“I believe in tit for tat. And it that’s the case, someone owes me a lot of tat” -Sophie Tucker. The last of the red-hot mamas, Tucker had a long entertainment career that started in Vaudeville and worked its way into TV. Now in theaters, her career biography The Outrageous Sophie Tucker is a documentary film that tells all.
Following her death in 1966 at the age of 90, scrapbooks and mementos from her fabulous past were found. Along with Susan and Lloyd Ecker, writers of “I Am Sophie Tucker: A Fictional Memoir”, Director William Gazecki has put her on the silver screen in all her glory once more.
Born of Ukrainian parents during their immigration to the United States, Sophie had no idea she would make her brash talent a job. Here first paid performance was winning a contest in Hartford, Connecticut for $5. From there she knew her destiny and it was on the stage. Singing between acts at Burlesque got her the attention of powers in the entertainment industry and she was on her way.
The film goes through most of the ups and downs in the industry and her undying challenge to make women a part of entertainment. At movie houses she sang between reel changes sometimes a bit too long, but that’s Sophie’s trademark finishing her number when she finishes her number. Larger than life, she captivated audiences wherever she performed.
Never a dull moment through out the documentary, the film shows her by way of film footage and hundreds of photos from her albums. Wise cracking and belting out songs with her sidekick Frank Westphal at the piano, her performances were energetic and bawdy at times. The whole film is laid out in such a way that you can feel Sophie on stage and the control she had over her audiences.
She knew everyone from Frank Sinatra to Al Capone. Names like Al Jolson, Eddie Cantor, Judy Garland, Joe DiMaggio, Jerry Lewis, Mickey Rooney and Danney Kaye were her friends and some even confidants in her rise in the entertainment industry.
The film runs about an hour and 30 minutes and yet if flies by at a fast pace. I found myself wanting more, but all good things do come to an end.
Additional Film Information:
Narrators: Susan and Lloyd Ecker
Directed by: William Gazecki
Genre: Documentary
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 96 min
Release Date: November 7, 2014
