The Jazz Singer

1927
Passed
1h 28m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

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.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.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.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.4/10

11K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 4 wins & 1 nomination total

Photos72

+ 66

Top cast38

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Al Jolson

Jakie Rabinowitz

May McAvoy

Mary Dale

Warner Oland

The Cantor

Eugenie Besserer

Sara Rabinowitz

Otto Lederer

Moisha Yudelson

Robert Gordon

Jakie Rabinowitz - Age 13
(as Bobby Gordon)

Richard Tucker

Harry Lee

Yossele Rosenblatt

Cantor Rosenblatt - Concert Recital
(as Cantor Joseff Rosenblatt)

Charlene Aber

Chorus Girl
(uncredited)

Arline Abers

Chorus Girl
(uncredited)

Jane Arden

Small Part
(uncredited)

Ernest Belcher

Choreographer - 'April Follies'
(uncredited)

Violet Bird

Small Part
(uncredited)

Bernard B. Brown

Violinist
(uncredited)

Nat Carr

Levi
(uncredited)

Claire Delmar

Small Part
(uncredited)

William Demarest

Buster Billings
(uncredited)

Neely Edwards

Dance Director
(uncredited)

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
This is the first feature-length movie with audible dialogue.

Goofs
Mary recieves a telegram dated August 8, 1927. Later in the film, Jack is seen writing a letter to Mary, dating it August 7, 1927.

Quotes
[opening lines, first quote and first words in the first widely-seen talking picture]
Jack Robin: Wait a minute, wait a minute, you ain't heard nothin' yet! Wait a minute, I tell ya! You ain't heard nothin'! You wanna hear "Toot, Toot, Tootsie"? All right, hold on, hold on...
[then he walks back to one of the band members]
Jack Robin: Lou, listen. Play "Toot, Toot, Tootsie", three chorus, you understand. In the third chorus, I whistle. Now give it to 'em hard and heavy, go right ahead.

Connections
Edited into Okay for Sound (1946)

Soundtracks
My Gal Sal
(1905) (uncredited)
Written by Paul Dresser
Sung by Robert Gordon (dubbed by an unidentified singer)

User reviews120

Review

Featured review

Good fun

A simple story of a guy winning back his estranged father, told in strong and memorable images. Jolson looks just right, and although it was done for reasons of cost and technological limitations, it's actually pretty cool that this is a traditional silent movie that turns talkie for the performance scenes. It makes the terrific musical numbers come alive, and it gives the plotting no more or less emphasis than it deserves. Not a great film, but an enjoyable one, and obviously a historically significant one.