The Jazz Singer (Warner Bros.) (1927)

4 Warner Bro. Present AL a Al Jolson Coming in “The Jazz Singer 99 Warner Bros. will present Al | Jolson in “The Jazz Singer” at the . Theatre next . . for a run of . days. The long-awaited presentation of the picturization of Samson Raphaelson’s comedy-_ drama, which continues to be a potent attraction on the legitimate | stage, will be made a gala event. Of the production of “The Jazz Singer” it is said that the War| ners have lavished so much thought, care and attention that they look upon the completed work as their supreme achievement. For nearly six months the picture has been in active preparation. The story of the rise of the son: of the cantor who deserted his home to become a jazz singer and. at last was torn between the desire of his father that he succeed him in the synagogue and his own desire to shine on Broadway is well known. Alan Crosland, who directed the picture, is said to have) treated the story in the spirit in which it was conceived. That Jolson is the logical exponent of the story of the picture is clear from the fact that the story of his own life parallels it in many places. Chief in Jolson’s support is May McAvoy as leading woman in the! role of Mary Dale. Warner Oland has the role of the elderly cantor. Among others in the numerous cast are Otto Lederer. Fugenie Besserer, Cantor Josef Rosenblatt, Anders Randolf. William Demarest, Bobby Gordon, Richard Tucker and Nat Carr. Huge Salary Paid Al Jolson as Star of “The Jazz Singer” At Liberty Theatre Soon No one can attribute the success | of Al Jolson in “The Jazz Singer” to a lucky break for Warner Bros. The producers certainly deserve some credit for the manner in which they went to work on the) picture and the means they took to | oblitérate chance from everything connected with it. To begin with, taken a lot of nerve to have signed | up Al Jolson for the picture. The black face comedian recently turned down an offer of $20000 for a week’s work in New York. so it is plain he knows his own value. What the Warners paid Jolson for his labor in Hollywood théy are not telling and probably no one outside of the Internal Revenue Department of the government ever will know. The thrilling and _ emotional story is that of the son of a cantor who runs away from home and hecomes after years of struggle a Broadway sensation — returning when almost too late to sing in| place of his father on the eve of the Day of Atonement. , The play follows closely the life of Al Jolson, the star. who makes the tri| umvh of his life in the role. As for the cast. it looks to have heen “hand picked.” Surrounding Jolson are a number of stars. The leading woman is the daintv Mav MeAvov and after her comes the character star. Warner Oland. Eugenie Besserer portrays the mother. and others in the east include Otto Lederer. Bobbv Gordon, Richard Tucker and Nat Carr. The celebrated cantor, Josef Rosenblatt. is also in the cast. Alan Crosland. who established his renutation as the director of “Don Juan” “When a Man Loves” and “Old San Franciseo.” has had charge of the filming of “The Jazz Sinver.” Al Jolson in “The Jazz Singer” comes to the .... next... . for a run of. : ne EE “Jolson has the same magnetic qualities that lifted Mansfield, Duse, Tree and Jefferson to the heights.” —O. O. McIntyre. it must have| | “The Jazz Sateen” | A Real “Natural’’ Jolson En Route to Strand One of the idioms which has | lately crept into the language is | | ‘that a certain thing is a “natural.” | Coming out of the sporting world | it means that a particular event is | bound to happen because it is a logical or natural sequence. other words, bound to happen. The triteness of the expression, appealing to Broadwayites, ran up and down the Great White Way whenever reference was made to! Al Jolson in “The Jazz Singer” the picture. discounted. “Qh, that’s a natural,” was the invariable remark, meaning that no “ifs” or “buts” stood in the way of its success. It is to be said of Al Jolson’s appear| ance in “The Jazz Singer” that never in the history of the theatre was any work touted so strongly as this one. | Warner Bros. made wonderful | preparations for the introduction of Jolson in “The Jazz Singer.” | 'preme achievement. ‘out to be just that. outside of the smash scored bv Jolson. May McAvoy, Warner Oland, Otto Lederer, Eugenie Bes| Randolf, William Tucker, William Demarest, Bobby | Gordon and Nat Carr are in the| Josef Rosenblatt | To be — here at) serer, Anders | east. Cantor "appears. ‘the Strand Theatre next . -arun of.... days. . for | Great