Let’s be clear: this movie is not particularly good. That being said, it’s a fascinating glimpse into the transition from silent to sound film. Narratively it’s interesting but cliche, visually it’s a snooze, and the writing is just awful, but it’s place in history as the first true movie musical and an important landmark in the development of sound film cannot be overstated. It may not be good, but I can at least understand and respect why it won the Oscar