Joan Davis shows some of her multiple talents here....that high kick and cartwheel done on a moving stage a sample of her acrobatic ability. Bye the way, nice shape she had especially great looking legs.
The people who object to this simply show how IGNORANT they are of history: Eddie Cantor was one of those entertainers who worked for civil rights, equating the suffering of HIS people with that of African Americans. Black people then had no problems with HIM or what he stood for and he helped a number of black entertainers along the way..... GET OVER IT!
I like this number a lot, but there is a slight dig. The last two chorus girls the camera focus on as the girls mount the steps, have had their butts padded. That was a slur, along with watermelon, blacks had protruding rears. Superhartline
Genessa: You say that no one was listening to Blacks at that time. This is not totally true. Bill "Bojangles" Robinson was a Black Super-Star in the 1930"s, and he was also a very close friend of Eleanor Powell. Robinson personally coached Powell in how to impersonate him, in Blackface, and -- in her movie "Honolulu" -- Powell gave a brilliant Blackface performance as "Bojangles", which is available on You Tube. Absolutely Terrific, and done with Robinson's guidance and blessing.
Genessa: This is a cute and adorable clip. I'm glad someone posted it. I was totally unaware of this song. This clip shows the enormous talent of Eddie Cantor and Joan Davis. Minstrel shows were very popular for decades. Cantor was portraying a talented song and dance man. There is nothing in this material which demeans blacks or anyone else. As for a white man performing in black face, Cantor was only playing a role. He was trying to entertain everyone and not trying to offend anyone.
Looking at Joan "I Married Joan" Davis in some of the other clips, I'm shocked at how ravishingly beautiful she was. And that forward flip in this clip! Whomever actually married Joan must have been a lucky man. Jim Backus played the role in the television series and Davis used to tell colleagues, "This will be our legacy." Unlike with "I Love Lucy," that prediction hasn't yet panned out but I suddenly have a feeling that in the long run, it will.
Blackface was still widely accepted in the 1940's. Al Jolson's two huge comeback films were "The Jolson Story" (1946) and "Jolson Sings Again" (1949). People then did not find Larry Parks' use of blackface demeaning to blacks. In the above scene, Eddie Cantor is probably recreating a vaudeville character he played in the 1920's. These great performers were simply out to entertain, not to offend anyone. I'm sure most Americans, black and white, remain huge fans of both Jolson and Cantor.
@Howdybub9 tiny quibble: "people" then did not find... demeaning to blacks. that would be WHITE people. the verdict is not in from blacks of the time, because no one was listening to them. however, you make a fabulouslty accurate observation in suspecting that cantor was recreating oe of his old hits, and it looks as if in this film his character at least is doing just that. blackface will always be controversial but perspective is important too.
Social baggage follows around the blackface performance. I think it perfectly reasonable, however, to view this through a historical perspective.
This IS entertainment. Even today it is entertainment. Eddie Cantor puts on a show to match his reputation as one of the highest talents to come from the vaudeville tradition of song/dance/humor.
This particular use of blackface is not offensive aside from the exagerated features. It may just be unnecessary; it plays as easily with a white man.
in those days of film they had to do everything sing, dance, act, and no dubbing . they had to what is called "paying their dues" before they were called a star. No phone calls for voting them a star. All they had was pure talent . They were and are the real American idols.
Actually I love this song and the one about money. Joan Davis is one of my favorites, don't you remember I MARRIED JOAN? I agree that the movie stinks, but I just enjoy Cantors presence on screen.
Sorry if this is a stupid question, but, in the duet, is Eddie actually singing both the male and female parts? I know his lips don't move when she sings but is it lip synch? I wasn't watching the screen when I first heard this, and thought he was putting on two funny voices! The male voice is different from his usual one too. God, this question is going to sound stupid either way, isn't it?
Naw, Eddie's got his part and Joan Davis has her's. But I started to consider what might be different "from usual" about Eddie's voice here... this is a relatively slow song, unlike the tempo of most of his songs. Also, I think Eddie sounded different when he was older.
I'm not much of a fan of Joan Davis, but I guess she had a sort of husky voice, now that you mention it.
Ha ha, thanks! My apologies to Joan Davis fans - honestly no offense was intended - I thought he was putting on a very sweet girl's voice! Thanks to Voglesque for introducing me to this talented man. I'd never heard of him until I happened to watch a video on Youtube featuring Carole Lombard starting a toy car race with the Marx Brothers. - Groucho blames his not winning on Eddie Cantor. I was curious as to who he meant, and I'm glad I looked into it.
