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.
Comment
07/28/08
The Jazz Singer (1927)
78 %
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted: 23
Fresh: 18
Rotten:5
Average Rating: 6.5/10
Runtime: 4 hrs 25 mins
Genre: Dramas
Synopsis: The first feature film to utilize Synchronous Sound. The story is about Cantor Oland's son who goes into show business over his objections. Tunes include "Mammy," "Toot, Toot, Tootsie" and more. Academy Award Nominations: 2, including... [More]
Starring: Al Jolson, May McAvoy, Eugenie Besserer, Warner Oland
Director: Alan Crosland
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Reviews for The Jazz Singer
Top Critic In cities where the Vitaphone can be installed and reproduce his voice this picture will eminently repay attendance.
07/28/08
Top Critic
Top Critic
...there's no taking away from the movie's heart and Jolson's singing. The Jazz Singer remains a classic of its kind.
10/14/07
The Broadway melodrama is schmaltzy, but the music thank God is heavenly.
05/03/06
The Vitaphoned songs and some dialogue have been introduced most adroitly.
03/25/06
Top Critic
Three quarters of a century later, viewing 'The Jazz Singer' is perhaps a historical curiosity to many. It is an insult to overly sensitive others.
10/15/04
A landmark: the first sound film in which dialogue and song caught the public's imagination, even though sound had long existed and much of this film is silent.
05/24/03
Top Critic
Utterly unremarkable; its milestone status is more historical fluke than genuine artistry.
01/14/03
Sincere and important, if a little self-aware, look at being Jewish in a way other movies of the time weren't touching.
11/25/02
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