The Jazz Singer

Name: The Jazz Singer
Genre: Drama, Romance, Music, Musical
Released: October 6, 1927
Duration: 88 min
Rating: 66
Cast: Al Jolson, Ernest Belcher, Eugenie Besserer, Jane Arden, May McAvoy

1927

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Generally favorable reviews based on 7 Critic Reviews

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Mixed or average reviews based on 5 Ratings

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5.6

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. | Release Date: October 6, 1927 | Unrated

Starring: Al Jolson, Ernest Belcher, Eugenie Besserer, Jane Arden, May McAvoy, Otto Lederer, Richard Tucker, Robert Gordon, Warner Oland, Yossele Rosenblatt

Summary: The son of a Jewish Cantor must defy the traditions of his religious father in order to pursue his dream of becoming a jazz singer.

Director: Alan Crosland

Genre(s): Drama, Romance, Music, Musical

Rating: Unrated

Runtime: 88 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Staff (Not Credited)

It is Mr. Jolson's first picture and as such of great import to the history of the current theatre. In no other way but pictures can his genius be preserved; and in this he is favored with the double preservative of picture and mechanical voice reproduction. The Vitaphone permits him to talk and sing his way through the sentimental mazes of the movie adaptation. He is a good actor; but he is a very great singer of popular songs. In cities where the Vitaphone can be installed and reproduce his voice this picture will eminently repay attendance. Read full review

100

Sid Silverman

Undoubtedly the best thing Vitaphone has ever put on the screen. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

By today's standards, THE JAZZ SINGER is mawkish, crudely filmed, and full of schmaltz. Yet it remains fascinating in its historical value, not only for its technical innovation, but because director Alan Crosland took his cameras on location into New York's Jewish ghetto around Hester and Orchard streets and then along the Great White Way of Broadway, showing the colorful, divergent, and now vanished ways of immigrant and show business life. Read full review

Noel Murray

As for its quality as an actual movie, well, The Jazz Singer is hardly great, but it provides solid melodrama and a valuable look at the ethnic stereotypes of early-20th-century entertainment. Read full review

Mordaunt Hall

The Vitaphoned songs and some dialogue have been introduced most adroitly. This in itself is an ambitious move, for in the expression of song the Vitaphone vitalizes the production enormously. The dialogue is not so effective, for it does not always catch the nuances of speech or inflections of the voice so that one is not aware of the mechanical features. Read full review

Dave Kehr

You can see what an impact sound must have had in 1927, because it certainly wasn't the movie that made this production a phenomenon...It's ragged and dull until the magical moment when Jolson turns to the camera to announce, “You ain't heard nothin' yet”—a line so loaded with unconscious irony that it still raises a few goose bumps. Read full review

Steve Daly

The plot is powerful because it’s so absurdly melodramatic. Read full review

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User Reviews

Mglovesfun

Feb 28, 2020

I'd like to address a few misconceptions straight before I start. This is mostly not a talking picture. Nor is it about a singer that blacks up, although both do occur in this picture.

The plot is simple but largely well-acted by the three principal characters. Al Jolson's voice is, inI'd like to address a few misconceptions straight before I start. This is mostly not a talking picture. Nor is it about a singer that blacks up, although both do occur in this picture.

The plot is simple but largely well-acted by the three principal characters. Al Jolson's voice is, in truth, not particularly good. The blackface occurs near the end of the film, and is pretty uncomfortable to watch. However, if you're a fan of cinematic history, I would recommend this movie as it's both short and watchable.

It's better than some movies of the era (The Broadway Melody) but not as good as some others (Wings or All Quiet on the Western Front).… Expand

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