In the 1920s, the Vitaphone unit from Warner Brothers was experimenting with sound films. But before they brought out "The Jazz Singer", they made a huge number of experimental films--mostly consisting of vaudeville acts and musical groups of the era. A lot of them are pretty forgettable but they also are the only known examples of many of these folks performing, as few of the Vitaphone actors went on to become stars. A good example is here in "Song Impressions". Dora Maughan and Walter Fehl make there one and only film appearance in this musical comedy. However, considering that it really isn't very funny and the singing isn't extraordinary and they only get a short dialog, I can see why they never clicked in films.
3 Reviews
Why Vaudeville Died
boblipton10 April 2021
She comes on and does an impression of old ladies gossiping. He comes on and sings one of those sad songs with a monologue before the final chorus. Then they sing "It All Depends On You" in what they claim is a funny manner. It isn't. Meanwhile, the piano player keeps tinkling along like none of it has anything to do wih him.
A lot of these early Vitaphone shorts were vaudeville acts, intended to replace live performers between features. Some, like Shaw & Lee, are uproarious. Others are good, and some are peculiar, like Carlena Diamond. This one is simply bad.
A lot of these early Vitaphone shorts were vaudeville acts, intended to replace live performers between features. Some, like Shaw & Lee, are uproarious. Others are good, and some are peculiar, like Carlena Diamond. This one is simply bad.
Laughless Vitaphone
Michael_Elliott20 January 2013
Song Impressions (1928)
** (out of 4)
This three-person act has Jerry Williams doing the piano work while Dora Maughan and Walter Fehl do the "singing." What we basically have is the two doing a comedy act where the dialogue is sung instead of just spoken in a normal way. I must admit that I found the entire act to be rather bland for a number of reasons. First is that the material just isn't all that funny and the jokes are always very obvious. I'm sure this here might have been big back in the vaudeville days but in this short it just never comes to life. Second is that the entire "singing" adds nothing to either the comedy or the film. The entire bit just really feels force and it's too bad because both actors actually do a nice job in front of the camera and they certainly play to it quite well. The piano and orchestra music is pretty good but it's just not enough to make this more watchable.
** (out of 4)
This three-person act has Jerry Williams doing the piano work while Dora Maughan and Walter Fehl do the "singing." What we basically have is the two doing a comedy act where the dialogue is sung instead of just spoken in a normal way. I must admit that I found the entire act to be rather bland for a number of reasons. First is that the material just isn't all that funny and the jokes are always very obvious. I'm sure this here might have been big back in the vaudeville days but in this short it just never comes to life. Second is that the entire "singing" adds nothing to either the comedy or the film. The entire bit just really feels force and it's too bad because both actors actually do a nice job in front of the camera and they certainly play to it quite well. The piano and orchestra music is pretty good but it's just not enough to make this more watchable.
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