MovieChat Forums > The Jazz Singer (1928) Discussion > The big tense choice falls flat

The big tense choice falls flat

posted 12 years ago by jeffcox31
2 replies | jump to latest

So the movie build up to this tense choice for Jack to make his big Broadway debut or sing at the synagogue in place of his dying father. Jack is torn apart by the choice- the producer says he will "queer himself with audiences" if he misses the opening, and his father will die heartbroken if he does not sing in his place. But- he chooses to sing at the synagogue, and the audience is told there will be no performance. And then...the open is just put off for a night, Jack performs Mammy, and everybody loves him anyway, with no consequence of ducking out of the original performance? Doesn't that make his emotional turmoil rather hollow?

[–] porfle 12 years ago

I think in the play he gives up jazz singing to become a cantor. That's how the Lux radio show version on the DVD ends. I guess the Warner Bros. wanted everyone to leave the theater smiling.

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[–] orlando02 8 years ago

I agree it falls flat, and I think he makes the wrong choice. Even his mother says 'do what is in your heart. If you sing and God is not in your voice, your father will know'... and then he decides to sing in the synagogue anyway... The whole rest of the movie is about how his heart is in jazz singing, but he decides to be the dutiful Jewish boy and try to please his father instead. But then, as you say, they try to have their cake and eat it and make out that it didn't really matter after all. Or is it that he is rewarded by God for having chosen family and religion over his own wishes? Who knows... but I didn't like it.