Cinema 100 - "The Jazz Singer" & 1928 Draft

1927 - Episode 1 - October 6th "The Jazz Singer" The year is 1927, and Hollywood finds its voice. The sound is Al Jolson as we hear for the first time a synchronization of sound and image. Marking this the beginning of the end of the silent era. On October 6th, the world was introduced to Alan Crosland’s “The Jazz Singer.” An american part-talkie musical about a young man who defies the traditions of his devout Jewish family by pursuing a career as an entertainer in the world of Jazz. This movie has been celebrated as well as heavily debated by film critics and cinema scholars throughout time for its controversial use of Blackface and vivid racial images. When watching it’s important to keep in context the socio-political climate of the time in order to critique a film like this effectively. Will and I tried to do just that. Here’s our take on what we watched. So grab your popcorn, a seat, and enjoy the show. Baby, you ain't seen nothing yet. This is, “The Jazz Singer”