Hallelujah I'm a Bum (1933)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Lewis Milestone

Writers:

S.N. Behrman (writer)
Ben Hecht (story)

Release Date:

3 February 1933 (USA)

Genre:

Musical

Plot:

A New York tramp (Jolson) falls in love with the mayor's amnesiac girlfriend after rescuing her from a suicide attempt |

Plot Keywords:

Mayor | Suicide Attempt | Park | Beautiful Woman | Amnesia

Cast

Al Jolson	...	Bumper
Madge Evans	...	June Marcher
Frank Morgan	...	Mayor John Hastings
Harry Langdon	...	Egghead
Chester Conklin	...	Sunday
Edgar Connor	...	Acorn
Tyler Brooke	...	Mayor's Secretary
Louise Carver	...	Ma Sunday
Dorothea Wolbert	...	Apple Mary
Tammany Young	...	Frank the Jockey

Also Known As:

Hallelujah, I'm a Tramp (UK)
Happy Go Lucky
Lazy Bones (USA) (reissue title)
New York (USA) (working title)
The Heart of New York (USA) (reissue title)
The Optimist (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

82 min | USA:68 min (re-release)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Certification:

USA:Passed

Filming Locations:

Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Lewis Milestone Productions

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: A cameraman's arm is reflected in the partially opened window of the Mayor's limousine when the Mayor meets Bumper at the casino.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Going Hollywood: The '30s (1984)

Soundtrack:

I'd Do It Again

Highy entertaining.

If anyone doubts that Al Jolson was one of Hollywood's greatest and most versatile performers, then watch this movie. Everything about this movie is excellent and entertaining. The movie has a great story, excellent, spirited acting, and an engaging, dynamic script, most of which is said in rhyme. The movie is also a remarkable commentary on social and economic inequalities in modern society as the "bum" is not only a victim but a hero who offers hope for the downtrodden and encourages all not to lose heart, to stay engaged and to try to enjoy life with as few worries as possible. Especially surprising was Frank Morgan who gives a powerful portrayal as a big-city mayor who is in love. Nothing in this movie is corny. It tells a story, has lots of action, has wonderful characters and is both uplifting and highly entertaining.

Another interesting feature of this movie is that it is performed by actors and actresses who, for the most part, are all but forgotten today. Al Jolson is still an icon, but Harry Langdon, Madge Evans, Chester Conklin, Edgar Connors ... they were excellent, and all but forgotten. A really marvelous movie.