Lucky Boy (1929 film)

For the book, see Lucky Boy (novel). For the 2017 film, see Lucky Boy (2017 film).

Lucky Boy
Lobby card using the working title The Ghetto
Directed byNorman Taurog[1]
Charles C. Wilson
Screenplay byIsadore Bernstein
George Jessel
Harry Braxton
Based on"The Schlemiel"
by Viola Brothers Shore
Produced byJohn M. Stahl
StarringGeorge Jessel
CinematographyHarry Jackson
Frank Zucker[2]
Edited byDesmond O’Brien
Russell Shields
Music byHugo Riesenfeld
Production
company
Distributed byTiffany-Stahl Productions
Release date
  • February 2, 1929 (1929-02-02)
[3]
Running time
10 reels (8900 ft.)[4]
CountryUnited States
LanguagesSound (Part-Talkie)
(English Intertitles)
Budget$90,000
Box office~$1,000,000

Lucky Boy is a 1929 American sound part-talkie musical comedy-drama film directed by Norman Taurog and Charles C. Wilson, most notable for starring George Jessel in his first known surviving feature picture.[5] In addition to sequences with audible dialogue or talking sequences, the film features a synchronized musical score, singing and sound effects along with English intertitles. The sound was recorded using the Tiffany-Tone system using RCA Photophone equipment.[6] The film's plot bore strong similarities to that of the hit 1927 film The Jazz Singer, which had originally been intended to star Jessel (the star of The Jazz Singer stage production) before Al Jolson took over the role.[7]

  1. ^ "'Ghetto' Finished". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Vol. 42, no. 219 (Tri-State ed.). Spokane, WA. Associated Press. June 1, 1928. p. 25 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Shrek, Jay M., ed. (January 26, 1929). "While Other Companies are Talking 'Talkie' Pictures, Tiffany-Stahl is Delivering Them". Exhibitors Herald World. Vol. 94, no. 4. Chicago, IL. pp. 6–7 – via Internet Archive.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Muden1971 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ McNeil, H. N., ed. (January 12, 1929). "Lucky Boy". Movie Age. Vol. 7, no. 8. Minneapolis, MN: Associated Publications Inc. p. 16. ISSN 0006-8527.
  5. ^ "Lucky Boy Sentimental; Hero, Played by George Jessel, Has Rough Road Attaining Stardom. Other Photoplays". The New York Times. February 25, 1929.
  6. ^ Progressive Silent Film List: Lucky Boy at silentera.com
  7. ^ Barrios, Richard (1995). A Song in the Dark: The Birth of the Musical Film. Oxford University Press. pp. 12–16, 145–146. ISBN 978-0-19-508811-3.