Blue Skies - Al Jolson

Al Jolson performing 'Blue Skies' (written by Irving Berlin) in the 1927 film 'The Jazz Singer' - credited as the first feature-length 'talkie'. This clip is the final 'sound on camera' sequence in the film - and was mostly ad libbed and improvised. Love it!

[@GoldwaterB]

I believe that audiences in 1927 went completely wild, out of their minds, when this scene came on. Can you imagine?

[@anncohen6674]

Moy Musouka All they knew until then was silent films.

[@Tornado1994]

At the Premiere of the Jazz Singer in October of 1927, Audiences literally APPLAUDED loudly when they heard both Jolson's voice and sound and ad libbed dialog.

[@JudgeJulieLit]

@@anncohen6674 And audiences hadn't known that they could talk, had voiceboxes.

[@Hollis_has_questions]

Moy Musouka I absolutely can.

[@brucemarmy8500]

And it wins the Academy Awards for 1927. They came weeping out of the theatre after seeing this movie. It changed the world more than color did in Wizard of OZ.

[@jamesm2078]

I watched this clip in my Film 1895 to 1945 class and now know that The Jazz Singer was the first movie to have dialogue, which is awesome.

[@Caracaraorangeberry]

His reaction when the Cantor yells ¡STOP!. Great acting there. I❤️ Al Jolson!

[@felixchaplin]

The Cantor is played by Warner Oland, who's best known for playing as Charlie Chan throughout the 1930s

[@stephenmcguire7801]

So noted.

[@zapdunga12]

​@@felixchaplin Josef "Yossele" Rosenblatt (May 9, 1882 - June 19, 1933 did all the singing in The Jazz Singer for Warner Oland. Mr. Chan....😊

[@Bobbnoxious]

I love how, in his improvised dialogue with Eugenie Besserer, Jolson keeps the beat of the music with his left hand on the piano. No sweat. Sheer performing genius.

[@carmen_says_hi]

I didn't even notice that!

[@Paul-dw2cl]

playing the notes in the upper-middle register is a nice touch, it’s like a pleasant, conversational speaking-voice

[@TommyLikeTom]

There is no way that it's the original audio from the scene. In Those days film was very expensive, and they often used overdubs anyways because of poor audio quality. He is almost certainly miming playing the piano. I don't have any proof for this besides the enormous disparity between the footage and audio at 2:23 which almost seems like a joke, a nod and a wink to the audience that knows he's not really playing

[@lennon1252]

Al Jolson could not play piano! He couldn't even read music. The great Jazz Pianist Paul Lingle was playing another piano in the same room while Jolson made believe he was playing. Paul Lingle was good friends with Jolson and accompanied him a lot during live shows during the 1920s.

[@Smithkakarot]

This scene changed cinema forever.

[@alarveseth]

Allan -too good. Keep them coming.

[@hpatss4966]

Technically it was an earlier seen but it definitely did

[@MCO18]

@@hpatss4966 Yes, it was when he said “Wait a minute, wait a minute! You ain’t heard nothing yet!”

[@fnersch]

Al Jolson-a great entertainer! My grandfather had the honor to accompamy him in the "Jazz Singer" in 1927 (caberet scene, playing saxophone).

[@Paul-dw2cl]

Would love to hear some stories if you have some

[@annodomini7887]

Irving Berlin wrote some of the best songs that will list forever!!!

[@bernhardstramann6618]

George M. Cohan too.

[@wms72]

They'll live forever, too!

[@AngusTCat]

Blue Skies is one of my favorities.

[@dfg1999]

One of the best scene in the cinema history.

[@karenwilliams8285]

How I have ALWAYS LOVED THIS!! What an entertainer♥️ Brilliant talent Love that Voice!

[@chem100]

I know its just a movie, but the interaction between mother and son just chokes me up. So sweet and heart rending. Uh-oh, here comes Pop!...

[@ewalddiedericks2819]

I love these old films!

