Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Latest
    • Thank You
    • 4000. Scenes From A Marriage (1973)
    • 3999. The Pianist (2002)
    • 3998. Philadelphia (1993)
    • 3997. Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975)
    • 3996. The Green Mile (1999)
    • 3995. Doctor Zhivago (1965)
    • 3994. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Home
    • Blog
      • All Posts
      • Best Of The Year
        • Best Of 2015
        • Best Of 2016
        • Best Of 2017
        • Best Of 2018
        • Best Of 2019
        • Best Of 2020
        • Best Of 2021
        • Best Of 2022
      • The Decade In Review
      • Box Office Analysis
      • James Bond
      • Oscars
      • RANKED
      • Star Wars
      • The Big Questions
      • Top 10
      • World Cinema
    • Ratings
      • Top 250
      • Top 100 Foreign Films
      • Bottom 50
      • 0 – 1.9
      • 2 – 3.9
      • 4 – 5.9
      • 6 – 7.9
      • 8 – 10
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Anthology
      • Animation
      • Christmas
      • Comedy
      • Crime
      • Documentary
      • Drama
      • Fantasy
      • Film-Noir
      • History
      • Horror
      • Kids’
      • Musical
      • Psychological
      • Romance
      • Sci-Fi
      • Short
      • Silent
      • Sport
      • Superhero
      • Survival
      • Thriller
      • Western
    • Release Year
      • 2020s
      • 2010s
      • 2000s
      • 1990s
      • 1980s
      • 1970s
      • 1960s
      • 1950s
      • 1940s
      • 1930s
      • 1920s
    • Country
      • Afghanistan
      • Argentina
      • Australia
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Brazil
      • Cambodia
      • Canada
      • Chile
      • China
      • Colombia
      • Costa Rica
      • Czechoslovakia
      • Czech Republic
      • Denmark
      • East Timor
      • Faroe Islands
      • Finland
      • France
      • Germany
      • Georgia
      • Greece
      • Hong Kong
      • Hungary
      • Iceland
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Iran
      • Iraq
      • Ireland
      • Israel
      • Italy
      • Japan
      • Latvia
      • Lebanon
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Mexico
      • New Zealand
      • Nigeria
      • North Korea
      • Norway
      • Paraguay
      • Peru
      • Philippines
      • Poland
      • Romania
      • Russia
      • Saudi Arabia
      • Singapore
      • South Korea
      • South Africa
      • Soviet Union
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Switzerland
      • Syria
      • Taiwan
      • Thailand
      • Turkey
      • Uganda
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
      • Uruguay
      • Vietnam
      • Zambia
    • About
    The Mad Movie Man
    You are at:Home»Review»592. The Jazz Singer (1927)

    592. The Jazz Singer (1927)

    0
    By The Mad Movie Man on June 16, 2014 1927, 6 - 7.9, 80-89 mins, Comedy, Drama, Jun 14, Movies Of 2014, Musical, Review, Silent, United States
    6.6 Important but not that good
    • Acting 6.0
    • Directing 7.8
    • Story 6.0
    • User Ratings (0 Votes) 0

    Starring: Al Jolson, May McAvoy, Warner Oland

    Director: Alan Crosland

    Running Time: 88 mins


    The Jazz Singer is an American film, noted for being the first ever ‘talkie’ in Hollywood history, about a young man who must defy his father, a strong-willed Jewish Cantor, in order to realise his dream of becoming a jazz singer.

    Well, it may be one of the most historically significant films of all time, but it’s not actually that good. I appreciate and am near awestruck by the use of sound for the first time in a feature film all the way back in 1927, however this film’s story is never that intriguing, and is extremely predictable throughout.

    Let’s start, however, with the fact that this film’s use of sound is amazing. Never before seen, or rather heard, in a Hollywood picture at the time, this is the pioneering picture for everything that has come after it, opening up the doors for a technology that is completely taken for granted nowadays.

    Also, it’s not as if being the first talkie was a complete gimmick (although Singin’ In The Rain may have to say otherwise), but the sound is actually an effective tool, seeing as this is a film about singing, how important it can be in someone’s life, and how beautiful it can sound.

    Therefore, you’ve got a stream of great jazz songs throughout that make this the definitively first movie musical, which not only make it more entertaining, but add to the overall vibe of the film as something about music.

    But before you get too giddy about the fact that this is a ‘talkie’, I must warn you that it’s not. Yes, you can hear the songs, which is a marvel in itself, but the majority of the dialogue is still done with title cards, and still silent, so if you can’t stand that, this film will be a struggle for you to watch.

    Regarding the story of this film, it’s not the most entertaining thing of all time. Again, there are some great songs, but the rest of it is an extremely predictable, incredibly simplistic and largely dull affair, and although it doesn’t require much brainpower or historical know-how, it’s not that relaxing or fun to watch.

    Overall, this gets a 6.6, because although it is so significant, it’s not actually a great film.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Website
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    The Mad Movie Man, AKA Anthony Cullen, writes articles and reviews about movies and the world of cinema. From January 1st, 2013 to December 31st, 2022, he watched and reviewed a movie every day. This is the blog dedicated to the project: www.madmovieman.com

    Related Posts

    8.2

    4000. Scenes From A Marriage (1973)

    7.8

    3999. The Pianist (2002)

    8.2

    3998. Philadelphia (1993)

    Follow Me Online!
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • Tumblr
    New Releases
    8.2
    December 25, 2022

    3994. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)

    5.6
    December 10, 2022

    3969. Falling For Christmas (2022)

    6.9
    December 4, 2022

    3956. The People We Hate At The Wedding (2022)

    5.4
    December 3, 2022

    3954. Disenchanted (2022)

    7.4
    December 3, 2022

    3953. Meet Cute (2022)

    7.6
    November 23, 2022

    3934. Do Revenge (2022)

    7.0
    November 18, 2022

    3929. The Wonder (2022)

    6.7
    November 13, 2022

    3924. See How They Run (2022)

    Recommended Movies
    8.2
    Review
    June 24, 20170

    1797. When Will You Return (いつまた、君と ~何日君再来~) (2017)

    8.3
    Review
    July 27, 20140

    637. The Man Who Copied (2003)

    8.0
    Review
    April 20, 20140

    532. Date Night (2010)

    8.2
    Review
    May 19, 20160

    1355. The Commitments (1991)

    8.2
    Review
    February 27, 20190

    2471. Instant Family (2018)

    Popular Posts
    December 31, 2022

    Thank You

    8.2
    December 31, 2022

    4000. Scenes From A Marriage (1973)

    7.8
    December 30, 2022

    3999. The Pianist (2002)

    8.2
    December 29, 2022

    3998. Philadelphia (1993)

    7.5
    December 28, 2022

    3997. Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975)

    9.1
    December 27, 2022

    3996. The Green Mile (1999)

    7.6
    December 26, 2022

    3995. Doctor Zhivago (1965)

    © 2023 ThemeSphere. Designed by ThemeSphere.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.