The Jazz Singer (1927 film)

The Jazz Singer

Directed by  |  Alan Crosland
Written by  |  Samson Raphaelson (original play)
Alfred A. Cohn (adaptation)
Starring  |  Al Jolson
May McAvoy
Warner Oland
Eugenie Besserer

Music by  |  Louis Silvers
Cinematography  |  Hal Mohr
Editing by  |  Harold McCord
Distributed by  |  Warner Brothers
Release date(s)  |  October 6, 1927
Running time  |  88 minutes
Country  |  United States
Language  |  English
Budget  |  $422,000
Gross revenue  |  $3,000,000

The Jazz Singer is a 1927 musical/drama starring Al Jolson. It is known as the first feature-length film with audible dialogue (a "talkie"). It entered the public domain on Jan. 1, 2023.

The dialogue occurs only during a few minutes of the movie; in one instance between the verses of a musical number. However the rest of the film has a soundtrack of background music and sound effects. John Barrymore's Don Juan had used a similar music and sound effect soundtrack the previous year, but it was the dialogue in the Jolson movie which caused a sensation and led to a rapid conversion of the film industry to sound. The first feature-length film with dialogue throughout, The Lights of New York, was released soon after.

This movie has actual footage of New York City at the time (1927), which adds to its historical interest.