[@frankroper282]

Most of this movie was shot in the old silent movie style parodied in Carol Burnett's "Norma Desmond" sketches. But in this one scene, Jolson has clearly bumped actress Eugenie Besserer out of character for a bit -- and charmed her -- and KNOWS he is doing it. And almost 90 years later, this scene comes alive! These are real living people! And when the cantor walks in and stays STOP! The movie goes back to the intended style -- and suddenly we are looking at shadows of people long dead...

[@anncohen6674]

Frank Roper The cararictor that Jolson portrayed shows rank disrespect for his farther. The film still makes me sometimes uncomfortable in scenes. You should see how Jolson hams-up Kol Nidra trows the end of the film. One of the holist prayers in Jewish Liturgy on the holist day on the Jewish calander Yom Kipper.

[@tueinhcao8067]

Ann cohen Interesting

[@dovbarleib3256]

@@anncohen6674 Repentence in his father's eyes on his death bed. Not sure Al was just hamming it up. It was Al Jolson's semi-autobiographical dream to have a Rapprochement with his own father at the end of his actual father's life. He never accomplished that off the screen. But in this great movie, he made his father proud singing Kol Nidre while his father lay dying next door to the synagogue on Yom Kippur.

[@AngusTCat]

@@anncohen6674 Jolson did a very good job singing Kol Nidre. The Jerry Lewis version of the Jazz Singer was cringe.

[@MrImiller07]

In watching this clip from The Jazz Singer, one has a sense of how dynamic Jolson was on stage and interacting with other performers. Larry parks effectively captured his charm and skill in captivating an audience.

[@brucemarmy8500]

The most effusive love poured out between them, my heart sang with them. Until he came home...

[@ItchyBarney34]

It's one of those voices that you either love or hate. I for one am a huge fan, his raw energy on stage was also a major factor.

[@EyeLean5280]

As much as audiences enjoyed the songs in this film, it's the little bit of dialog between the two characters , and the heretofore unheard level of intimacy it implies, in this scene that demonstrated the potential of sound film to the industry.

[@calvinnme2]

Jolson just made the impromptu decision to insert the dialogue with his mother. The Warners were horrified, Eugenie Besserer was horrified, and the public loved it. The audience felt they were eavesdropping on a real conversation, and Jolson's instincts were absolutely correct. Warner Brothers owes Jolson so much.

[@GoldwaterB]

"Eugenie Besserer was horrified" Source?

[@jasmineflowerjoy]

Yes, source ? There's no way they wouldn't have cut if this dialogue was completely unplanned and unwanted.

[@calvinnme2]

The source is "Song in the Dark" , a book about early sound. As to why they didn't cut, Jolson wanted it in and Jolson was the one person on the Warner lot who didn't really work for Jack Warner. He usually got his own way.

[@blofeld39]

That's completely untrue -- Alfred Cohn, the scenario writer, was called in to write some dialogue for this scene because they decided to add more talking to the picture. This scene replaced a scene featuring the song "It's All Because of You", which did not feature the talking that Warners decided they wanted more of.

[@Caracaraorangeberry]

calvinnme2 You’re exactly right- a lot was riding on this. It was make or break for Warner Bro’s studios, which was already in financial trouble at the time. It worked, and so it transformed the motion picture industry into what it is today.

[@benjamindavid5681]

The First Full Length Sound Film: This was how it started.

[@harryreeves401]

First full-length sound film was 'Lights of New York', 'The Jazz Singer' was only partially sound.

[@davidjhitztaler-mrrocklight]

I love Al Jolson ❤❤❤❤❤❤ always will

[@anguslewis23]

The First- The Best- Al Jolson Lives In My Heart.

[@ytesr]

His voice sounds much higher than the LPS I had of him in the '60's. He sounds like a tenor rather than the baritone I thought he was. One of my all time favorite singers. He is absolutely the best ever at animating songs.

[@goldenphonautogram6141]

What LPs were they?

[@Duckcalculator]

@@goldenphonautogram6141 My guess are some compilations.

[@beejls]

So charming. Love him. Thanks for posting such a clean copy.

