Stars Energy

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 792, 12 October 1929, Page 27

Stars Energy

AL JOLSON HELPED IN EVERY PHASE OF HIS “SAY IT WITH SONGS” i

KNOWLEDGE OF AUDIENCES

In “Say it With Songs," A 1 Jolson’s new Vitaphone production for Warner Eros., the star took intense interest in every phase of production, from preparing the story and the selection of the cast, to the editing and cutting of the film. During the preliminary stages he conferred frequently with the authors of the story. Directors, authors, technicians and i layers were eager to

have the star’s opinion on every production matter that came up, for they realised Jolson understands audience psychology better than most actors. Any day during the filming of the production, Jolson might have been seen conferring

with Lloyd Bacon, the director, with the authors, the cameramen, the electricians, suggesting little touches for the improvement of the picture. And most of his suggestions were adopted. Since liis success in “The Jazz Singer,” Jolson has been a student of microphone technique, always seeking to improve his acting and singing. Many busy weeks were devoted to writing and composing the original songs for “Say It With Songs.” The star composed most of these himself with the aid of writers. The original songs which were written for “Say It With Songs” and which the star sings during the progress o fthe story, are

“Used to You,” “Little Pal,” “Seventh Heaven,” “Just One Sweet Kiss” and “Why Can’t You?” Jolson sings tw r o popular numbers from former years, “Back in Your Own Backyard” and “Crazy for You.”

All of the players in the picture were personally selected by the star. When Jolson saw Marian Nixon’s work