Star. Great Cast, Great Play—aAl Jolson in “The Jazz Singer” Next Attraction at Strand There was a time when a firm of picture producers would select a big star for a particular film it meant to exploit and fill in the cast with people of little reputation. The worth and drawing power of the star would have to cover up a lot of weaknesses. One might have forgiven Warner Bros. if they adhered to this principle in ‘casting “The Jazz Singer,” which stars Al Jolson. It was known that the sum to be paid the celebrated black-face comedian was big enough “to choke a barn,” and that in every way the film was going to be a tremen\dously expensive one in the making. But the Warners felt that they had one opportunity to score 'a” supreme triumph and they wonle go through with it in the best possible way. They did not want any one to be able to point out a blemish in the picture once it was finished. So they gathered a star cast for the support of Jolson and thus showed good judgment and good showmanship. “The Jazz Singer” will come to the... . Preetre.. . -.. forra run of .... days. Jolson’s leading woman will be found in the dainty and petite May McAvoy. Warner Oland will be found playing the jazz singer’s father, and that fine actress, Eugenie Besserer, will be seen in the role of the mother. Otto Lederer. Nat Carr, Richard Tucker and Bobbie Gordon are some of the | well known screen favorites | other who have prominent roles in the film. Alan Crosland directed. The story is that of the son of a cantor who runs away from home, finds fame in the world stage and returns too late. The! heart appeal is universal and the | tenderness and mirth is carried on | a stirring current of drama to a i ~ ciiMNax of tremenlous power, Tn | what is natural is | prior to the comedian’s debut in. Long before the pre-| miere of the picture its success was | It was foreordained | a success from the time it was) first announced by Warner Bros. | Prior to its presentation the pic-. _ture was spoken of as their su-| It has turned | Many indi| vidual hits have been made in it) of the} JOLSON in “THE JAZZ SINGER” ADVANCE STORIES “It all depends on you—” A/ Jolson in " The Sademie Besserer — |Special Performance of “The Jazz Singer”’ Delights Deans of Church and Stage To Be Seen Here Soon Warner Bros. and the Motion | A Warner Bros. Production Production No. 6—Cut or -Mat SW an are 3 Singer” sac orm Me Avoy and | WHAT DO YOU KNOW la. Picture Producers and Distributors | of America were hosts last week at a noontime performance of “The Jazz Singer,” starring Al Jolson at the Warner Theatre. The guests were notables of the relig-| ious world who were invited following the enthusiastic endorsement the picture received recently | when it was screened for Dr. George Reed Andrews, executive. head of the Church and Drama Association. At the special performance seven hundred clergy of Greater New. York were guests. ministers, priests They included and rabbis. | Eighteen religious editors of the) metropolitan dailies also attended. In addition, hundred actors and actresses, principals of fifty-eight current theatrical successes, were on hand more than four) the | to proclaim Al Jolson’s first mo-. tion picture. Among the celebrities present were Blanche Yurka. Grant Mitchell, Clare Luce, Genevieve Tobin, Ferdinand Gottschalk, Raymond Hitcheock. Pedro de Cordoba. Herman Timberg, William Axt, Georre Olsen, Osgood Perkins. Gladys Glad. Jolson and Monte Blne. Al Jolson in “The Jazz Singer.” Warner Bros.’ supreme triumph. comes to the . . Theatre next . for a run of ... days. Al Jolson Coming in “The Jazz Singer” oS ee Manager . The world’s greatest entertainer “The Jazz Singer,” |supreme triumph, a stirring heart story of a lad of the tenements who ran away from home, won fame as a iazz singer when almost too late. Thrilling, emotional, ‘intensely dramatic the plav is crowding houses wherever shown. In the all-star cast are daintv Mav McAvov. Warner Oland, Eugenie Resserer, Bobby Gordon. Richard Tucker Anders Randolph, Nat Carr. Otto T.ederer. William Demiarest and Will Walling. Al Cohn hv Samson Raphaelson as nroduced lhv Lewis and Gordon and Sam BH. |Harris. Alan Crosland directed. Al Jolson in “The Jazz Singer” at ‘the... , Theatre next Eddie | Elkins. Mary Marhle. Charles Kine. | Nikata Balieff, Al} atre announces the coming of the in | Warner Bros.’ | hased his nieturization on the plav : ABOUT SINGERS, JAZZ AND OTHERWISE? Who wrote Home ?” “Old Folks at . Who made “Throw ’Em Down McCloskey” famous? Who composed “Charmaine?” Who composed “The Rosary ?” . What is the French national anthem ? . Who wrote “My Country -™ of Thee?” . Who composed “Waters of Min-| netonka ?” | 8. What was Irving Berlin’s first | success ? 