[@TheRevelationmaster]

I understand he dreamt up that entire dialogue. The woman playing his mother didn't know what to do.

[@anxietyatthedisco3081]

Blue skies Smiling at me Nothing but blue skies Do I see Bluebirds Singing a song Nothing but bluebirds All day long Never saw the sun shining so bright Never saw things going so right Noticing the days hurrying by When you're in love, my how they fly Blue days All of them gone Nothing but blue skies From now on I never saw the sun shining so bright Never saw…

[@tabithadietrich6321]

Thank you

[@elvisthunders3529]

A huge star in any era. The man had talent to burn.

[@JudgeJulieLit]

A torch on stage, a bit scorchy offstage.

[@TheRevelationmaster]

JoLson was an impromtu genius. That dialogue was all him and it made the movie a real hit because outside of the wondrful songs, the speaking made it even more special.

[@kevinmartinez723]

Al was making up this dialogue and Eugene (his mom) had no clue what to say, she is a silent era actress suddenly in the uncomfortable role of having to improvise spoken dialogie for a film, she is very comfortable making facial expressions but this is way out of her comfort zone...she did splendid nevertheless.

[@lennon1252]

She was married when she was 15.

[@Sweetumskitty1789]

This song is still a bop.

[@sauquoit13456]

On this day in 1927 {October 6th} the 'Jazz Singer', starring Al Jolson, had its world premiere at the Warner's Theater in New York City; it was the first feature-length motion picture with synchronized dialogue sequences, but it was not a complete 'talkie', there were just 291 spoken words in the film... "Blue Skies" was composed by Irving Berlin in 1926; Al Jolson performed the song in the 'Jazz Singer'... On August 27th, 1978 Willie Nelson's covered version of "Blue Skies" peaked at #1* {for 1 week} on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart; it also reached #1 on the Canadian RPM Country Singles chart... * Willie Nelson hado two other #1 records on the Country Singles chart in 1978; "Georgia On My Mind" and "Mamas Don't Let Your Sons Grow Up to Be Cowboys" {a duet with Waylon Jennings}...

[@lennon1252]

Al Jolson could not play piano! He couldn't even read music. The great Jazz Pianist Paul Lingle was playing another piano in the same room while Jolson made believe he was playing. Paul Lingle was good friends with Jolson and accompanied him a lot during live shows during the 1920s.

[@scottspadafore4264]

What a great scene! No wonder the folks wanted talkies after seeing The Jazz Singer

[@pierre-emmanuel999]

This song is so awesome

[@davidjhitztaler-mrrocklight]

Beautiful ❤

[@anncohen6674]

The scene that changed cinema forever. Cinema's first dialog! Must have shocked the auderance in 1927 people were used to silent films up to then. 1927 was a golden year for silent films ( Metropolis, Sunrise, Wings, King of Kings, and The General) it all declined with "The Jazz Singer"!

[@Xomatik123]

I love how they put the dialog just after the singing to let the audience adapt a little haha

[@msmedved_]

Ann cohen Oh I would've love to have been in that theatre !

[@anncohen6674]

Me too but I wouldn't go if I lived in 1927! The film premiered at the Warner Brothers theater in New York City on Yom Kipper of that year. I would've been in Synagogue all Yom Kipper. Call me old fashion.

[@JudgeJulieLit]

@Eddie Venkman Thank you for that fascinating exposition.

[@AngusTCat]

@@anncohen6674 It opened on Yom Kippur! Astonished.

[@4Topwood]

@chem100 Al Jolson lost his own mother early in life. I've always wondered if that is part of why this scene is so touching--he got to say the things he never got to say to his own mother. Or maybe it was pure acting. Whatever, I love it.

[@TheRevelationmaster]

Jolson never got over the loss of his mother. He felt his music.

[@Tornado1994]

Yup. Asa was only 8 when she died. He ALWAYS channeled her spirit.

[@bobbywimsy6741]

@@Tornado1994 Possibly her makeup also. But seriously Al's love for his Mother still shines thru, a very winsome and honoring thing for him to express almost a century ago.

