''The Kibitzer'' is a 1930 American

pre-Code Pre-Code Hollywood was the brief era in the American film industry between the widespread adoption of sound in film in 1929LaSalle (2002), p. 1. and the enforcement of the Motion Picture Production Code censorship guidelines, popularly known ...

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending ( black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the o ...

directed by

Edward Sloman Edward Sloman (19 July 1886, London - 29 September 1972, Woodland Hills, California) was an English silent film director, actor, screenwriter and radio broadcaster. He directed over 100 films and starred in over 30 films as an actor betwee ...

and written by Marion Dix,

Sam Mintz Sam Mintz ( be, Сэм Мінц; July 12, 1897 – September 13, 1957) was an American screenwriter from Russia during the Russian Empire period, who was nominated in the category of Best Adapted Screenplay at the 4th Academy Awards. He was nomi ...

and Viola Brothers Shore. It is based on the 1929 play ''The Kibitzer'' by

Jo Swerling Jo Swerling (April 8, 1897 – October 23, 1964) was an American theatre writer, lyricist and screenwriter. Early life and early career Born Joseph Swerling in Berdichev, Ukraine, Swerling was one of a number of Jewish refugees from the Tsarist ...

and

Edward G. Robinson Edward G. Robinson (born Emanuel Goldenberg; December 12, 1893January 26, 1973) was a Romanian-American actor of stage and screen, who was popular during the Hollywood's Golden Age. He appeared in 30 Broadway plays and more than 100 films duri ...

. The film stars Harry Green, Mary Brian, Neil Hamilton,

Albert Gran Albert Gran (August 4, 1862 – December 16, 1932) was a Norwegian-born American stage and film actor. He is most associated with his appearance in drama and light comedy films. Biography Albert Gran was born in Bergen, Norway. He was the s ...

, David Newell and

Guy Oliver George Guy Oliver (September 25, 1878 – September 1, 1932) was an American actor. He appeared in at least 189 silent film era motion pictures and 32 talkies in character roles between 1911 and 1931. His obituary gives him credit for at l ...

. The film was released on January 11, 1930, by

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film and television production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the main namesake division of Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS). It is the fifth-oldes ...

Outline

A gentle comedy about a Jewish character who keeps giving people advice, i.e. kibitzing. His advice creates all kinds of complications, especially after he comes into a large sum of money to dispose of as he pleases. The character is played by Harry Green, who specialised in playing Jewish comedic characters.

Cast

*Harry Green as Ike Lazarus * Mary Brian as Josie Lazarus * Neil Hamilton as Eddie Brown *

as James Livingston *David Newell as Bert Livingston *

as McGinty *

Tenen Holtz Tenen Holtz (born Alex Elihu Tenenholtz; February 17, 1887 – July 1, 1971) was an American actor. He appeared in nearly 60 films between 1926 and 1961. Biography Holtz was born in Imperial Russia, and came to the United States when he wa ...

as Meyer *Henry Fink as Kikapoupolos *

Lee Kohlmar Lee Kohlmar (27 February 1873 – 14 May 1946) was a German film actor and director. He appeared in more than 50 films between 1916 and 1941. He also directed nine films between 1916 and 1921. He was born in Forth and died in Hollywood, Cali ...

as Yankel * E. H. Calvert as Westcott *

Thomas A. Curran Thomas A. Curran (May 29, 1879 – January 24, 1941), was an Australian-born American actor on the stage and in motion pictures. Between 1915 and 1941 he appeared in 60 films, the last of which was ''Citizen Kane'', in which he played the u ...

as Briggs * Eddie Kane as Phillips *

Henry A. Barrows Henry Arthur Barrows (April 29, 1875 – March 25, 1945) was an American actor who appeared in films from 1913 to 1936. Burrows performed in supporting roles for American, Astra, Biograph, Brentwood, Pathe, Universal, and Vitagraph studios. ...

as Hanson *Paddy O'Flynn as Reporter *

Dick Rush Richard T. Rush (born 1884) was an Australian-born American character actor of the silent and sound film eras. During his 28-year career, he would appear in between 160 and 300 films (depending on the source). The large majority of his parts wer ...

as Mullins *

Eugene Pallette Eugene William Pallette (July 8, 1889 – September 3, 1954) was an American actor who worked in both the silent and sound eras, performing in more than 240 productions between 1913 and 1946. After an early career as a slender leading man, ...

as Klaus

References

External links

* 1930 films 1930s English-language films American comedy films 1930 comedy films Paramount Pictures films Films directed by Edward Sloman American black-and-white films Films about Jews and Judaism 1930s American films {{1930s-comedy-film-stub