I read somewhere that George Jessell was originally offered "The Jazz Singer", but he turned it down. He then had to live with that decision, after seeing what that talking picture did for Al Jolson, who soon rocketed to so much fame and adoration that they called him, at the time, "the World's Greatest Entertainer". Ah, the paths our lives can take!
Dreadful actor singing a corny old song but what a voice and what a song. Jolson still fondly remembered almost 70 years after his death and the song still gets to you despite being written almost 90 years ago.
I agree. Believe it or not, I hae every movie on DVD tht Jolson ever made but they are not the commercial releases except Hallelujah I'm A Bum from 1933 which is realesed on DVD region one. Also, Rose Of Washington Square is officially released but that's by 20th Century Fox. All the other Jolson movies were from a website called forgotten films and the quality is excellent. TYhe Jazz Singer's out on general release and of course the two Jolson biopics
Seems that the blackface had a strange way of liberating Jolson and allowing that assume emotional quality he possessed to burst forth. Even his over the top incredibly sentimental style seemed at moments like this to be so real, so genuine. As George Jessel said, Jolie sang like a Jew, he sang with a tear in his throat and he made you believe that the lyrics of a song were not lyrics, but his own feelings coming through, as if he were writing the song as he sang it. He was without question nonpareil.
The Singing Fool from 1928 which had about 75 percent talking dialogue and the other 25 percent silent with background music This is a clip from that movie
This is from the 2nd film Jolson made for Warner Bros. - "The Singing Fool" in 1928. It is not a sequel to the Jazz Singer - it is an entirely different story. However, it was also a part-talking film even though WB had released the first all talking film two months before in July 1928 - "Lights of New York". "The Singing Fool" made more money than any other film until Gone With the Wind was released 11 years later. It was the first talking feature film many people ever saw.
Simply fabulous, but don't be surprised if Warner Bros. deletes this. It kills me that Warner: a. Deletes all youtube videos of the Jolson films they hold the rights to yet b. Will not put these films on DVD . c. Will not even occasionally televise them on TCM. Warner Bros. was just a small time studio mainly known for its Rin Tin Tin silents until Jolson and "The Jazz Singer" made them rich. Warner Bros now. acts like his career at their studio is a skeleton in their closet. Shameful.
got me hanging on every word, very emotional the way he does it, a true artist
I read somewhere that George Jessell was originally offered "The Jazz Singer", but he turned it down. He then had to live with that decision, after seeing what that talking picture did for Al Jolson, who soon rocketed to so much fame and adoration that they called him, at the time, "the World's Greatest Entertainer". Ah, the paths our lives can take!
Great stuff. Thanks so much for posting this. The world's first platinum recording.
The Singing Fool, the highest grossing movie until Gone With the Wind. The recording of Sonny Boy set sales records...
Miraculous perfomance
Dreadful actor singing a corny old song but what a voice and what a song. Jolson still fondly remembered almost 70 years after his death and the song still gets to you despite being written almost 90 years ago.
This is pretty good quality! Thanks!
Agreed. It's a damn shame. I'd kill for a DVD box set of all Jolie's films, but I could only locate The Jazz Singer and Hallelujah, I'm a Bum.
Warner Archives have all the Warner's Movies. The others by other companies, all on DVD, a few blue ray!
I agree. Believe it or not, I hae every movie on DVD tht Jolson ever made but they are not the commercial releases except Hallelujah I'm A Bum from 1933 which is realesed on DVD region one. Also, Rose Of Washington Square is officially released but that's by 20th Century Fox. All the other Jolson movies were from a website called forgotten films and the quality is excellent. TYhe Jazz Singer's out on general release and of course the two Jolson biopics
Seems that the blackface had a strange way of liberating Jolson and allowing that assume emotional quality he possessed to burst forth. Even his over the top incredibly sentimental style seemed at moments like this to be so real, so genuine. As George Jessel said, Jolie sang like a Jew, he sang with a tear in his throat and he made you believe that the lyrics of a song were not lyrics, but his own feelings coming through, as if he were writing the song as he sang it.
He was without question nonpareil.
Thank you Carl Duke .
The Singing Fool from 1928 which had about 75 percent talking dialogue and the other 25 percent silent with background music This is a clip from that movie
This is from the 2nd film Jolson made for Warner Bros. - "The Singing Fool" in 1928. It is not a sequel to the Jazz Singer - it is an entirely different story. However, it was also a part-talking film even though WB had released the first all talking film two months before in July 1928 - "Lights of New York".
"The Singing Fool" made more money than any other film until Gone With the Wind was released 11 years later. It was the first talking feature film many people ever saw.
es una cancion muy triste y verdadera
Thanks, 298625. Could I possibly trouble you to post a link? I can't seem to find the movies. Thanks again.
Simply fabulous, but don't be surprised if Warner Bros. deletes this. It kills me that Warner:
a. Deletes all youtube videos of the Jolson films they hold the rights to yet
b. Will not put these films on DVD .
c. Will not even occasionally televise them on TCM.
Warner Bros. was just a small time studio mainly known for its Rin Tin Tin silents until Jolson and "The Jazz Singer" made them rich. Warner Bros now. acts like his career at their studio is a skeleton in their closet. Shameful.
the composers wrote this as a joke, Jolson made it work nevertheless.
Is this a clip from The Jazz Singer?
No, this one is from The Singing Fool (1928)
They don’t like his booga-boo routine; that’s why they don’t produce the DVDs. Politically correct nonsense.