Americaner Shadchen (1940)

Nat Silver has been engaged 7 times already. This time, his 8th, he's really going to get married. But a visitor shows up, Shirley's old boyfriend. With a gun ! He'll kill himself unless he... See full summary »

Director:

Edgar G. Ulmer

Writers:

Gustav H. Heimo (story), Shirley Ulmer (screenplay),

Stars:

Leo Fuchs, Judith Abarbanel, Judel Dubinsky

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Leo Fuchs	...	Nat Silver / Uncle Shya
Judith Abarbanel	...	Judith Aarons
Judel Dubinsky	...	Maurice
Anna Guskin	...	Elvie Silver
Celia Brodkin	...	Nat's Mother (as Celia Boodkin)
Rosetta Bialis	...	Mrs. Aarons
Abraham Lax	...	Simon P. Schwalbenrock
Esther Adler	...	Undetermined Role (as E. Adler)
M. Henig	...	Undetermined Role
H. Appel	...	Undetermined Role
Sarah Krohner	...	Undetermined Role (as S. Krohner)
I. Arco	...	Undetermined Role
M. Lerner	...	Undetermined Role
M. Boodkin	...	Undetermined Role
V. Luboff	...	Undetermined Role

Storyline

Nat Silver has been engaged 7 times already. This time, his 8th, he's really going to get married. But a visitor shows up, Shirley's old boyfriend. With a gun ! He'll kill himself unless he can have Shirley back, and Nat graciously gives in. According to Nat's mother, his Uncle Shya was unlucky at love but lucky as a matchmaker, and Nat is just like Shya. Nat tells his family he's going to Italy. But he remains in New York and sets himself up with a new name and new business, Nat Gold, Advisor in Human Relations...

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Plot Keywords:

uncle | gun | engagement | wedding | rabbi | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

Yiddish English

Release Date:

6 May 1940 (USA)

Also Known As:

Amerikaner Schadchen

Filming Locations:

Bronx, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fame Films Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min 87 min (1998 restoration) 85 min (copyright length)

Sound Mix:

Variray Blue Seal Recording

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The 1998 restoration credits added two minutes to the time of the original movie.

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Connections

References The Barrier (1937)

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Soundtracks

"Oy, Oy, Oy, Spiel"
Composer unknown
Lyrics by William Mercur
Sung by Leo Fuchs and others at the bachelor party

User Reviews

Heavy on the humour, light on the schmaltz

This is Edgar Ulmer's last Yiddish film before his departure for Hollywood where he eventually made "Detour" in 1945.

I saw this film at a screening organized by the Toronto Jewish Film Society. Much to my surprise, we were informed that Ulmer didn't speak Yiddish! He apparently did his journeyman film direction in a variety of languages he couldn't speak. Just a gun for hire, it seems.

His direction here is pretty foursquare with only a few flourishes, although he does seem to get mostly good performances out of a cast led by Leo Fuchs, as the often-engaged bachelor who requires a spell as a professional matchmaker to finally solve his matrimonial woes.

The film begins as a spoof of matchmaking -- Fuchs the wheeler-dealer turns it into big business, American style, with bonuses, staff meetings, and fancy advertising -- but ultimately the old country values are confirmed.

This amusing film -- Yiddish-speaking members of the audience loved it -- is bilingual throughout, about 90% Yiddish or Yiddish mixed with English (e.g. "bachelor party"), and 10% English. The film even goes trilingual at one point when the number "five" is said a third time as "pyat" (Russian, Ukrainian) for emphasis.

Warning: This is perhaps the most poorly subtitled film I have ever seen. Come prepared with a smattering of Yiddish, or at least German (it worked pretty well for me).

"Americaner Shadchen" was screened in a double bill with the earlier Leo Fuchs comedy, "I Want To Be a Boarder" (1937). It is somewhat primitive to look at but still quite funny where it counts. If it were not for his accent, the handsome and versatile Fuchs should have had a strong career in the conventional American cinema.