Singing in the Dark
Encyclopedia
Singing in the Dark is a 1956 black-and-white motion picture about a Holocaust survivor suffering from total amnesia who comes to the United States. It stars Yiddish language
film actor Moishe Oysher
in his only English-language film performance, and comedian Joey Adams
(born Joseph Abramowitz), and was directed by the silent film director Max Nosseck
.
(Cantor) in Europe. As memories of his parents, who perished in the Holocaust, return to him, he abandons his nightclub career to follow his father's footsteps as a synagogue cantor. The final scene shows Leo (who now remembers that his real name is "David") singing during a synagogue service.
In one crucial scene in the movie, Leo imagines himself ascending the bima
of a ruined synagogue in Europe, singing the ancient Jewish prayer "El male rachamim
" in memory of all the Jews who died in the Holocaust. By actually returning to the synagogue as a cantor, the film shows how he is restoring "the sacred music of a vanquished culture to a living Jewish community."
notes that this "important and virtually unknown independent film" is one of the first American movies to focus on the Holocaust. It is one of the films featured in the 2004 documentary, "Imaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust."
Academy-award winning cinematographer Boris Kaufman
filmed in post-war Berlin
for this movie, including the remains of the Neue Synagogue, a Jewish landmark in Germany. The film also includes footage of New York's Rivington Street Synagogue.
and Second Avenue
overtones." It ends with the description that "Mr. Adams is no Sir Laurence Olivier
but he's an expert at the wise-crack and the fast gag. Mr. Oysher, histrionically a bit heavy, can render a snappy tune or a Hebraic chant with richness. All in all, "Singing in the Dark" is light 'socko.'" The National Center for Jewish Film calls it "a quirky mix of 1950s American film genres—the musical, gangster and mystery movie—and the period’s fascination with psychiatry. While Jews are not discussed directly, Jewish content is explicit, especially in the popular Yiddish songs (sung in English) and liturgical Hebrew songs."
Yiddish language
Yiddish is a High German language of Ashkenazi Jewish origin, spoken throughout the world. It developed as a fusion of German dialects with Hebrew, Aramaic, Slavic languages and traces of Romance languages...
film actor Moishe Oysher
Moishe Oysher
Moishe Oysher Moishe Oysher Moishe Oysher (Yiddish: משה אוישר, (born 1906 in Lipkon (Lipkany), Bessarabia, Imperial Russia – died 27 November 1958, New Rochelle, New York, USA). was a cantor and Yiddish theatre actor. He is considered one of the most entertaining chazanim (cantors) ever...
in his only English-language film performance, and comedian Joey Adams
Joey Adams
Joey Adams , born Joseph Abramowitz, was an American comedian who was inducted into the Friars Club in 1977 and wrote the book Borscht Belt in 1973.-Life and career:...
(born Joseph Abramowitz), and was directed by the silent film director Max Nosseck
Max Nosseck
-Selected filmography:* Aventura oriental * Oranje Hein * Overture to Glory * Gambling Daughters * The Brighton Strangler * Black Beauty* Dillinger * And Who Is Kissing Me?...
.
Synopsis
Leo, the main character, is a Holocaust survivor who suffers from total amnesia. When he immigrates to the U.S. he manages to find a job as a hotel desk clerk. When he accepts a drink in the hotel bar, he suddenly starts singing, amazing those around him—and himself—with his magnificent voice. Taking advantage of his gift, he begins singing in nightclubs. Eventually, with the help of a psychiatrist and partly as a result of a blow to the head during a mugging, his memories begin to return, and he realizes that he is the son of a great Jewish HazzanHazzan
A hazzan or chazzan is a Jewish cantor, a musician trained in the vocal arts who helps lead the congregation in songful prayer.There are many rules relating to how a cantor should lead services, but the idea of a cantor as a paid professional does not exist in classical rabbinic sources...
(Cantor) in Europe. As memories of his parents, who perished in the Holocaust, return to him, he abandons his nightclub career to follow his father's footsteps as a synagogue cantor. The final scene shows Leo (who now remembers that his real name is "David") singing during a synagogue service.
In one crucial scene in the movie, Leo imagines himself ascending the bima
Bima
Bima is a city on the eastern coast of the island Sumbawa in central Indonesia's province West Nusa Tenggara, and the largest city on the island. In 2010 the municipality counted some 142,443 people, separate from the adjoining Regency of Bima with 407,636 population...
of a ruined synagogue in Europe, singing the ancient Jewish prayer "El male rachamim
El male rachamim
"El male rachamim" is a funeral prayer used by the Ashkenazi Jewish community. The chazzan recites it, for the ascension of the souls of the dead, during the funeral, going up to the grave of the departed, remembrance days, and other occasions on which the memory of the dead is recalled.-Wording of...
" in memory of all the Jews who died in the Holocaust. By actually returning to the synagogue as a cantor, the film shows how he is restoring "the sacred music of a vanquished culture to a living Jewish community."
Importance
The National Center for Jewish FilmNational Center for Jewish Film
The National Center for Jewish Film is a non-profit motion picture archive, distributor, and resource center. It houses the largest collection of Jewish-themed film and video outside of Israel...
notes that this "important and virtually unknown independent film" is one of the first American movies to focus on the Holocaust. It is one of the films featured in the 2004 documentary, "Imaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust."
Academy-award winning cinematographer Boris Kaufman
Boris Kaufman
Boris Abelevich Kaufman, A.S.C. was a cinematographer. He was the younger brother of famous filmmakers Dziga Vertov and Mikhail Kaufman....
filmed in post-war Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
for this movie, including the remains of the Neue Synagogue, a Jewish landmark in Germany. The film also includes footage of New York's Rivington Street Synagogue.
Response
While the historical importance of this film is widely noted, reviews for the film itself were mixed. The 1956 New York Times review was generally favorable, calling it "light socko," and noting both "RunyonesqueDamon Runyon
Alfred Damon Runyon was an American newspaperman and writer.He was best known for his short stories celebrating the world of Broadway in New York City that grew out of the Prohibition era. To New Yorkers of his generation, a "Damon Runyon character" evoked a distinctive social type from the...
and Second Avenue
Second Avenue (Manhattan)
Second Avenue is an avenue on the East Side of the New York City borough of Manhattan extending from Houston Street at its south end to the Harlem River Drive at 128th Street at its north end. A one-way street, vehicular traffic runs only downtown. A bicycle lane in the left hand portion from 55th...
overtones." It ends with the description that "Mr. Adams is no Sir Laurence Olivier
Laurence Olivier
Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier, OM was an English actor, director, and producer. He was one of the most famous and revered actors of the 20th century. He married three times, to fellow actors Jill Esmond, Vivien Leigh, and Joan Plowright...
but he's an expert at the wise-crack and the fast gag. Mr. Oysher, histrionically a bit heavy, can render a snappy tune or a Hebraic chant with richness. All in all, "Singing in the Dark" is light 'socko.'" The National Center for Jewish Film calls it "a quirky mix of 1950s American film genres—the musical, gangster and mystery movie—and the period’s fascination with psychiatry. While Jews are not discussed directly, Jewish content is explicit, especially in the popular Yiddish songs (sung in English) and liturgical Hebrew songs."