The Singing Blacksmith
1938Moishe 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.
Acted in
Moise Oysher
as Yankel
Miriam Riselle
as Tamara
Florence Weiss
as Rivke
Anna Appel
as Chaya Peshe
Michael Goldstein
as Raffuel
Lea Noemi
as Mariashe
Max Vodnoy
as Simche
Yudel Duldinsky
as Reb' Aaron
Lube Wesely
as Frumeh
Ben-Zvi Baratoff
as Bendet
Herschel Bernardi
as Yankel, as a boy
Rai Schneier
as Rivke's Mother
Luba Rymer
as Sprintze Gnesye
Benjamin Fishbein
as Frolke
R. Wendroff
as Ella
R. Shanock
as Leah
Sophie Bressler
as Maid
Libby Charney
as First Girl
Janet Deutschmann
as Second Girl
Clara Deutschmann
as Chaike
Resa Halperin
as Seamstress