It's very much worth seeing, although I admit to not loving it as so many people do. I don't think James Whale was the right director. His cutting is very jumpy and the lip-synching is sometimes dire. But the cast is marvelous, and it's much better than the 1951 version. It has the advantages of Robeson, for whom the role was written, original cast members Helen Morgan (the role was really built on her), Charles Winninger, Sammy White and Francis X. Mahoney, and Irene Dunne from the national tour, and the direct involvement of Hammerstein and Kern. So it's of huge historical importance as well as being a good if imperfect movie. There is authenticity here.
The ending is an unfortunate letdown, much cut down from what Hammerstein and Kern wrote for the film. And I think what they wrote was filmed but it ended up on the cutting room floor.
Be ready to possibly be shocked by Irene Dunne in blackface. |
