Submitted by jim chatterton, Nov 30, 2007 11:37

I recently saw the Jazz Singer and was surprised at the depth of the movie. It was more than Jolson in blackface, it was the age old conflict between generations, between chid and parent, between the old world and new world...on going conflict that's as currnet today as in 1927. As to Jolson in black face, it should be noted that Jolson was never known to ridicule blacks...of his 200 recordings, none were racist. I suppose Jolson was more of a wanna be black...see Big Boy for example. It's appaling that the Academy Awards has never given Jolson credit or his contirbution to motion pictures. Aside from the impact of the Jazz Singer and Singing Fool, he also saved Warner Bros from financial ruin and 20 years later the Jolson Story had a similar financial impact on Columbia Pictures.

Note: Comments are screened, and in some cases edited, before posting. We reserve the right to reject anything we find objectionable.