[@dbo8153]

Al Jolson one of the United States' most famous and highest-paid stars of the 1920s, and was self-billed as "The World's Greatest Entertainer."

[@mossberg7693]

Incredibly deep meaningful lyrics, in my perspective.

[@kevinceniceros3618]

By the way, the mother played in the 1932 film Scarface as the old committee member.

[@bentonxavier5094]

Yep, Eugenie Besserer. And she passed away two years after that from a heart attack.

[@MBM1117727]

0.46 Cinematic history right there: the first synchronised spoken dialogue interaction in a full length motion picture.....

[@kmvermeille]

Search for 'Carolina in the morning' or listen to 'Smoke gets in your eyes' from Al Jolson, then you will know he really had a great voice with a passion and feeling unmatched.

[@GoldwaterB]

This. Is. Amazing.

[@liberte5847]

Merci beaucoup from Paris France 👍 👍 👍. Happy New Year 2024.🙂

[@bruce92106]

The Aviator got me here ... I'd love to jump in the time machine and go back to old Hollyweirdland just to see San Fernando Valley before it became encroachment.

[@Juliaflo]

Blessings upon you for having such a lineage.

[@MissRedHeadedGeek]

This is one of the films that is on the list of "1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die." It's fantastic.

[@zapdunga12]

“Blue Skies” was composed by Irving Berlin in 1926. It made its debut in the Rodgers and Hart musical Betsy.

[@jimzielinski3136]

A quote from many I've found online: "...However, during the filming of The Jazz Singer, superstar of the time Al Jolson ad-libbed dialogue in two different scenes and Warner liked the end result..."

[@Starz777]

The Jazz Singer (1927). The first movie my friend Leslie Schwartz, then 16 years old, ever saw when he arrived in LA after spending a year in Auschwitz and Dachau and losing his immediate family and especially his mother in the KZ camps. He was shocked and amazed he saw a film with a Jewish family as main characters. And portrayed in a positive light. He thought America must be the greatest country on earth

[@stevearno100]

there's some words i would never say to my mum : " do you like that slapping business "

[@keepcalmycarryon]

Please explain.

[@manaharav]

Showing off his piano chops! That's what that statement meant!

[@kerrybunny]

I can't be the only one who watches Al Jolson when I need cheering up, but it sure feels like I am. Born in the wrong era, I guess.

[@garrysnett9986]

Kerry Jones you,re.not.the.only One.rip.al.Jolson.

[@tabithadietrich6321]

Sometimes I have to listen to him every morning. He always puts a smile on my face.

[@CPorter]

Its hard to understand why older audiences were so offended by the sounds of jazz. Then-such a joyous, purely happy energy that permeated the mood of nearly every player and sane listener whether it was a trumpet's squall or a piano's jaunty bounce, or the strum of a banjo or a guitar with such passionate energy, while still being firmly rooted in a melody. What in the hell could you possibly hate about that?

[@edwardgoldsmith8011]

My father was in one of jolsons band and jolsons was truely a great human being.this world today calls him a racist.he was from far from that.he still is the world's greatest entertainer hats off to this very well talented man.

[@AngusTCat]

There's a recording of a radio show Jolson did just before the release of The Jolson Story, recorded live as he talks to an interviewer and sings. It's wonderful to hear the real Jolson as he was, no script, just with his pianist and a small audience (including Henry Youngman)

[@ValleyoftheRogue]

Anybody who calls Jolson a racist is either a liar or an idiot or both. He, like Eddie Cantor, who among many others also performed in blackface early on, were the least racist people on the planet. Jolson's gravesite in fact was designed by a Black architect.

[@Juliaflo]

Jehosaphat! It has been 90 years since the debut of 'The Jazz Singer'.

[@xerxeslord1]

love it!

[@henryratajczak3071]

Al Jolson one of the best of the best in all time. You may be gone but never forgotten . Thank you for sharing your great entertainment over the years. Rest in peace with God.

[@davidmarino9223]

The slaps !

