In October 1927, The Jazz Singer was released in New York– breaking the sound barrier in movies as the first “talkie” film.

Vaudeville crooner Al Jolson starred as a Jewish cantor’s son who goes against his family’s traditions to make it in show business.  The usual plea for, “there’s no business like show business!”

The first successful sound feature heralded the end of silent films. It received an Oscar nod for Best Adapted Screenplay and features a collection of oldies (“My Mammy,” “Toot, Toot, Tootsie Goodbye”).

The Jazz Singer was recently selected as one of the top 100 American films of all time by the prestigious American Film Institute. And it has been inducted into the Library of Congress National Film Registry.

 

Have you ever seen this film? Truthfully, I haven’t! I learned about it in a few classes that I have on my transcripts, but I think it’s about time I see it. It’s available on Amazon and Vudu (from what I’ve looked into). Let me know if you watch, and let me know what you think!