The Singing Blacksmith

Selected Film Festival Screenings

Medias Central European Film Festival (2013)
Atlanta Jewish Film Festival (2013)
Edgar G. Ulmer Retrospective, Cinémathèque Française, Paris (2012)
Light Industry, Brooklyn NY (2010)
Edgar G. Ulmer Retrospective, Filmhouse Cinema, UK (2009)
Yiddish Foundation, Amsterdam (2008)
Cracow Jewish Culture Festival, Poland (2007)
Jewish Culture Festival, Poland (2007)
Rochester Jewish Film Festival (2006)
Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles (2006)
Haifa Jewish Film Festival (2005)
Ashkenaz Festival, Toronto (2004)
Musee d’Art de Histoire du Judaisme, Paris (2002)

Synopsis

Moishe Oysher, the renowned cantor and star of Yiddish radio, stars in Edgar G. Ulmer’s musical version of David Pinski’s play Yankl der Shmid. Singing, dancing, and flashing his eyes, Oysher gives his most robust performance as a passionate shtetl blacksmith who must struggle against temptation to become a mensch. Recently rediscovered footage makes this the most complete extant version of Ulmer’s lively folk operetta, replete with an example of Yiddish swing.

NCJF Film Restoration

Restoration was completed with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, The American Film Institute, The Righteous Persons Foundation and a gift from Sheldon Feinberg. With additional support from The Massachusetts Cultural Council, Brandeis University and The National Center for Jewish Film's Reel Funders.

1998 Restoration © The National Center for Jewish Film
Executive Director Sharon Pucker Rivo
Associate Director Miriam Saul Krant
Translator Daniella HarPaz
Technical Director Rich Pontius
Title Animation Frame Shop
Laboratory Cinema Arts, Inc.
Special Thanks Arianne Ulmer Cipes & Shirley Ulmer

Credits

Director Edgar G. Ulmer
Screenplay David Pinski, Ben-Zvi Baratoff & Ossip Dymow
Adapted from the play by David Pinski
Producers Ludwig Landy & Roman Rebush
Original Music Jacob Weinberg
Cinematography William Miller
Editor Jack Kemp
Costume Design Nathan Gaiptman
Makeup Fred Ryle
Assistant Directors Louis Brandt & Sol Chodrow
Sound Edward Fenton & Edwin Schabbehar
Camera William J. Kelly

Cast
Moishe Oysher (Yankl)
Miriam Riselle (Tamara)
Florence Weiss (Rivke)
Anna Appel (Chaye-Peshe)
Ben-Zvi Baratoff (Bendet)
Michael Goldstein (Raffuel)
Lea Noemi (Mariashe)
Max Vodnoy (Simche)
Luba Wesoly (Frumeh)
Yudel Dubinsky (Reb Aaron)
Luba Rymer (Sprintz-Gnesye)
B. Fishbein (Frolke)
Rubin Wendroff (Elia)
Rae Schnier (Chaika, Rivke's Mother)
R. Shanock (Leah)
Herschel Bernardi (Young Yankl)

Critical Acclaim

“Sincerity and richly Jewish characters taken from the source.”
– Archer Winston, New York Post

“...advances the art of the Yiddish film and adds to the gayety of Jewish life.”
– Daily Worker

“…bright, frequently thrilling entertainment.”
– Brooklyn Eagle

“…fine photography and good direction make the film an outstanding comedy-drama.”
– Daily News

Articles

Tablet Magazine on "Singing Sensation: Moishe Oysher" (July, 2010)

"THE SINGING BLACKSMITH IS A SLICE OF HISTORY"
The Jewish Advocate, July 2007

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The Singing Blacksmith
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Does not include Public Performance Rights
Home Use Policy (pdf)

The Singing Blacksmith
$72.00 plus shipping
Classroom/Institutional Use Only DVD

Does not include Public Performance Rights
Institutional Use Policy (pdf)

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Also with Moishe Oysher

The Cantor’s Son

Overture to Glory

Singing in the Dark

Great Cantors 2 Disc Set