The Jazz Singer Page #14

Synopsis: The Jazz Singer is a 1927 American musical film. The first feature-length motion picture with synchronized sound, its release heralded the commercial ascendance of sound films and the decline of the silent film era. Directed by Alan Crosland and produced by Warner Bros. with its Vitaphone sound-on-disc system, the film, featuring six songs performed by Al Jolson, is based on a play of the same name by Samson Raphaelson, adapted from one of his short stories "The Day of Atonement".
Genre: Drama, Music, Musical
Production: Warner Bros.
  Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins.
 
IMDB:
6.7
Rotten Tomatoes:
74%
UNRATED
Year:
1927
88 min
1,327 Views


TITLE 120:
"But what's the matter with my father singing,

Mr. Yudelson?"

Yudelson looks surprised, then says: "I forgot to tell you, your papa is

sick." Jack is alarmed at this. He asks how long he has been sick and if

his illness is serious. Yudelson says:

TITLE 121:
"It's been two weeks -- since the day you was

there -- and he's got a good doctor -- Dr.

O'Shaughnessy from the Rockefeller Institute."

Jack looks thoughtful.

289.CLOSE-UP JACK

He is saying to himself: "Two weeks -- since the day I was there."

290.CLOSE-UP BOTH

Jack looks at Yudelson as though weighing his request. Yudelson

continues with his arguments, saying that some of the committee were

against it, but he insisted because they all owed him money. As a final

argument he says to Jack, eagerly:

TITLE 122:
"It would be a fine surprise for your papa if

you sing."

Jack shakes his head slowly. He says, "But he threw me out of the house

only two weeks ago." Yudelson nods and replies:

TITLE 123:
"Sure, he threw you out but a son's a son no

matter if he is thrown out twenty times by his

papa."

Back to scene. Jack smiles at Yudelson's eagerness to overcome his

objections. He looks toward the stage, then turns to the old man,

shaking his head as he says, with an air of finality:

TITLE 124:
"But, Mr. Yudelson, our show opens tomorrow

night -- it's the chance I've dreamed of for

years -- I can't do what you ask."

Yudelson shrugs his shoulders hopelessly and starts to turn.

291.MED. SHOT SAME

As Yudelson turns, Mary comes into scene. Yudelson pauses and looks at

her. Jack, somewhat embarrassed as Mary looks from him to Yudelson,

introduces them. Yudelson gives her an admiring look. He gives Jack a

look of approval as though personally complimenting him on his good

taste. Realizing instinctively that the girl has some influence with

Jack, he tries to prevail on her to persuade Jack to do what he wants.

292.CLOSE-UP THREE

Mary looks at Yudelson, then at Jack. The latter explains the situation.

Mary looks at Yudelson, full of sympathy but unable to help him. She

shakes her head as she tells him the impossibility of his wish coming

true. Yudelson shakes hands with Jack, then with Mary and turns to

leave.

293.MED. SHOT SAME

As Yudelson walks slowly away, Lee comes into the scene. He pauses and

looks toward the stage.

294.CLOSE-UP LEE

He yells to the girls:

TITLE 125:
"Remember, dress rehearsal at two tomorrow --

and I don't want anyone drifting in at five

after two."

He turns to the others.

295.CLOSE-UP JACK AND MARY

Jack is on the verge of tears and Mary pats his shoulder softly.

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

296.LIVING ROOM CANTOR'S HOME

Yudelson is sitting in a rocking chair reading a Yiddish newspaper. Mrs.

Rubin is using a broom on the floor. She comes over to Yudelson and

starts to talk with him.

297.CLOSE-UP BOTH

The woman points to the bedroom door and asks Yudelson if he thinks the

cantor will recover. Yudelson affects a facetious manner in order to

cover up his grief. He says, flippantly:

TITLE 126:
"Am I a doctor or a riddle guesser you should

ask me such questions? I am worrying now about

who sings 'Kol Nidre' when Yom Kippur begins

tonight."

298.MED. SHOT SAME

Mrs. Rubin shakes her head sadly and continues her work. Seeing that he

is not observed, Yudelson takes out his handkerchief surreptitiously and

gives his eyes a furtive wipe. He looks toward the bedroom door in the

background as it opens, and a young woman in nurse's garb comes into the

room. Yudelson gets up and rushes to her with a question as to how the

cantor is getting along. She shakes her head, and Yudelson drops into

the chair as the nurse proceeds to the kitchen.

