor and others went with the trend as it was accepted. It is somewhat carefree to say today that it was racist as in reality, it was not. It was entertainment, and if little else, an ongoing tribute to the black race and their ability to be entertainers!

[aowrya]

@gigglsdgaf: I do understand what you're saying, and I'd agree for the most part, but I think it's important to consider that a big part of the "entertaining" quality of blacks then was that they were considered ridiculous--similar to performing animals. So black face is not just an innocent "tribute to the black race and their ability to be entertainers." It did have something to do with racism.

[jazzgirl1920s]

There is a version here on youtube of Gene Kelly doing this song and it's a joke. This will always be Eddie Cantor's song.

[susannreno]

Cantor was the cutest thing that ever was and one of the greatest entertainers who ever lived.

[errolfan]

@susannreno I totally agree with the second part of your comment. As for the first part, the cutest thing that ever was, happens to be my wife who is watching me type in this comment.

[askagaydad]

Eddie was so cute but ya can't see his face under all that makeup.

[RobbieTyler1]

Eddie Cantor is great. Black face? who cares?

[jdsmyhero85]

I really feel sorry for the people who just can't get past the blackface in movies like this and just enjoy the brilliance of it! This film and others like it are amazing!

[jdsmyhero85]

Eddie Cantor was seriously the most adorable man!! Those eyes...for crying out loud!!! I love it!

[rawdog001]

Love it!! Anybody that can't appreciate the beauty of Jews in Blackface has some kind of a problem!

[CarlDuke]

There's a great joke that precedes this song. Cantor's nurse tells him that she feels so bad she wishes she were dead. He replies you shouldn't say that. She then says that she in fact wishes she had never been born. Cantor then replies that she should have wished that first and she could have saved herself a wish.

[voglesque89]

Yeah well, that's just what happens. It's a very touchy subject, and due to stereotypes that still prevail today in some parts of the United States, it's understandable. I've accepted it, and furthermore, reasoned out in my own mind the technique and its connotations during those times. But for those who are bothered by it, their feelings are valid.

[diddymuck]

@voglesque89 true, its offensive today and was a reason for abusive ironic laughter during the time it was made. However, Eddie Cantor was responsible for putting many Black actors, dancers and musicians to work by presenting them in his musical films. Lots of folks who would never have been recognized for their brilliance owe their nationwide fame to Cantor and his sense of fair play and equal opportunity, which was light years away from the standard of the time.

[LazlosPlane]

You don't have to apologize for showing a clip in which blackface is used. For God's sake it was used by black and white entertainers for almost 150 years of American musical entertainment, with never a complaint of "racial stereotyping."

It was only after blackface as a convention of the stage came under attack, then the revisionist historians took over and we abandoned reason, logic, and love of truth.

[WSenator1]

@LazlosPlane - What are you TALKING about? Don't confuse revisionism with enlightment. I appreciate Eddie Cantor and his talent, but blackface was, and is, abhorrent. It looks as though YOU have abandoned reason, logic, love and truth. Your statement is one of incredible stupidity.

[odietarceo]

I never realized they did blackface that late, then again eddie cantor can do anything.

[voglesque89]

Oh yeah, they were even doing it in the '40s. Even the '50s, I think...

[marcmomus]

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) had a famous variety show called The Black and White Mistrel Show performed in blackface on Sunday nights into the 1970's. Some of it's on YouTube. I remember it well, and it's jaw-dropping to look at it now.

[adajanetta]

@voglesque89

My high school did a Minstrel Show in blackface in 1960. "Mr. Interlocutor" was played by a Japanese-Canadian girl.

When I think about it, our church had a travelling minstrel show visit in 1962 , possibly as part of some mission or other. The next year , we were raising money for Martin Luther King and the Freedom Riders. Attitudes can change and change quickly.

[diddymuck]

@voglesque89 Yep, just about every famous comic did blackface in one form or another. Laurel and Hardy, the Stooges, Fibber McGee and Molly, Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, even the Marx Brothers. Neil Diamond protrayed bf in his modern (suckass) version of The Jazz Singer.

[JB1912JB]

@voglesque89

The BBC was broadcasting black-face acts as late as 1978 in the "The Black and White Minstrel Show."

[KnockelII]

Voice, charm, rhythm. He beats Michael Jackson any day.

[FadahRon]

@KnockelII I know its an old post I'm replying to but I have to say this. I hated what Eddie Cantor did. At the same time I hated what Michael Jackson did too. Both were as bad as each other.