9. Who wrote “Home, Sweet | Home ?” |10. In what play did it appear? 11. Who wrote “After the Ball?” (12. Who sang “April Showers ?” |13.°Who wrote it? 14. What is jazz? 15. Who wrote “The Last Rose of Summer ?” 16. Name five World War songs. 17. Who wrote “O, Promise Me?” 18. Who was Jenny Lind? | 19. Who is the greatest Irish) tenor? 20. Who wrote “Star Spangled | Banner?” 21. Who wrote “Auld Lang Syne?” 22. Who wrote “Dixie?” 23. What is the Indiana State) song? 24. Who wrote it? | 25..Who is the world’s greatest FAD 19, . Francis Scott Key. Zi 22. 3. “Banks of the Wabash.” 24. | 25. 2 Ole Co DO . Thomas Moore. . “Over There,” “Pack Up Your} jazz singer? . Stephen Foster. . Maggie Cline. Erno Rappee. . Ethelbert Nevin. The Marseillaise. . Samuel F. Smith. . Thurlow Lieurance. . “Alexander’s Ragtime Band.” . John Howard Payne. . “Clari, the Maid of Milan.” . Charles K. Harris. . Al Jolson. . Lou Silvers. . Ragtime music in tones. Troubles,” “Tipperary,” “Katie,” “Long, Long Trail,” or others. . Reginald De Koven. & Swedish singer brought to America by Barnum. John McCormick. Robert Burns. D. D. Emmett. Paul Dresser. Al Jolson. discordant | 4 | Al Jolson Likes Looking at Jolson Arrives Here Monday Next in “The Jazz Singer’ movie fan Al Jolson. | The most confirmed ‘in the world just now is To all appearances, however, his ‘taste is anything but catholic. Most lovers of screen fare, while they prefer certain types of pictures, do manage °to see pretty much everything that is offered. They certainly see all the stars. Not Al Jolson. He acts as if enraptured over just one star and 'up to date there is not the slight/est indication that he is tiring of his work. The particular star of the black-face comedian’s fancy is Al Jolson and during the time he was in New York and his shadow was occupying the screen at the Warner Theatre in “The Jazz 'Sinver” he was a constant visitor to the house. While Jolson worked on the picture for fully three months, and has seen it many times since its completion, he seems to / get a new kick out of it every time he views it. He is not the only one, however, to get a kick out of it. The coming of “The Jazz Singer” to the .... Theatre next .... for a run of .... days is being ‘awaited with considerable interest. CHICAGO HAILS AL JOLSON “The Jazz Singer” Al Jolson’s magic makes “The Jazz Singer’ brilliantly effective entertainment ... . Aside from its value in transferring 2 famous player to a new field “The Jazz Singer’ has a world of emotional appeal ... . it fulfills the old formula of the showman, "em laugh, makes "em cry, ‘em wait.’”’—Genevieve The Post. ““makes makes Harris in Jolson’s Picture is serious and 6 iss. gripping, tender and religious. There is, of course, but one Jolson, and he made the boy who ran away frem his orthod»ox father’s home to become a cabaret singer a very real young -.. aside from the wonderJolson there are other fine actors in the cast. Warner Oland gives 2 notable’ characterization . Eugenie Besserer gives one of her inimitable mother portrayals .. May McAvoy is charming as always. The Garrick was crowd-d last night. It likely to be throughout the engagement with two performances daily.—The Chicago News. Jolson magic is magic still . ... rare personality shines out of silver sheet. The nicture has en cannily directed and finely staged 2 “The Jazz Singer” is a winner—if I know a winner when I see one.—Ma Tinee in The Tribune. Film raises stage king to new heights . . . . what he lacks in motion picture technique he makes up in touching sincerity. I have been told that he is as proud as a child over this achievement—although certainly success is no new experience to the highest-paid and most admired entertainer in the world —Carol Frink in Herald and Examiner. The cameras brought the incomparable charm that is Jolson’s into the theatre. There is no reason why the Garrick shouldn’t bz reserving seats now for the film’s performances in March. For “The Jazz Singer” is going to be with us a long time—Arthur Sheekman in Daiy Journal. Al Jolson has achieved triumphs galore, but never one which compares, in the opinion of this column, with his success in the film version of “The Jazz Singer.” It is another “‘Humoresque,”” and yet much greater for its mother love theme and the conflict between filial duty and ambition will appeal fo all races—instead of just one.— Rob Reel in Evening American.