[@dovbarleib3256]

The Ginsbergs, the Goldbergs, and the Guttenbergs.... A Whole lot of Bergs!!! I don't know them all!!!!!

[@JudgeJulieLit]

Introduce yourself; show a little chutzpah and break the icebergs!

[@LucMoustache1]

I like very much

[@jakestilson1947]

Gotta love Jolson. Bing`s favorite

[@michaeloleary1867]

Love it!

[@silvijadubakaite7209]

And these actors was Lithuanians

[@dovbarleib3256]

Lithuanian Jews. And after 1945 there were zero Jews left in Lithuania

[@AngusTCat]

My great grandparents were Lithuanian immigrants to the US too.

[@TylerMcNamer]

HOLY SMOKES! THEY *TALK!!*

[@sabrinaticona6825]

i love this

[@stuffguy6664]

Irving Berlin Tune :)

[@fremontstreetpresents1415]

This is now in the public domain!

[@kathywright6853]

Great song and performer,also like it's addition in one of the star trek movies where data sang it at riker and trois wedding

[@zapdunga12]

Josef "Yossele" Rosenblatt (May 9, 1882 - June 19, 1933, did all the singing for Warner Oland who played Cantor Rabinowitz.

[@robertflint2549]

My all time favourite version of this song is from Willie Nelson, who does justice to the minor key. But the great Al comes close...

[@alexbramley195]

It’s really funny that this is the most jazz like thing in this whole movie

[@EXPLODA966]

Mammy, don'tcha know me?! It's your little baby!!!

[@zapdunga12]

Eugenie Besserer, who played Sara Rabinowitz, Jakie's mother, was born in Marseilles, France, Besserer attended the Convent of Notre Dame in Ottawa, Ontario.She was taken by her parents to Ottawa as a girl, and spent her childhood there. She was left an orphan and escaped from her guardians at the age of 12. She came to New York City and arrived at Grand Central Station with only 25 cents (Canadian currency, equivalent to US $0.34 at the time) in her pocket. With the assistance of a street car conductor, Besserer managed to locate a former governess, who, in turn, helped locate her uncle with whom she ultimately took up residence. There, Besserer continued her education, gaining some proficiency in athletics, and in fencing in particular-so much so that she was gratified to find herself holding her own against noted stage swashbuckler Alexander Salvini. She was married at 15 and had one daughter. She appeared in many silent films and died in 1934 at age 64.

[@PatrickWall12]

Very good. The ending was very Jerry Lee Lewis style. Al Jolson was a favourite of Jerry Lee and I never knew he played the piano as well.

[@richardnicoletti5605]

This was not the final sound portion of the movie. The movie ended with Jolson singing My Mammy (a real classic)

[@stephenmcguire7801]

Gerschwin Bros, I believe.

[@piru333]

tim timebomb and friends plays this song with a very awesome style!

[@OlymPigs2010]

...The Birth of...Rock & Roll ! - Yowsa !!!

[@mifolfree9043]

catchy song.

[@audumbmelody]

This Is Us brought me here!

[@maxrycus8524]

This song slaps

[@jonathanabarbanel4687]

So, no, Jolson is not actually playing the piano--look closely when you can--but, yes, it is a live take, live singing, no pre-recording and playback, which still was several years away. The early mics were extremely one-directional and limited in range--you barely can hear "Mama's" replies. No matter, no matter, pure great Jolson singing pure great Irving Berlin. Also, must correct Benjamin David's appreciative comment below. This is NOT "how the film started." This is mid-way through the movie. It starts with the lead character as a boy who runs away from home . . . . And little Jake Rabinowitz, the Cantor's son, morphs into Jack Robins, the Jazz Singer. FYI: Jolson actually WAS the son of a Cantor and the film is very close to the reality in many ways. Ya' wanna' hear Jolson in deep-throated later years, singing with utter sincerity and without affectation, go to his KZbin recording of "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" from a 1940s radio b'cast. He was singing one lung then, too!

