The Jazz Singer (1927)

In this article, we will be looking at 2019’s book “1001 Movies to See Before You Die” and going through each film in a random order that I have chosen. We will be looking at what constitutes this film to be on the list and whether I think this film deserves to be here at all. I want to make perfectly clear that I won’t be revealing details from this book such as analyses by film reporters who have written about the film in question, so if you want the book itself you’ll have to buy it. But I will be covering the book’s suggestions on which films should be your top priority. I wouldn’t doubt for a second that everyone reading this article has probably watched many of these movies anyway. But we are just here to have a bit of fun. We’re going to not just look at whether it should be on this list but we’re also going to look at why the film has such a legacy at all. Remember, this is the 2019 version of the book and so, films like “Joker” will not be featured in this book and any film that came out in 2020 (and if we get there, in 2021). So strap in and if you have your own suggestions then don’t hesitate to email me using the address in my bio. Let’s get on with it then.

The Jazz Singer (1927) dir. by Alan Crosland

A film about a man who defies expectations of his family and his religion to do what he thinks is right gives the audience laughter, cries and so much more. Known as the first ‘talkie’, the film tells a powerful story of entertainment and family with religious morals at its heart that differ from generation to generation. The want for freedom and the requirement for identity haunts our protagonist whilst his father rejects him and his mother misses him. He must choose between his family and his performances as he navigates his way around the world of entertainment in attempts to win himself fortune and fame, changing himself and losing his way along his story. I’m not going to lie, I adore this film because of its heartwarming ability to tell us a very relatable story because in the end, if you’re like me and over 21, then did you really turn out the exact way your parents wanted you to be? I don’t think so. Are you happy about it? I do think so.

The legacy of “The Jazz Singer” (1927) lives on though. In 1952, a remake was made with Peggy Lee and Danny Thomas. There was another remake in 1959 starring Jerry Lewis and one in 1980 starring Neil Diamond and Laurence Olivier. In 1936, by Warner Bros. studios, the cartoon “I Love to Sing” was directed by Tex Avery with a main character called “Owl Jolson”. “The Jazz Singer” (1927) has had a huge impact on films after it such as: “Singin’ in the Rain” (1952), the Simpson’s Episode “Like Father, Like Clown” (1991), “Birth of the Blues” (1941) and so many more.

Al Jolson’s quotation “Wait a minute. You ain’t heard nothing yet!” was voted the 71st greatest quotation in cinematic history by the American Film Institute.

The National Film Registry in the Library of Congress interred it in their collection in 1996 as being culturally significant in motion picture history.

At the time of its release, it won the Honorary Academy Award (now defunct) which went to the Warner Bros. production chief Darryl F. Zanuck. It was said it was given to him "for producing The Jazz Singer, the pioneer outstanding talking picture, which has revolutionised the industry”. It then went on to be nominated (but did not win) the Academy Award for Best Adapted Script (back then, it was simply called the ‘Best Writing’ Academy Award).

All in all, “The Jazz Singer” (1927) may produce some problems in our own day because of its racial insensitivities but there is no doubt that the story behind the film makes light of various oppressions faced by second-generation western-world born children who have parents that are still stuck in the old mind-set of the east. And it does a brilliant job of it too.