Warner Brothers is set to release the 1927 Oscar nominee, The Jazz Singer to Blu-ray. Starring Al Jolson, May McAvoy, and Warner Oland, the "talkie" is famous for being the first full length motion picture to feature synchronized audio. The film also features a slew of added material such as vintage cartoons and a film documentary. The Jazz Singer makes its way to Blu-ray January 8th.
Cantor Rabinowitz is concerned and upset because his son Jakie (Jolston), shows so little interest in carrying on the family's traditions and heritage. For five generations, men in the family have been Cantors in the synagogue, but Jakie is more interested in jazz and ragtime music. One day, they have such a bitter argument that Jakie leaves home for good. After a few years on his own, now calling himself Jack Robin, he gets an important opportunity through the help of well-known stage performer Mary Dale (McAvoy). But Jakie finds that in order to balance his career, his relationship with Mary, and his memories of his family, he will be forced to make some difficult choices.
Special Features:
Audio commentary by film historians Ron Hutchinson (founder of The Vitaphone Project) and Vince Giordano
Collection of vintage cartoons and shorts (Al Jolson in A Plantation Act, An Intimate Dinner in Celebration of Warner Bros. Silver Jubilee, I Love to Singa, Hollywood Handicap and A Day at Santa Anita)
The 1947 Lux Radio Theater Broadcast starring Al Jolson
Feature-length The Dawn of Sound: How Movies Learned to Talk documentary