791.43

ALMONDS AND RAISINS: A HISTORY OF THE YIDDISH CINEMA (1983)

Alm

Presents the history of Yiddish cinema, told through film excerpts and through interviews with the actors, directors and producers who created the films. The motion picture, The Jazz Singer, a 1927 Hollywood Jewish release in English, brought immigrant Jews to the cinema and encouraged the growth of a new genre: The Yiddish Film. Between 1927 and 1940, over 300 Yiddish films were produced in America. This documentary lovingly recalls these films, and through them, the period of the Jewish immigrant in America, struggling between tradition and assimilation. Includes interviews with Herschel Bernardi, Leo Fuchs, Joseph Green, Miriam Kressyn, David Opatoshu, Seymour Rechtzeit, and Zvee Schooler. Note: May be used with the book, Visions, Images and Dreams: Yiddish Film Past and Present, by Eric Goldman.

B&W. 1 hr. 30 min. AGE: 12 to Adult

917.3

THE GOLDEN LAND ON THE SILVER SCREEN (1987)

Gol

Provides an opportunity to study the American Jewish experience through discussion of six carefully selected American feature films. This video introduces and provides some follow-up discussion for these films: Hester Street, The Jazz Singer, Brighton Beach Memoirs, The Way We Were, The Heartbreak Kid and The Frisco Kid. Study guide available.

1 hr. AGE: 16 to Adult

783.2

GREAT CANTORS IN CINEMA (1993)

Gre

Produced by the National Center for Jewish Film, this documentary uses restored archival footage to look at five specific cantors who appeared on film from 1931 to 1946. These include Josef "Yossele" Rosenblatt, Moshe Koussevitsky, Mordechai Hershman, Moishe Oysher and Louis "Leibele" Waldman. The first third of the twentieth century was the "Golden Age of Chazzanut" in America—a coming together of unbelievable cantorial talent from the capitols of Europe, most of it focused in New York. As sound in film was not available until the late 1920’s, this "Golden Age" is recorded on film mainly during the 1930’s and 1940’s—when cantors often played cantors in the films in which they appeared.

In Yiddish with English narration and subtitles. B&W. 1 hr. AGE: 14 to Adult

791.43

HOLLYWOOD: AN EMPIRE OF THEIR OWN (1997)

Hol

This video—originally titled Jews, Movies, Hollywoodism and the American Dream—is based on Neal Gabler’s book, Hollywood: An Empire of Their Own. The film documents how the leading studios that gave rise to Hollywood were founded and run by Eastern European immigrants. This includes the Warner brothers, Samuel Goldwyn, Universal Studios founder Carl Laemmle, Louis B. Mayer of MGM, William Fox of 20th Century Fox, and Paramount’s Adolf Zukor. This documentary analyzes the Eastern European roots and the personal lives of each of these Hollywood movie moguls. It also documents the rise of American film and shows how these men, who were raised with Jewish backgrounds and values, helped to shape many of the values found in Hollywood films—even though the films rarely depicted Jews or Jewish subjects. A fascinating look at the impact of Jews on American movies. Includes many film clips, home movies and interviews. Note: The perfect introduction to a study of film series on American Jewish film.

Color/B&W. 1 hr. 40 min. AGE: 14 to Adult

791.43

THE YIDDISH CINEMA (1991)

Yid

Produced by the National Center for Jewish Film, this documentary traces the history of Yiddish film. It begins by providing a brief history of the Yiddish language, as well as Yiddish literature and theater. The documentary uses film clips, photographs and interviews to present the ascent and then the decline, after World War II, of Yiddish film in both Eastern Europe and the United States. Includes clips of some of the most popular Yiddish films. Narrated by playwright David Mamet. Note: This video serves well as an introduction to a Yiddish Film Series, as does the video Yiddish: The Mame-Loshn.

Film clips in Yiddish with subtitles. Color/B&W. 1 hr. AGE: 14 to Adult