299.INT. BEDROOM FULL SHOT

Cantor Rabinowitz, pale and emaciated, is lying helplessly on the bed.

His eyes are open and are fixed on the figure of Sara who is busying

herself about the room. He motions feebly to her, and she hastens over

to his side. She sits in the chair at the bedside and leans over closely

to hear what he has to say, gently stroking his hand which she has

taken.

300.CLOSE-UP CANTOR AND WIFE

He asks her to lean closer and as she does he starts to whisper to her.

301.CLOSE-UP CANTOR

He looks at his wife pathetically. He says hesitatingly:

TITLE 127:
"It's Yom Kippur tonight -- the first time in

forty-five years I didn't sing in the temple."

302.CLOSE-UP BOTH

Sara pats his hand soothingly and tells him not to worry about that --

that he will be well sooner if he doesn't worry. His eyes are in the

past, however, and he is not listening to her. He continues:

TITLE 128:
"It will be the first time in five generations

a Rabinowitz has not sung on the Day of

Atonement."

He closes his eyes as he says this and is silent for awhile. Sara

continues stroking his hand.

303.MED. SHOT LIVING ROOM

Mrs. Rubin is again talking to Yudelson. He is trying to get her to quit

talking.

304.CLOSE-UP BOTH

She leans over and, undismayed by his manner, she asks with many

gestures:

TITLE 129:
"But who will sing tonight in the cantor's

place?"

Yudelson makes a gesture of repulsion. He waves her away with:

TITLE 130:
"You should let me worry about that -- I am the

chairman."

He tries to read again. She asks him why they don't get Jakie back. He

ignores her and says:

TITLE 131:
"Anyhow, it won't be that croaker Levy who will

sing."

305.FULL SHOT ROOM

Mrs. Rubin hears a ring at the door and hurries to the entrance.

Yudelson gets up as Dr. O'Shaughnessy enters. He is a big husky, grey-

haired Irishman, and he greets the two of them heartily, as one would

very old friends.

306.INT.BEDROOM CLOSE-UP

The cantor still has his eyes closed, and Sara is stroking his forehead.

Without opening his eyes, he reaches up and puts his withered old hand

on that of hers. He opens his eyes and smiles wanly at her. Then he

says:

TITLE 132:
"I been dreaming Jakie came back to sing 'Kol

Nidre'--"

307.CLOSE-UP CANTOR

He pauses a moment, then continues:

TITLE 133:
"Maybe God would forgive him -- if he would

come tonight and sing."

He closes his eyes.

308.CLOSE-UP BOTH

Sara looks startled as the idea comes into her mind of getting Jakie.

She removes her hand and looks down to measure the possible effect of

her departure.

309.FULL SHOT ROOM

As Sara is nervously considering her next step, the door opens and the

doctor enters, solving Sara's problem for the moment. She tells the

cantor that the doctor is here and that she will go away for a little

while. The nurse follows the doctor into the room and Sara exits.

310.INT. LIVING ROOM

As Sara enters, she goes hurriedly to Yudelson. Mrs. Rubin comes over

hastily in fear of losing a word.

311.CLOSE-UP GROUP

Sara tells Yudelson that she is going to get Jakie. The latter tells her

it's no use, but she is insistent, and he agrees to go along. Sara tells

Mrs. Rubin to remain there until they return.

312.INT.BEDROOM MED. SHOT

The doctor is leaning over the sick man, listening to his heart with a

stethoscope. The cantor's eyes are closed. The nurse stands at the side

of the doctor. He raises up, folds the stethoscope, and looks at the

nurse. They exchange a look which both understand as leaving little hope

for the life of the cantor.

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Alfred A. Cohn

Alfred A. Cohn (March 26, 1880 – February 3, 1951) was an author, journalist and newspaper editor, Police Commissioner, and screenwriter of the 1920s and 1930s. He is best remembered for his work on The Jazz Singer, which was nominated for (but did not win) an Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay in the 1st Academy Awards of 1929. Cohn was born in Freeport, Illinois but subsequently moved to Cleveland, Ohio where he began work as a newspaper editor and journalist. He then moved to Galveston, Texas where he ran a newspaper. more…

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