@oxofro That is definitely Joan Davis' voice. Joan was a talented comediene and singer, much like Lucille Ball. She even had a very successful sitcom on at the time of I love Lucy in which Jim Backus played her husband, that was called I Married Joan. And as for Eddie---just a great, great talent.
Amazing, the stupidity one reads on public forums like this. If anyone cares about what, exactly, "blackface," meant to performers like Cantor, Jolson, Crosby, Hope, Burns, Bert Williams (black) and thousands of others who used it in the early part of the 20th century, I suggest you do some research.
Wow what a great performance ..Eddie Cantor was a great performer in the age of so many greats...It is sad we do not have great performers today..Just losers like Paris Hilton. Who we think have talent, yet only have money.
Wow! And to think that there was a time that THIS was accepted...I love, like herpes, how the "painted" women's butts are so wide...
Shame on those that find this acceptable NOW, even though I agree that it is historically relevant...a relevant history of ignorance, stupidity, and a PREOCCUPATION with African-Americans...once again, WOW!
People can be as insulted by stereotypical portrayals of a group by insiders as by outsiders. People can find a creative work
offensive without wanting it banned. People can even be offended while being entertained overall. And the viewpoint that blackface is patronizing mockery has existed as long as the artform, just as there are still people who see it as affectionate imitation, or as plain entertainment with no social baggage.
I don't think blackface is an affectionate imitation if the facial features are heavily exaggerated and the characters are stereotypes. However, I'm seen some tasteful blackface.
Yeah, the blackface women look pretty odd. Like they just fell out of a coal bin. Was there really a shortage of actual black women who could have done the song and dance?
I don't think there was a shortage of black women who could have been in this number, but there was a thing about black and whites singing and dancing with the white stars.
What's the fuzz about blackface? It's a classic form of american entertainment that can't be erased from the books. It was popular and very much appreciated at the time. What's the next racist thing? Tap dancing?
This is just brilliant, not to p.c. for nowadays, but brilliant footwork and arrangement nonetheless..my daddy will just love this when I show him. thanks
Of course it's not realistic. Blackface, Greenface, and other forms of extreme make-up has (as part of it's roots) in the poor lighting of theaters in the 18th century.
@louiscaponecchia What black face? I see two excellent singers in a duet about two lovers taking too long to part for the night. With six accompanying singers.
It's insulting to think that ALL many see is that there is black makeup used in a style refered to as "blackface" and therefore the whole thing must be racist somehow. Isn't just as racist to assume that black people would be so shallow and find anything about this particular clip insulting?
Joan Davis shows some of her multiple talents here....that high kick and cartwheel done on a moving stage a sample of her acrobatic ability. Bye the way, nice shape she had especially great looking legs.
dudley5533 5 days ago
The people who object to this simply show how IGNORANT they are of history: Eddie Cantor was one of those entertainers who worked for civil rights, equating the suffering of HIS people with that of African Americans. Black people then had no problems with HIM or what he stood for and he helped a number of black entertainers along the way..... GET OVER IT!
maxiemom1 3 months ago
Racism, schacism...this is just not entertaining. It's not funny, witty, escapist, and doesn't underscore any real emotion or moment.
Pretty lousy really.
ChristophePhilippe 7 months ago
I like this number a lot, but there is a slight dig. The last two chorus girls the camera focus on as the girls mount the steps, have had their butts padded. That was a slur, along with watermelon, blacks had protruding rears. Superhartline
SuperHartline 7 months ago
Genessa: You say that no one was listening to Blacks at that time. This is not totally true. Bill "Bojangles" Robinson was a Black Super-Star in the 1930"s, and he was also a very close friend of Eleanor Powell. Robinson personally coached Powell in how to impersonate him, in Blackface, and -- in her movie "Honolulu" -- Powell gave a brilliant Blackface performance as "Bojangles", which is available on You Tube. Absolutely Terrific, and done with Robinson's guidance and blessing.
cjprentiss1 9 months ago
Genessa: This is a cute and adorable clip. I'm glad someone posted it. I was totally unaware of this song. This clip shows the enormous talent of Eddie Cantor and Joan Davis. Minstrel shows were very popular for decades. Cantor was portraying a talented song and dance man. There is nothing in this material which demeans blacks or anyone else. As for a white man performing in black face, Cantor was only playing a role. He was trying to entertain everyone and not trying to offend anyone.
cjprentiss1 9 months ago
Hey, at 3:34 that treadmill is moving forward instead of backward.
