Long before Scorsese’s King of Comedy, Jerry Lewis proved his talent as a dramatic actor in this 1959 TV remake of The Jazz Singer, produced for the Lincoln-Mercury’s Startime series. Preventing it from becoming another piece of postwar Jewish kitsch, Lewis’ multi-layered performance infuses much depth and spontaneity into the oft-told story of the American Jewish son caught between two worlds. Backing him up is a stellar supporting cast that includes Yiddish star Molly Picon, the stunning Anna Maria Alberghetti (Cinderfella), and Alan Reed (known by most as the voice of Fred Flintstone). After years of being rarely available, this programme has now been restored to show off the original colour of its 1959 broadcast.
