Fresh
Undoubtedly the best thing Vitaphone has ever put on the screen.
Variety Staff, Variety
The Jazz Singer
Hear him sing Mammy, Toot Toot Tootsie, My Gal Sal, Mother I Still Have You.
1927 · 1h 36m · Passed
Drama, Music
Directed by
Alan Crosland
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The Jazz Singer
Overview
A young Jewish man is torn between tradition and individuality when his old-fashioned family objects to his career as a jazz singer. This is the first full length feature film to use synchronized sound, and is the original film musical.
Director and cast
- Alan Crosland Director
- Al Jolson as Jakie Rabinowitz
- May McAvoy as Mary Dale
- Warner Oland as Cantor Rabinowitz
- Eugenie Besserer as Sara Rabinowitz
- Otto Lederer as Moisha Yudelson
- Robert Gordon as Young Jakie Rabinowitz
- Richard Tucker as Harry Lee
- Yossele Rosenblatt as Cantor Rosenblatt
- William Demarest as Buster Billings (uncredited)
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
77%
Tomatometer
Fresh
The Vitaphoned songs and some dialogue have been introduced most adroitly.
Mordaunt Hall, New York Times
Rotten
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.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Fresh
In cities where the Vitaphone can be installed and reproduce his voice this picture will eminently repay attendance.
TIME Magazine
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