In this clip from the 1927 film The Jazz Singer , Al Jolson sings “Dirty Hands, Dirty Face” for the crowd at Coffee Dan’s restaurant. The film tells the story of Jakie Rabinowitz (Al Jolson), a young man from a devout Jewish family who defies tradition and becomes a jazz singer. He later changes his name to Jack Robin and strives to build a career as an entertainer. Ultimately his professional ambitions come into conflict with the demands of his home and heritage. This was the first motion picture with synchronized dialogue sequences and its release heralded the commercial ascendance of the “talkies”. The Jazz Singer was released on October 6, 1927.
