The Eddie Cantor Story

I don't know where to begin except with George Burns quote on this movie "They managed to make Eddie Cantor's life look boring". From the misconceptions (he is called Eddie at age 13 in the movie wen in fact, he didn't change his name to this until he was 21.) as well as the very bad Jimmy Durante imitation that seemed like something out of a Saturday Night Live sketch (replete with the fake putty nose that looks even faker with a big screen high def TV). I couldn't get into the movie because of Keefe Brasselle's crazy eye rolling at the most inopportune times. I finally got through the movie thinking "Here's two hours of my life that I'll never get back". Eddie Cantor had a much more interesting life than what was shown here from his work with the March of Dimes as well as his film work, which was never even mentioned!!! Hopefully someone will do a much better biography on his life one day.

Wildly popular in his lifetime, entertainer Eddie Cantor is difficult to understand by today's standards, and Keefe Brasselle's portrayal of Cantor offers little insight into this legendary comedian with the bug eyes. Hearing some of the songs he made famous helps a little, as they are a lot of fun: "If You Knew Susie," "Ida Sweet as Apple Cider," "Oh, You Beautiful Doll," and Makin' Whoopee." ---from Musicals on the Silver Screen, American Library Association, 2013

While this film is not as good as The Jolson Story, it is nevertheless very entertaining. Eddie Cantor dubbed the songs for Keefe Brasselle, and it is Cantor's great voice and the exciting songs that make the movie. Songs like Ida, Sweet As Apple Cider, If You Knew Susie, Potatos Are Cheaper, Margie, and I'd Like To Spend each Sunday With You are just great. Brasselle has taken criticism for his portrayal of Cantor, but he really does a pretty good job. Parks was better in the Jolson bio, but in fact, Brasselle resembled Cantor in appearance more than Parks resembled Jolson.

Best thing: the music Worst: Keefe Brasselle pouring on his Cantor expression at every moment.

He's still over the top when Eddie is on stage, but in the scenes of his private life?

It's not acting. It's an impression. It's way over the top. Too bad Cantor deserved a better film. Blame the director I suppose.

Cantor had one dynamic career. He was on radio, tv, films, and records. He was a hit on all of them. In the early 1950s he felt that his career was mostly over. He retired. That takes discipline. The guy is a forgotten legend.

Now, he and Jolson did blackface. Yes, it's a minstrel show holdover. It's horrible. I didn't like it was a kid seeing the Jolson story this film and the WILL ROGERS bio pic in the early 1960s. Today, it's a crime You have to try to look past this if that's possible.

Was this film a hit? Hey, Martin and Lewis were the top act. Their films pulled in early 1950s money 2.5 million on average. This film grossed that too. It was a huge hit.

Watch it if you can. It's not was good as the first Jolson film, which suffers similar problems.

I love Eddie Cantor and was looking forward to finally seeing this biopic. I really enjoyed the musical numbers, but I have to say the dramatic scenes were painful. I'm sure Eddie Cantor didn't carry his stage personna into his personal life. I'm sure he didn't mug and roll his eyes when conversing with his friends and his wife. But that's what Keefe Braselle did. It got pretty annoying. On the other hand, the musical numbers were tremendous and Mr. Braselle nailed the moves and the facial expressions. Of course, hearing the voice of Eddie Cantor was wonderful. I'm wondering if the songs were recorded for the movie, (as in The Jolson Story) or whether older recordings were used.