A Plantation Act (1926)

Genre:

Short | Music

Plot:

Dressed in overalls and wearing black-face makeup, Jolson sings three of his hit songs. For the complete list, follow the soundtrack link. |

Plot Keywords:

Overalls | Old South | Blackface | Chicken | Plantation

Cast

Al Jolson

...

Himself

Also Known As:

Al Jolson in 'A Plantation Act' (USA) (copyright title)

Runtime:

10 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Vitaphone)

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Vitaphone production reel #359.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story (2002) (TV)

Soundtrack:

When the Red, Red, Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along

Why Doesn't This Get Recognized?

Al Jolson, in black-face, sings three of his songs in this short musical feature. All it is, is Jolson standing in front of a rural prop (a mural, with a chicken or two walking around) and belting out three numbers. In between, he gives a few thanks yous and comments.

"Rock-a-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody" starts it off and is my personal favorite of the three. The second number is a much slower tune, "April Showers," and the finale is the upbeat "When The Red-Red Robin comes Bob Bob Bobbin' Along"

In between the second and third songs, Jolson gives a few comments. The ending to this is very strange. The picture stops a few times and picks back up each time with Jolson taking more bows and blowing kisses. Then we see an "Intermission" graphic posted, and that's the end!

What's puzzling to me is the question, "Why isn't this film (albeit very short, and no story) considered the first "talkie?" This came out a year before Jolson's "The Jazz Singer." You not only hear Jolson sing, but talk.....so why doesn't that qualify as a "talkie?"

Whatever. The fact is the man could flat-out sing and this is a nice piece of history. It's a bonus feature on the DVD recently released of "The Jazz Singer."