Hallelujah, I'm a Bum (1933)

Synopsis: As difficult as it may be to imagine homelessness as the subject of a musical comedy, this fantasy genre was a staple of the Depression. Featuring a script written in rhymed dialogue by Ben Hecht... As difficult as it may be to imagine homelessness as the subject of a musical comedy, this fantasy genre was a staple of the Depression. Featuring a script written in rhymed dialogue by Ben Hecht and S.N. Behrman, and a musical score by Rodgers and Hart, it stars Al Jolson as Bumper, mayor of the hobos, a man whose love of the great outdoors precludes labor of any kind. Returning to New York City's Central Park from his "vacation" in the South, Bumper is greeted by his enthusiastic constituency, who gather to hear him extol the virtues of the hobo life. His friend Egghead (Harry Langdon), a street cleaner, lectures Bumper about his responsibility to the workers, but the hobo is decidedly apolitical. When June (Madge Evans), the girlfriend of the actual mayor of New York City (Frank Morgan), tries to drown herself, Bumper saves her life. He falls in love with the beautiful woman, who, suffering from amnesia, returns his affections. Since they need a place to live, Bumper realizes that he'll actually have to get a job. While the film may be something of a cult item, the Rodgers and Hart score is excellent, as are the performances of Jolson and Langdon. [More]

Starring: Al Jolson, Madge Evans, Frank Morgan, Chester Conklin

Starring: Al Jolson, Madge Evans, Frank Morgan, Chester Conklin, Harry Langdon

Director: Lewis Milestone

Director: Lewis Milestone
Screenwriter: S. N. Behrman, Ben Hecht
Composer: Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart

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