[@Marsha_Ann]

Is this from "The Jazz Singer"?, the revolutionary first film to have sound?

[@gazebo46]

Very dated! But Al's charisma still shines through!

[@elwoodblues9613]

I prefer "very 1920s".

[@RADIUMGLASS]

Of course it's dated, it's from the twenties dumbass. Very dated, geez.

[@teleny2]

Paging Dr. Freud! Still one of my favorites, though....

[@tiffanyking3252]

Exactly, lol!

[@byrden9897]

The scene after this, jolsen confronts his dad when the dad gets mad at him for playing jazz in the house. What's the music that plays in the background during that scene?

[@galeschool]

The speed should be adjusted -- it looks and sounds better at 3/4 normal speed. Try it and see.

[@davincent98]

Somewhere in the 24th century, a Klingon is reliving the hangover from a wedding.

[@PatrickWall12]

Jerry Lee Lewis always said he was influenced by Al Jolson - this clip definitely is the link between these two artists.

[@BuckyBrown-lt4ry]

So was Elvis.

[@LewisMcLeod]

This scene wasn't the first talking bit in the film.

[@melanietoth1376]

Hes a little creepy but I am here for the song.

[@melanietoth1376]

I'm sure the creepy thing is more about the black and white and the time

[@reyalpEleluku]

When the father comes in at the end, the whole film is sucked back to the past -- and into a silent film.

[@Clancydaenlightened]

1:04 mentalism at its finest! 😎👍

[@dead9247]

Audiences in 1927: *Shocked*

[@teleny2]

Always wanted to know what a "stolen kiss" is!

[@goback3spaces]

A lot of nice green grass in the Bronx, huh? Well, there's still some in Yankee Stadium...

[@BuckyBrown-lt4ry]

Back then, The Bronx was considered "country"

[@sign_on]

Crosland, , 1927

[@JudgeJulieLit]

Inter alia, Al had perfect pitch.

[@vaishnavikonidena1532]

Queen Elizabeth was only 1 year old when this came out

[@QueenGoddessakaBlackBetty]

I wouldn't of stopped...I would have finished my number!

[@peterpeterson3266]

Al Jolson's fame eludes me. He was such a homely man and such a ham.

[@fonso1030]

I believe that happens to a lot of people because the way to see Jolson at his absolute best was on stage. Unfortunately, there is no film of this, and there isn’t anyone alive now that saw him at his Broadway peak in the late teens and early twenties. But in my opinion, in what we do have on film, not this film, but film from newsreels and outdoor concerts overseas for troops, you can see what made him the greatest, and everyone that saw him always had the same thing to say: as a performer, he was electric and never equaled. As a human being, he left much to be desired. But that was the man: he knew he was the best, and acted like it.

[@amyclarke41]

Never seen this

[@BuckyBrown-lt4ry]

Who ends the scene? Charlie Chan!!

[@phillyflash43]

This needs some cgi, colorization, and 3-D effects!

[@LordAmbrosia1]

And some aliens, surely?

[@bestmoviesever1]

phillyflash43 and Brookfield As well as a giant spider in the third act.

[@charlietheanteater3918]

bestmoviesever1 Guys I have special information from George Lucas he's going to fully fund this project with a 65 million dollar budget and here are his list of demands. -He wants to change Al Jolson's voice to a screeching old man, and the change it again for the DVD release. - he also wants to add extended scenes of the performances because it the original didn't capture the way he would of done it. - He also wants a giant cgi Dinosaur to block the shot every 5 minutes. -he also wants to add a giant musical number of dancing aliens in the background of Al Jolson's shows. - And he wants Al Jolson to scream "NOOOO!" When the cantor dies. - he wants to recast Young Al Jolson with Jake Lloyd, and make him have a race in a 1920s car. - he also wants to add a cgi ghost of al Jolson's father at the end of the movie but replace his head with Hayden Christian's He has many more demanding changes that I can't list here but they sound wonderful and I'm excited to announce "The Jazz Singer: Special Special Special Edition" It'll be so dense every single image has so many things going on.