Jazz Singer: Al Jolson, May McAvoy, Warner Oland, Eugenie Besserer, Otto Lederer, Robert Gordon, Richard Tucker, Cantor Joseff Rosenblatt, Jane Arden, Ernest Belcher, Violet Bird, Nat Carr, Hal Mohr, Alan Crosland, Harold McCord, Alfred A. Cohn, Jack Jarmuth, Samson Raphaelson: Amazon.ca: Video

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Generally considered the first sound feature, this 1927 film is pretty much silent except for a few lines of dialogue and Al Jolson's songs. The story finds Jolson playing the son of a cantor who wants him to follow in his footsteps, but the singer prefers secular music. Except for its historical value, the film isn't all that interesting, though it is great to get a sense of why people considered Jolson to be a hugely exciting entertainer at the time. --Tom Keogh

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Customer Reviews

14 Reviews

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Average Customer Review

4.1 out of 5 stars (14 customer reviews)

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars There are many reasons to love Jolson's "The Jazz Singer", Dec 10 2002

By

J. Charne "charne" (Santa Monica, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Jazz Singer (VHS Tape)

This is an extraordinary film.

First, it is a great story of the dilemma faced by a son between following a path set by his family and culture, in contrast with pursuing his own career ambitions.

This is a story with great relevance today.

Second, it is the first "talking picture." As a piece of cinema history, it is a missing link between silent and talking pictures.

The Jazz Singer is conceived and photographed as a silent picture, and follows all silent picture conventions, but has several synchronized sound segments - with performances by the great Al Jolson - worked in.

The most memorable to me is the scene with Jolson talking to his mother, with Jolson sitting at the piano.

Third, Al Jolson was the most popular superstar of his day; he is compared in popularity to Michael Jackson, Elvis, and Bing Crosby combined at their peaks. In a world before radio, television, and sound pictures, the Winter Garden Theater on Broadway in NYC was built for Jolson and he filled it for years.

Finally, "The Jazz Singer" is an historical document looking at New York in the 1920's. That world is long long gone. The sets, the costumes, the types of the actors, all reflect a rich and interesting world that no longer exists.

Don't look at "The Jazz Singer" as some historical oddity or museum piece. As a piece of entertainment, culture and history, it is very powerful and riveting.

As far as I am concerned, it is highly recommended.

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Highly moving film, May 20 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The Jazz Singer (VHS Tape)

What lady watching could keep a dry eye at the end when Jack Robin sings Mammy with his own mother proudly watching in the audience? Absolutely moving. The film was not the first part talkie to come outa Hollywood but it was the most successful. And the story rather closely parallels Jolson's real life family story. He was the son of a cantor, the two were originally from Lithuania and Jolson ran away from his dad when he was just a boy.

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Maybe the greatest semi-silent, July 26 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Jazz Singer (VHS Tape)

I saw the Danny Thomas version of The Jazz Singer when it came out about 50 years ago; forgot the plot. Never got to see Neil Diamond's in full. Then I saw Al Jolson. I was spellbound, wondering what the outcome was going to be. The blackface picture on the box was a little offensive and can cause a distraction. They could have chosen some other scene instead.

Can't wait for the DVD version to come out, with whatever extras might be included. Hope they do pick another cover illustration .

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! This box set gives you hours of fascinating viewing
This is the best box set I have ever seen. There are hours of absorbing viewing. The Jazz singer is fully restored with wonderful sound. Read more

Published on Oct 20 2007 by Terry Carroll

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting but uneven
"The Jazz Singer" will forever be remembered as being the first Hollywood movie to make the transition from the silent era. Read more