Say It with Songs
Joe Lane, radio entertainer and songwriter, learns that the manager of the studio, Arthur Phillips, has made improper advances to his wife, Katherine. Infuriated, Lane engages him in a fight, and the encounter results in Phillips' accidental death. Joe goes to prison for a few years, and when he is released he visits his son, Little Pal, at school and is begged by him to run away together.
Insights
Plot Summary
A struggling singer, Joe, finds success with his popular songs, but his career and personal life are complicated by his manipulative manager and a desire to impress a woman he admires. He adopts a young orphan named Joe Jr. and becomes deeply devoted to him, leading to further emotional turmoil as he navigates fame and fatherhood. The film explores themes of love, ambition, and the sacrifices made for success and family.
Critical Reception
Say It with Songs was a significant early sound musical, notable for its integration of songs into the narrative. While Al Jolson's performance was praised, the film received mixed reviews, with some critics finding the plot overly melodramatic and slow-paced. It was a box office success, however, benefiting from Jolson's immense popularity.
What Reviewers Say
- Praised for Al Jolson's charismatic performance and the integration of musical numbers.
- Criticized for a melodramatic and at times tedious plot.
- Acknowledged as an important step in early sound film musicals.
Google audience: Audience reception data from Google reviews is not readily available for this early sound film.
Fun Fact
Say It with Songs was one of the earliest feature films to feature synchronized singing and dialogue, capitalizing on the then-new sound technology and the star power of Al Jolson, who had previously starred in the groundbreaking 'The Jazz Singer'.
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