What can I say that hasn't already been said of praise of this movie? Al Jolson is a legend and this is just an example of why. Great singing, the acting is great as well. He portrays his conflict and state of mind so well. And of course the fact this is the first talki (I know it technically isn't, but whatever). I was surprised to find out that the movie is more or less 80-90% silent with a few talking/singing lines that make it the first talki.
My big problem with the movie really isn't the movie itself, but the actually story of the jazz singer. To put the story in simple terms, a Jewish father is upset that his son wants to sing jazz and not Jewish music. Son runs away because his father abuses him. The son becomes successful. His mom is proud of him regardless of what he does, but the father is still acting petulant and doesn't love him because he isn't doing what he does. The son (jazz singer) has a big life and career changing performance in his home town. Father and community pressure him to quit because his father is dying. Even though he is DYING, the father says he wont forgive his son unless he does what he wants him to do. The son relents and does what his father wants. Somehow he didn't lose his career, but I guess these details didn't matter.
Ultimately, the father had conditional love and treated his son like crap for it. The father is an awful individual and if I were there, would have disowned the father. But I will concede that this was a different time, and probably because I'm not Jewish, I don't understand the culture.
Anyway, despite this, you should see it for the historical value. Just don't expect a Citizen Kane.
My big problem with the movie really isn't the movie itself, but the actually story of the jazz singer. To put the story in simple terms, a Jewish father is upset that his son wants to sing jazz and not Jewish music. Son runs away because his father abuses him. The son becomes successful. His mom is proud of him regardless of what he does, but the father is still acting petulant and doesn't love him because he isn't doing what he does. The son (jazz singer) has a big life and career changing performance in his home town. Father and community pressure him to quit because his father is dying. Even though he is DYING, the father says he wont forgive his son unless he does what he wants him to do. The son relents and does what his father wants. Somehow he didn't lose his career, but I guess these details didn't matter.
Ultimately, the father had conditional love and treated his son like crap for it. The father is an awful individual and if I were there, would have disowned the father. But I will concede that this was a different time, and probably because I'm not Jewish, I don't understand the culture.
Anyway, despite this, you should see it for the historical value. Just don't expect a Citizen Kane.