[Chaplin1914]

Are these films out on DVD or will they be eventually?

[voglesque89]

Just to throw this out there for whoever else is wondering, I certainly hope they'll be out on DVD someday.

For those who are want to, Turner Classic Movies has a thing on their website that allows you to vote for the movies that aren't on home video to be released on DVD. It's a great thing, if people will spread the word and cast their vote. The more racket is made, the better. Believe me, I want to see these titles out in distribution as the next guy, but youtube is all we have right now.

[kara1056b]

Take a look at that last "contented" gesture/jig Eddie does at the very end of the song. I seem to recall Mickey Mouse doing that same gesture. I bet Disney Studios looked to Eddie here to animate their characters.

[voglesque89]

maybe!

[JaGlRo]

Just fabulous to see what REAL talent is like. There are no enhancements or special effects. This is just a phenomenal performer in his prime.

[holodocdr]

The interesting thing about this film is how the character uses the bad guys' own racism against them. If they could see past the color they'd notice it wasn't a Black guy. There's this line between ethnic and racist which has been blurred over the years and this film has both aspects, sometimes confused. Like the heroine, and if you saw the movie you'd know what I mean.

[neatoauctions]

Do you like the part, in the full version of the film, where the heroine says to the freshly blackened Henry (Cantor) Williams, "How dare you speak to me?!"

Not much blurin' there.

Still, and for all, this clip is great.

[holodocdr]

Thats what I referred to in my comment.

[neatoauctions]

Yeah, and "black" when refering to a race, isn't capitalized. But hey, enough about your honeymoon.

[goodpenfriend]

The shows like that were good only for the times they were recorded.We should listen to true sound of this kind of music performed by  deeply feeling and understanding artists. This is the only way to understand the history and the music both.

[goodpenfriend]

Don't forget that these times blacks were not allowed to perform anything for whites. This was the only opportunity to listen to the black music these times.And the performers were good only for these crazy times.After the blacks got the rights to sing and to be recorded, they showed how to perform their music.Only men with sense of their roots can understand the real meaning and real feeling deep inside this music.

[almanacofsleep]

Its easy to desmiss these vaudaville style guys like Cantor and Jolson but from what I read both of them had a strong scense respect for black preformers, who also performed in the same shows in black face. I know Jolson had a number of the black face sceens in The Jazz Singer cut. Also compare that to Birth of a Nation, one was a clebration of black culture(in a way), the other a demonisation of them. This to me seems like inocent fun with no cruleity intended.

[michaeljayklein]

This is Cantor's most shining moment in any of his musicals. One of the greats and due for rediscovery. Apparently one of the most generous men in the business as well.

[scotpens]

That's very similar to "Roman Scandals," in which Eddie finds himself being chased by bad guys in ancient Rome. He hides out in the concubines' quarters in the imperial palace and, donning blackface, conveniently disguises himself as an "Ethiopian beauty expert"!

Interestingly, of all the major entertainers who successfully transitioned from Broadway and vaudeville to the "talkies," Al Jolson and Eddie Cantor were the only ones who continued doing blackface routines in their movies.

[azqrlaf]

Oh yes, if the unfortunate black face offends anyone, they might as well not watch anything done by Busby Berkley either. At the height of his frame he killed three innocent pedestrians while driving drunk and raising hell.

[azqrlaf]

Notice how the girls in the chorus cant take thier eyes off of him and are all smiles. Just for a chance, perhaps, to be on the same set with him and watch the great master close up!

[neatoauctions]

Once again, Cantor is lacquered black (this time the result of hiding from the sheriff, in a gas oven that explodes. Hey, it happens) and requested at gunpoint to prove he's the "singing cook" he professes to be.

POI: When the sheriff asks Eddie, "Where you from?" the script called for the well-done chef to respond, "Rudy Valley." However, Mr. Cantor flubs the line and adlibs his way around the ensuing moments.

[scotpens]

That's very similar to "Roman Scandals," in which Eddie finds himself being chased by bad guys in ancient Rome. He hides out in the concubines' quarters in the imperial palace and, donning blackface, conveniently disguises himself as an "Ethiopian beauty expert"!

Interestingly, of all the major entertainers who successfully transitioned from Broadway and vaudeville to the "talkies," Al Jolson and Eddie Cantor were the only ones who continued doing blackface routines in their movies.

[jozefsterkens]

Whoopee Eddie's back !