* The Jazz Singer (1927) starring Al Jolson was NOT the first movie made with sound. It was the first "talkie" - a movie that integrated synchronized sound and dialogue into the film's narrative.
* Prior to The Jazz Singer, there were films that used sound, but in limited ways:
* Sound effects: Some movies incorporated sound effects, like train whistles or explosions, as early as the 1920s.
* Music: Films had musical scores and songs played live in theaters, or were recorded on phonograph records and played during the movie.
* The Jazz Singer is considered a landmark because it was the first film to:
* Feature dialogue synchronized with the actors' lip movements.
* Emphasize sound as a key storytelling element.
So, while it wasn't the first film with sound, it was the first to utilize sound in a way that changed the way people experienced movies forever.