IDLERACER 11 months ago
Looking at Joan "I Married Joan" Davis in some of the other clips, I'm shocked at how ravishingly beautiful she was. And that forward flip in this clip! Whomever actually married Joan must have been a lucky man. Jim Backus played the role in the television series and Davis used to tell colleagues, "This will be our legacy." Unlike with "I Love Lucy," that prediction hasn't yet panned out but I suddenly have a feeling that in the long run, it will.
Onlymusical 1 year ago
Dancing on a treadmill! A metaphor for life.
Onlymusical 1 year ago
Wow, Eddie Cantor was a great dancer. Thanks for this.
298625 1 year ago
Adorable. I love the way he moves.
298625 1 year ago
Cute song & great singing by Eddie.
a07002 1 year ago
Blackface was still widely accepted in the 1940's. Al Jolson's two huge comeback films were "The Jolson Story" (1946) and "Jolson Sings Again" (1949). People then did not find Larry Parks' use of blackface demeaning to blacks. In the above scene, Eddie Cantor is probably recreating a vaudeville character he played in the 1920's. These great performers were simply out to entertain, not to offend anyone. I'm sure most Americans, black and white, remain huge fans of both Jolson and Cantor.
Howdybub9 2 years ago 3
@Howdybub9 tiny quibble: "people" then did not find... demeaning to blacks. that would be WHITE people. the verdict is not in from blacks of the time, because no one was listening to them. however, you make a fabulouslty accurate observation in suspecting that cantor was recreating oe of his old hits, and it looks as if in this film his character at least is doing just that. blackface will always be controversial but perspective is important too.
g
genesssa 9 months ago
"I Married Joan" was a TV show starring Joan Davis and Jim Backus. Late 1950's.
jwlheart 2 years ago
looks like larry parks when playing al jolson from the film.and wearing same clothe sin song "ma blushin rosy" lol
joehancock01 2 years ago
Social baggage follows around the blackface performance. I think it perfectly reasonable, however, to view this through a historical perspective.
This IS entertainment. Even today it is entertainment. Eddie Cantor puts on a show to match his reputation as one of the highest talents to come from the vaudeville tradition of song/dance/humor.
This particular use of blackface is not offensive aside from the exagerated features. It may just be unnecessary; it plays as easily with a white man.
fakeman345 2 years ago
I like Eddie Cantor, but I suspect that by the1940's, this should have not have seriously been considered entertainment.
errolfan 2 years ago
in those days of film they had to do everything sing, dance, act, and no dubbing . they had to what is called "paying their dues" before they were called a star. No phone calls for voting them a star. All they had was pure talent . They were and are the real American idols.
knight7800 2 years ago
Actually I love this song and the one about money. Joan Davis is one of my favorites, don't you remember I MARRIED JOAN? I agree that the movie stinks, but I just enjoy Cantors presence on screen.
azusa1977 3 years ago
is that a movie? I MARRIED JOAN? What film is this from?
cushtichavi 3 years ago
that bordered on bizarre but was absolutely beautiful.
JBFaulkner 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
that was overdone and insulting. Eddie Cantor was a class act who eveloped the stage with his presence and voice not with corny staging.
diddymuck 3 years ago
Sorry if this is a stupid question, but, in the duet, is Eddie actually singing both the male and female parts? I know his lips don't move when she sings but is it lip synch? I wasn't watching the screen when I first heard this, and thought he was putting on two funny voices! The male voice is different from his usual one too. God, this question is going to sound stupid either way, isn't it?
oxofro 3 years ago
Naw, Eddie's got his part and Joan Davis has her's. But I started to consider what might be different "from usual" about Eddie's voice here... this is a relatively slow song, unlike the tempo of most of his songs. Also, I think Eddie sounded different when he was older.
I'm not much of a fan of Joan Davis, but I guess she had a sort of husky voice, now that you mention it.
voglesque89 3 years ago
Ha ha, thanks! My apologies to Joan Davis fans - honestly no offense was intended - I thought he was putting on a very sweet girl's voice! Thanks to Voglesque for introducing me to this talented man. I'd never heard of him until I happened to watch a video on Youtube featuring Carole Lombard starting a toy car race with the Marx Brothers. - Groucho blames his not winning on Eddie Cantor. I was curious as to who he meant, and I'm glad I looked into it.
oxofro 3 years ago
@oxofro That is definitely Joan Davis' voice. Joan was a talented comediene and singer, much like Lucille Ball. She even had a very successful sitcom on at the time of I love Lucy in which Jim Backus played her husband, that was called I Married Joan. And as for Eddie---just a great, great talent.
