Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7502 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-11-12
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Formats: Box set, PAL, Black & White
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 84 minutes

DVD Description
Entertainment legend Al Jolson stars in this song-laced saga of a son whose show-business aspirations conflict with the values of his rabbi father (Warner Oland). Jolson's performance oozes a sense of history, in a mix of dialogue sequences and musically scored silent scenes. In 1927, the film's release was limited to only 200 theatres that were wired for sound-on-disc technology. Many audiences therefore saw only the simultaneously released all-silent version, but the film's impact echoed around the world -- so revolutionary that it was added to the American Film Institute’s all-time list of the "Top-100 American Movies".

The Jazz Singer 80th Anniversary 2-Disc Collector’s Edition includes a completely restored and remastered film with more than two hours of bonus programming.

Synopsis
Jakie Rabinowitz (Al Jolson) goes into show business despite his family's protestations that he should become a cantor like his father. Changing his name to Jack Robin, Jakie follows his passion for jazz and ragtime music, but in doing so, he alienates himself from his family and his Jewish roots. THE JAZZ SINGER holds the distinction of being the world's first major motion picture to utilise synchronous sound, effectively ending the era of silent movies. Songs include 'Mammy' and 'Toot, Toot, Tootsie'.

Customer Reviews

3 disc set is a must
It is apparent that in the UK Warners have only issued a 2 disc set.So can i just say that you are best advised to buy the 3 disc set from Amazon in America.In my view it is one of the best DVD sets i have ever purchased.You get the film,associated shorts,and nearly 4 hours of Vitaphone shorts.The Vitaphone shorts are themselves worthy of the price alone.

Great DVD !
I bought this DVD a few weeks ago and I am delighted with my purchase. OK, the main feature is probably not the best film I have ever seen, but it is a milestone in movie history. The "Jazz Singer" is not a full talkie, but the first ever movie to feature some dialogues and songs. - Anyway, this DVD edition is a delight for any serious movie collector or film buff. It contains a carefully restored print of the "Jazz Singer" (including the German-dubbed version)and is crammed with great special features. Those features include a fantastic feature-length documentary about the advent of sound, a 1936 Technicolor cartoon which pokes a fun at the the Jazz Singer, a 1937 Technicolor short with Hollywood stars at the horse races (featuring Al Jolson and Ruby Keeler). Furthermore, there are several vintage shorts about the advent of talkies and trailers of several other Al Jolson movies. - I really wish for more DVD Edition like this one! How about a similar packaged special DVD-Edition about the first colour movie "Becky Sharp" (1935)

Wonderful!
Well, this is a wonderful release. Most importantly, the sound is digitized from the original Vitaphone disc (not from inferior recordings from the 30's). The picture is nicely preserved and it is fun to watch Jolson sing again during the synchronized scenes.

The Vitaphone shorts included in the discset are examples of early sound but are musical performances from mostly nondescript perfomers and are more oddities than entertaining. Two important exceptions: 1.) the short, "Lambchops," with a young George Burns and Gracie Allen in fine form; and 2.) Jolson in "Plantation Act" singing some of his standards.

A truly welcome release. Hopefully other Jolson films, like "Singing Fool," will be released.