The Singing Blacksmith

This film is a presentation of a 1909 Yiddish theater play that was quite popular with the immigrant Jewish community. Oysher is the blacksmith in love with life, and Riselle is his dutiful wife. Entering their happy marriage is Weiss, as the other woman, who is married to the weak-willed Goldstein. Members of the Yiddish Arts Players also participated, making this an important record of a fading American theater form. As a film it has its flaws, mostly in the direction and photography; however, Oysher has such presence that these factors are quickly forgotten. Watch for Bernardi in a sequence of Oysher's childhood. Bernardi would grow up to do some good work of hi...