Drama · Music
American
1927 · Directed by Alan Crosland · 96 min
A cantor's son in New York is drawn to popular song and the stage, while his father expects him to carry on the family's sacred musical tradition. A silent-style melodrama of family and ambition, interrupted by something new: the voice of its star, singing.
Why it matters in cinema history
A transitional landmark between silent cinema and the talkies, and an early model for the sound film musical. It matters for what it started more than for how it looks.
Watch with intention
Watch it as a silent melodrama that is being invaded by sound, and notice when and why the film chooses to let sound in.
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