Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: 'The Jazz Singer' (1927)

my profile | my password | search | faq & rules | forum home

»	Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE » Community » The Afterlife » 'The Jazz Singer' (1927) - DVD availability (Page 4)

This topic comprises 4 pages: 1 2 3 4

Author

Topic: 'The Jazz Singer' (1927) - DVD availability

Leo Enticknap
Film God

Posts: 7474
From: Loma Linda, CA
Registered: Jul 2000

posted 11-28-2007 02:46 PM

Agreed with Bill: this is a fantastic DVD, and well worth waiting for. I thought the booklet and commentaries explained the cultural history behind the blackface acts effectively and sensitively: it said what needs to be said to put the context in place, without overdoing the political correctness. Agreed too about the fantastic transfer, both of the pic and sound. You could make out details such as the shop signs in the New York streets which simply weren't there, even in the 35mm print I remember seeing. The documentary on early sound technology appears to be a slightly abridged and dumbed down version of the 'Century of Sound' documentary produced by Bob Gitt with Chace Audio; the main difference being that the clips aren't as long (probably a necessary thing for a mainstream, consumer audience). It was a bit of a pity that the really clunky bits of Lights of New York weren't there, though.

My only criticism is that, for the sake of completeness, it would have been nice to have the alternative silent version in the set (perhaps with a newly commissioned score from one of America's foremost silent film pianists, e.g. Phil Carli or Marty Marks), which was distributed to cinemas which hadn't been 'Vitaphoned'. I gather that the editing and pacing of some of the scenes was very different, and that some of the musical numbers aren't included (for obvious reasons) - in other words, the differences between the two versions are more than just superficial.

Now that Warners have done the brave thing and brought this film back into the public domain, let's hope they now feel able to do likewise for the WWII cartoons that include material that will need a few extra features to explain and put in context, but which are important historical records nonetheless.

| IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

This topic comprises 4 pages: 1 2 3 4

Printer-friendly view of this topic

The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.