The Jazz Singer (1927...first talkie)

Today marks the 82nd anniversary of the premiere of the film The Jazz Singer. Usually recognized as the “end of the silent era,” the film utilized Vitaphone technology and was the first full length film to include both sound and dialogue. With only about 350 words of dialogue, The Jazz Singer is still in essence a silent film; however, it marks a revolutionary change in cinema and to commemorate this important day I decided it was about time I watched this film.

First I did a little “historical research” and here is what I found…
Though many films in the silent era were accompanied by an organist playing in the theater, musical scores were first recorded specifically for films starting in 1908, when Camille Saint-Saens composed a musical score for the French film The Assassination of the Duke of Guise (keep in mind language was not a barrier in the silent era). The film was 18 minutes long and the music was played on a phonograph (you know...a really early record player... ummmm, it plays those things that look like big black CDs :) as the film was played. Then in 1923, the world of film was changed forever when Phonofilm was invented, a new celluloid that allowed film makers to record sound on the actual film strip. The technology spread and Vitaphone was a similar patent (and for a layman like me the only difference I get is the brand name!). The first film to utilize this new technology was Don Juan (1926) starring John Barrymore (that’s right Drew’s grandpa, the patriarch of the Barrymore acting dynasty). Don Juan, however, only featured music on its soundtrack. Enter – The Jazz Singer, and for the first time audiences everywhere heard Al Jolson, not only sing, but talk! Then in 1928 the film, The Lights of New York, was released with a full length sound track and the age of talkies had truly begun. Silent films stayed around for awhile; the final silent film that was considered “marketable” was in 1935, Legong: Dance of the Virgins. Though it was only released outside the US because of female nudity…which just goes to show, well...I’ll let you figure that one out. But even with the continued production of silent films, by the end of the 1920s, the silent age had ended and films were changed forever.

Now imagine for a minute, what it must have been like to sit in the audience when The Jazz Singer premiered. There is no way to really “get” what that moment was like, but let me tell you what it was like for me to watch it in 2009. At the risk of sounding overly dramatic, it may be the coolest thing I’ve seen in a movie. I have to be honest, the first few bits of sound that were on the film track, were all singing so I was starting to think “wait a minute, are they counting sung words as the ‘approximately 350’ words?” and then Al Jolson comes along and starts to sing. Between his first and second songs Jolson actually talks, and I literally giggled. It was the coolest thing ever. Realizing that that was the moment film changed, (and also because they kind of made the dialogue sneak up you) it was surprising and exciting, and though I’m sure that my delight over it was a fraction of what audiences experienced in 1927 – it was totally cool!

The film itself is pretty good too, and the plot is very apt for the film’s historical and technological significance. The story follows Jackie Rabinowitz (Al Jolson) whose father is a fifth generation Cantor at their synagogue. Jackie’s father wants him to follow in his footsteps but Jackie wants to be a Jazz Singer and so the eternal struggle between change and tradition is used to transition film into the talking era. Could it be more apt! No, it’s perfect!

It was also interesting to note the change in appearance of the actors, primarily the actresses from early films in the silent era (for some reference watch: The Married Virgin (1918) or Don’t Change Your Husband (1919) both very fun). The female make-up is much more subdued by the end of the ‘20s. That dark lipped, stage make-up inspired look is gone, and you can see the beginnings of the 1930s starlet. Now that change was already showing up in other silent films from the late ‘20s (it’s more a product of the decade rather than due to change in celluloid technology), but you notice it here because the movie is ground-breaking and somehow heightens your awareness of all the other changes that are going on as well. Another interesting thing was in one of the spots of dialogue when Jackie is talking to his mother. Now Jolson does a great job talking with feeling and great enunciation; the actress playing his mother, however, is barely audible and one can see why some actors had difficulty and in some cases failed to make the transition to talkies…it truly is, in many ways, a completely different art form. Also, I feel I should let you know that at the end Jolson does appear in black-face, just to remind you (in case you forgot) that – yes, this movie was made in a different time!

Overall, it’s a great movie and very fun. For its historical significance alone, I would recommend it; but if you like silent films, you’ll also enjoy it as a film. It is a touching and powerful story about discovering the balance between finding yourself and staying in touch with your heritage. And that guy…he sure can sing that jazz music!