The Jazz Singer Blu-ray Review

Warner's 1080p, AVC-encoded Blu-ray of "The Jazz Singer" showcases a masterful balance of restoration and preservation, maintaining the film's original aspect ratio of 1.33:1. The source elements exhibit minimal blemishes, likely benefiting from expert restoration alongside well-preserved prints. This attention to detail ensures that key cinematographic techniques by Hal Mohr, with meticulous handling of blacks, grays, and whites, are beautifully retained. Grain patterns present naturally, adding to the film's authenticity rather than detracting with artificial noise. Notably, this natural sharpness is indicative of the film’s pristine condition and avoids the pitfalls of excessive digital enhancement.

Visual fidelity is further highlighted by excellent contrast levels. Blacks are depicted as rich and inky, while whites remain bright and unblemished, contributing significantly to the film's overall visual impact. The close-ups especially benefit from this detail, drawing out the nuanced facial expressions pivotal to its storytelling. Despite minor transitions that may appear uneven due to age-related jumps or missing frames, the overall image quality remains impressively sharp. The 1080p transfer breathes new life into this 1927 classic, providing an exceptional viewing experience that surpasses expectations for a film of such vintage. While the overture and exit music play over static backgrounds and most extras are included in standard definition, the BD-25 format handles the film without any compression artifacts, ensuring a smooth visual presentation from start to finish.

The Blu-ray release of "The Jazz Singer" features an impressive lossless DTS-HD MA 1.0 track that meticulously reproduces the full spectrum of the original Vitaphone soundtrack. This audio presentation stands out for its exceptional clarity, fidelity, and dynamic range. Although the limitations of the Vitaphone system are well-documented within the disc's supplemental features, this Blu-ray manages to deliver a remarkable auditory experience that transcends those historical constraints. Even audiences who may not be fans of Al Jolson's performance style can find immense value in the technical accomplishment of this restoration.

It's worth noting that "The Jazz Singer" is only partially a 'talkie,' with voices being confined to Jolson's musical performances while the rest of the film remains a traditional silent movie enhanced by intertitles. Nonetheless, the Vitaphone system was employed to reproduce the entire film's musical track, offering a superior quality compared to other silent films of its era. Although the 1.0 DTS-HD Master Audio track may seem excessive for a film with limited synchronized sound, it shines in delivering the best possible audio fidelity from recovered Vitaphone discs. Despite some inherent hiss and restricted dynamic range, this edition serves as a minor revelation for preserving and conveying the pioneering nature of sync sound in cinema history.

The Blu-ray release of "The Jazz Singer" offers an extensive collection of extras, largely ported from the 2007 DVD set. These features provide a profound depth of historical context and technical insight about the film and early sound technology in cinema. Highlights include an informative commentary with Ron Hutchinson and Vince Giordano, academically rich but highly enlightening, and the compelling documentary "The Dawn of Sound: How Movies Learned to Talk." Vintage shorts featuring Al Jolson deliver an authentic glimpse into the era, although their dated content may not resonate with all viewers today. Additional features such as the Lux Radio Broadcast offer alternative media perspectives, while numerous shorts celebrate the pivotal moments in early sound film history. The third disc, packed with Vitaphone shorts, contains a treasure trove of vaudeville acts and musical numbers, though quality varies.

Extras included in this disc:

• Commentary with Ron Hutchinson and Vince Giordano: In-depth discussions on early sound films and "The Jazz Singer."
• Vintage Shorts Featuring Al Jolson: Includes "A Plantation Act," "Hollywood Handicap," and "A Day at Santa Anita."
• An Intimate Dinner in Celebration of Warner Bros.' Silver Jubilee: A promotional piece highlighting upcoming WB productions.
• I Love to Singa: A Merrie Melodies cartoon parodying "The Jazz Singer."
• Radio Show Adaptation: 1947 broadcast starring Al Jolson.
• Theatrical Trailer: A historic introduction to the Vitaphone system.
• The Dawn of Sound: How Movies Learned to Talk: Comprehensive documentary on the development of motion picture sound.
• Surviving Sound Excerpts from 1929's Gold Diggers of Broadway: These include two surviving excerpts.
• Studio Shorts from or Celebrating the Early Sound Era: Series of vintage shorts detailing the evolution of sound films.
• Vitaphone Shorts from the Warner Bros. Vaults: A collection depicting various vaudeville acts and musical groups from 1926-1936.

"The Jazz Singer" is undeniably a landmark in cinematic history, revolutionizing the industry with its pioneering use of synchronized sound. Released in 1927 and utilizing the Western Electric Vitaphone system, it marked the beginning of sound films' dominance over the previously silent era. The film's unprecedented clarity in reproducing voices and instruments, especially through Al Jolson's performances, was a game-changer, catapulting Warner Bros. from a minor player to a leading studio in Hollywood. The film notably set the precedent for producing movies that would harness the power of sound, forever altering the landscape of cinema.

The narrative itself is one steeped in dramatic tradition, portraying Jakie Rabinowitz's (later Jack Robin) struggle between his Jewish heritage and his passion for jazz. While the story arc can seem clichéd by modern standards, its basis in Samuel Raphaelson's play—reflective of Jolson's own life—provides a compelling insight into cultural and familial conflicts. However, what truly stands out and cements "The Jazz Singer" in historical relevance is its ability to capture Al Jolson’s dynamic presence and magnetism on screen, despite the generally static nature of early sound film techniques.

From a critical standpoint, while Jolson’s energetic performance style was lauded and hugely popular at the time, modern audiences might find his approach overly sentimental and simplistic. Additionally, Jolson's use of blackface—a practice now widely recognized as offensive—poses significant discomfort for contemporary viewers. Moreover, the film’s resolution feels abrupt and convenient, detracting from the established moral dilemma. Despite these flaws, "The Jazz Singer's" legacy remains intact due to its groundbreaking achievement in sound recording and its foundational impact on how audiences experience cinema. Its Blu-ray release is a testament to its enduring importance, offering not just a preservation of the film but an exploration into its monumental contribution to film history.

"The Jazz Singer" Blu-ray release is an essential piece for any serious film aficionado or historian, capturing the transformative moment in cinema when sound revolutionized the industry. Al Jolson's performance in this seminal work is a snapshot of his larger-than-life presence during his era, resonating with an intensity that is both electrifying and indicative of his monumental star power. The transfer to Blu-ray is handled with impressive attention to detail, offering the best possible picture and sound given the film's advanced age.

Historians and enthusiasts of early cinema will find the additional materials highly valuable. The set includes a thorough documentary chronicling the advent of sound in film, alongside a rich collection of early sound reels. These supplemental features not only contextualize "The Jazz Singer" within the broader history of movies but also deepen appreciation for the technological achievements that reshaped entertainment.

Conclusively, "The Jazz Singer" Blu-ray is a remarkable depiction of a pivotal point in film history. Al Jolson’s starring role cemented Warner Bros.' status as a cinematic powerhouse, while propelling Jolson into even greater stardom. The set is highly recommended for its historical significance and comprehensive portrayal of the dawn of the sound era in films, serving as a must-have for dedicated collectors and a compelling exploration for the curious viewer.