CarlDuke 1 year ago
Amazing, the stupidity one reads on public forums like this. If anyone cares about what, exactly, "blackface," meant to performers like Cantor, Jolson, Crosby, Hope, Burns, Bert Williams (black) and thousands of others who used it in the early part of the 20th century, I suggest you do some research.
It was not what you think it was.
Idiots.
LazlosPlane 3 years ago 3
Wow what a great performance ..Eddie Cantor was a great performer in the age of so many greats...It is sad we do not have great performers today..Just losers like Paris Hilton. Who we think have talent, yet only have money.
jfs78 4 years ago 5
Wow! And to think that there was a time that THIS was accepted...I love, like herpes, how the "painted" women's butts are so wide...
Shame on those that find this acceptable NOW, even though I agree that it is historically relevant...a relevant history of ignorance, stupidity, and a PREOCCUPATION with African-Americans...once again, WOW!
schuyler10 4 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
anoda raceest white devel! yall devels gonn apay uz fo slavey and makin fun of uz wen brotha obama take de whide house and tun id BLACK!
sahme on yo devels!
systemdown77 4 years ago
You need to take some time to learn to read and WRITE standard English...from one black person
to another...you are not only racist but ignorant as well...my,my....
Warnergurl 4 years ago 3
People can be as insulted by stereotypical portrayals of a group by insiders as by outsiders. People can find a creative work
offensive without wanting it banned. People can even be offended while being entertained overall. And the viewpoint that blackface is patronizing mockery has existed as long as the artform, just as there are still people who see it as affectionate imitation, or as plain entertainment with no social baggage.
Cinchona 4 years ago 3
Anyway, this is a great clip. I love '30s musicals, but it seems that the '40s and '50s Technicolor ones are shown more often.
Cinchona 4 years ago
I don't think blackface is an affectionate imitation if the facial features are heavily exaggerated and the characters are stereotypes. However, I'm seen some tasteful blackface.
TheGodMar 3 years ago
Yeah, the blackface women look pretty odd. Like they just fell out of a coal bin. Was there really a shortage of actual black women who could have done the song and dance?
robcat2075 4 years ago
I don't think there was a shortage of black women who could have been in this number, but there was a thing about black and whites singing and dancing with the white stars.
Warnergurl 4 years ago
The PC folks can go cork themselves - what a wonderful bit of film.
wlcdsla 4 years ago 15
What's the fuzz about blackface? It's a classic form of american entertainment that can't be erased from the books. It was popular and very much appreciated at the time. What's the next racist thing? Tap dancing?
stjn00 4 years ago 8
Hi I'm black myself and I totally agree with you! It's like people have forgotten what racism
actually means! This performance is great and there's nothing in it that says black people shouldn't be treated with respect! Go figure!
jcreationfilms 4 years ago 10
This is just brilliant, not to p.c. for nowadays, but brilliant footwork and arrangement nonetheless..my daddy will just love this when I show him. thanks
tlacf 4 years ago 3
I never knew Joan Davis had such good legs!
songplugger 4 years ago 3
I don't have much of a problem with Cantor, it's those girls in blackface that push it over the top
albanybeardguy 4 years ago
whats more offensive, singing a nice song in makeup, and having talent, or screaming "Nigga Nigga motha fucka bitch ho slut"?....
louiscaponecchia 4 years ago 7
without blackface, it wouldnt be the same...outside of having makeup on, what did they do that is so racist or terrible?
louiscaponecchia 4 years ago 10
(I agree)
voglesque89 4 years ago
furthermore, there is NOTHING AT ALL racist about this use of makeup.
bambizzoozled 4 years ago 6
The make-up is not realistic at all. (White lips?) But the scene isn't bad. They aren't acting like buffoons or anything.
TheGodMar 3 years ago
Of course it's not realistic. Blackface, Greenface, and other forms of extreme make-up has (as part of it's roots) in the poor lighting of theaters in the 18th century.
This of Greek masks.
LazlosPlane 3 years ago 2
@louiscaponecchia What black face? I see two excellent singers in a duet about two lovers taking too long to part for the night. With six accompanying singers.
It's insulting to think that ALL many see is that there is black makeup used in a style refered to as "blackface" and therefore the whole thing must be racist somehow. Isn't just as racist to assume that black people would be so shallow and find anything about this particular clip insulting?
DracoFamiliar 7 months ago in playlist Old Stuff
@louiscaponecchia In short I agree full heartedly.
DracoFamiliar 7 months ago in playlist Old Stuff
could do without the black face but the number is great. eddie was great.
bearcub410 4 years ago