663. The Jazz Singer (1927)

*The Warlock opens the door to his lair. He’s wearing a Danbury Hat Tricks hockey jersey with the name Warlock on the back & the number 13, blue jeans, white sneakers and Gargoyle shades. He’s holding a Mega Pint of Pepsi*

W: Welcome to my lair…welcome I don’t think so, but enter. Enter my lair if you dare. I’m your host The Warlock.

*Warlock shoots fire in the sky before walking inside*

W: As we end Public Domain Week, it is now time for the MAIN EVENT OF THE WEEK! The movie I purposely saved for last happens to be a pioneer in the world of movies. I’ve waited a long time for this to enter Public Domain and now the time is here. I’m talking about the one….the only….THE JAZZ SINGER!

*Warlock takes his seat in the middle of the couch*

W: For those that don’t know, THE JAZZ SINGER was the first ever “talking” picture. In other words, it was the first one to use actual sounds and songs as well as the silent style of cue cards and hilarious overacting. Alfred A Cohn adapted Samson Raphaelson’s play for the big screen and for the first time ever we’ll be able to hear people sing and dance. Believe it or not, “talkies” were frowned upon in those days as just as fad. THE JAZZ SINGER was actually disqualified from the first ever Oscar’s ceremony in 1928 because the Awards Committee felt it would be unfair to compare it to the silent movies. It turns out, “talkies” turned into the norm as silent films began to die out. The last silent movie was filmed in Bali in 1935 called Legong. For those that follow the Realm, that was the entire plot of the 2011 Best Picture winning movie The Artist. As for THE JAZZ SINGER, the million dollar question is it is actually good? Just because its the first doesn’t necessarily make it good. The first Disco song was “Don’t Rock The Boat” which my dad hated so much he called it “Drop The Soap”. Still, the only way to find out if its good is to watch, so grab your popcorn, grab your drink and grab your woman because its time for THE JAZZ SINGER.

Written by Samson Raphaelson, Alfred A Cohn and Jack Jarmuth

Directed by Alan Crosland

Cast:

Al Jolson	…	Jakie Rabinowitz
	May McAvoy	…	Mary Dale
	Warner Oland	…	The Cantor
	Eugenie Besserer	…	Sara Rabinowitz
	Otto Lederer	…	Moisha Yudelson
	Robert Gordon	…	Jakie Rabinowitz – Age 13 (as Bobby Gordon)
	Richard Tucker	…	Harry Lee
	Yossele Rosenblatt	…	Cantor Rosenblatt – Concert Recital (as Cantor Joseff Rosenblatt)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
	Jane Arden	…	Small Part (uncredited)
	Ernest Belcher	…	Choreographer – ‘April Follies’ (uncredited)
	Violet Bird	…	Small Part (uncredited)
	Nat Carr	…	Levi (uncredited)
	Claire Delmar	…	Small Part (uncredited)
	William Demarest	…	Buster Billings (uncredited)
	Neely Edwards	…	Dance Director (uncredited)
	Audrey Ferris	…	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
	Joseph Green	…	Walk-on (uncredited)
	Ena Gregory	…	Small Part (uncredited)
	Leon Holmes	…	Moey (uncredited)
	Roscoe Karns	…	Agent (uncredited)
	Seymour Kupper	…	Small Part (uncredited)
	Mary Grace Larsen	…	Small part (uncredited)
	Myrna Loy	…	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
	John Miljan	…	Host (uncredited)
	Margaret Oliver	…	Small Part (uncredited)
	Ty Parvis	…	Boy Singer (uncredited)
	Anders Randolf	…	Dillings (uncredited)
	Walter Rodgers	…	Make-Up Man (uncredited)
	Carolynne Snowden	…	Backstage Maid (uncredited)
	Marie Stapleton	…	Small Part (uncredited)
	Will Walling	…	Doctor (uncredited)
	Fred Warren	…	Pianist (uncredited)
	Stanhope Wheatcroft	…	Member of the Audience – Opening Night (uncredited)

*Warlock reads the tag-line*

W: “The son of a Jewish Cantor must defy the traditions of his religious father in order to pursue his dream of becoming a jazz singer.”

W: He better sing good.