The Jazz Singer - 851 Words

The Jazz Singer, released in 1927, is a black and white film that centers on a young man who wishes to conquer his dreams in becoming a professional jazz singer. This film, directed by Alan Crosland, demonstrates new developments from the decade of the 1920’s. During the decade, many new advances; such as the introduction of musicals and other technological advancements, were created. The Jazz Singer utilized these new advances of the decade and incorporated them into each scene. This is evident due to the elements of being the first talkie film, the introduction of the new musical genre and the introduction of the Hollywood stars system. By utilizing the new advances of the decade, Crosland’s film, changed the way cinema would be seen†¦show more content†¦The 1920’s was the era of many new technological developments. Two major breakthroughs were the introduction of sound and musicals in cinema. In the early 1920’s, musicals were very popular in t he theatre and, especially, on Broadway. Therefore, once sound was introduced in films, it was only a matter of time until musicals would be introduced in films. The Jazz Singer is an excellent example of the introduction of both these elements. â€Å"The 1920’s were Broadway’s busiest decade, with as many as fifty new musicals opening in a single season. [...] With so much demand, it was a time of extraordinary artistic development in the musical theatre† (Kenrick). A musical is â€Å"a play or film in which singing and dancing play an essential part† (Definition of musical in English). Because Crosland introduced these elements into his film, he was the first to introduce musicals into the cinema field. â€Å"The huge demand for The Jazz Singer was unexpected, and caused other studios to begin to produce sound films of their own to capitalize on what at the time they saw as a fad† (1920s Movies). The introduction to sound and musicals on screen w as such a big advancement at the time that other studios wanted to invest in the new technology. Finally, The Jazz Singer is a feature film that introduces the new Hollywood stars concept. In the early 1920’s the Hollywood stars system developed; meaning that actors whereShow MoreRelatedThe Jazz Singer1555 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"The Jazz Singer† Before watching â€Å"The Jazz Singer†, I had no idea of its cultural or historical significance. I learned that it was the first motion picture to have synchronized dialogue and words. It set the precedent for cinematography, live voice recordings, and real-time dialogue. The film was based on a short story written only a few years prior. The story was called â€Å"The Day of Atonement† and was authored by Samson Raphaelson. The short story was then adapted into an onstage musical inRead MoreAnalysis Of The Jazz Singer2060 Words   |  9 PagesBlack shirt, black pants, black hair, blackface. 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