The Jazz Singer

“The Jazz Singer” is considered as the milestone of films produced by Warner Bros.’ and directed by Alan Crosland. It was the first motion picture with harmonized dialogues according to the scenes. In the year 1927, the film was released. Two minutes of dialogue scenes with sound recording sequences can be watched and then the other parts just go with the time-honored touch of silent pictures. However, The Jazz Singer had proved its commercial approach towards the audiences with its sensational sound effects with an absolute synchronized manner. The star of the movie was Al Jolson and he performed the six songs of the film by his own which is unbelievable. The film portrayed the blending culture of American Jazz with the culture of Jewish American.      

The Plot

Jakie Rabinowitz is in the first scene of the movie with his younger looks and then the classic begins with his challenging nature towards the traditions of his Jewish family who are very spiritual. Jakie starts defying his own family by singing tunes. Then he gets punished by his father and runs off home. After some years, the teenager is well-known in the name of Jack Robin- the leading Jazz Singer.

Impressive melody and wonderful harmonization

Previously, in the year of 1921 the film- Dream Street by D.W. Griffith had a distinct melody sequence. It was perfectly programmed with the help of different sound shorts. But, in case of “The Jazz Singer” synchronized sound effects with precise instrumental scores were the specialties at that time. The two early songs in the film- “My Gal Sal” and “Waiting for the Robert E.Lee” were performed by the young Jakie who was Bobby Gordon. These two scenes are very popular and considered as the classics in the sector of melodious film industry.

The part when Cantor Rabinowitz performs Kol Nidre, a touch of religious tune with a devotional sense flows like a river towards the soul of every audience. This masterpiece which was recorded by the legendary George Groves had again proved his artistic dexterity to the audiences like he had established it in Don Juan. It was a Vitaphone film by Alan Crosland who had already given two other Vitaphone contributions to the film industry in the form of Don Juan as well as Old San Francisco.

The opening spoken words in the form of music will be cherished with- “Toot, Toot, Tootsie (Goo’ Bye)” and the first words of the movie at 17’ 25” by Al Jolson “Wait a minute, wait a minute. You ain't heard nothin' yet!”  “Dirty Hands, Dirty Face”, the first performance of Jolson which was a fifteen minutes scene in the picture was flawlessly synchronized. The famous line by Jolson was built up in the form of a joke and still live in the hearts of people. The next scene is incredibly poignant, when conclusive dialogues are presented by Jack’s father. The two minutes of synchronized conversation in the film was the ground-breaking step which was never taken before by any other production house. With the help of Caption cards, rest of the dialogues was presented like the traditional silent movies of the golden era of film industry.