The Jazz Singer (1927)

Cantor Rabinowitz is concerned and upset because his son Jakie (Al Jolson) shows so little interest in carrying on the family's traditions and heritage. For five generations, men in the family have been Cantors in the synagogue, but Jakie is more interested in jazz and ragtime music. One day, they have such a bitter argument that Jakie leaves home for good. After a few years on his own, now calling himself Jack Robin, he gets an important opportunity through the help of well-known stage performer Mary Dale. But Jakie finds that in order to balance his career, his relationship with Mary, and his memories of his family, he will be forced to make some difficult choices. Hilarity is heard ensuing.

Trivia: First feature-length movie with audible dialogue. Al Jolson's famous line "you ain't heard nothin' yet" was an ad-lib. The intention was that the film should only have synchronized music, not speech, but Jolson dropped in the line (which he used in his stage act) after the song "Dirty Hands, Dirty Face". The director wisely left it in. Sam Warner, the Warner Brother who could be called the Father of the Talkies because he insisted that Jolson's ad-libbed speech be included in the movie, died the day before the film debuted.

With the words "Wait a minute, wait a minute, you ain't heard nothin' yet! Wait a minute, I tell ya! You ain't heard nothin'!" movies changed forever. But the thing that really surprised me is that 2 thirds of the movie is still silent. I had always heard that The Jazz Singer was the first "talkie" and I had assumed that meant all talk. Most of the voice sounds were in the singing, with a little talking around the songs but that is about it. It wasn't the best picture I have ever seen but it was okay for what it was. Now I know it was 1927 and I know plenty of performers performed in black face. I also knew Al Jolson performed in black face in the movie, but I was still a little uncomfortable watching him do it, especially when he pulled his wig on. It really is telling that something that was perfectly normal 80 years ago can cause uncomfort today.