THE POOP SCOOP: Cult Kibbles Edition

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LORDS OF CHAOS on Blu-ray & DVD 5/28

Oslo, 1987: Seventeen-year-old Euronymous (Rory Culkin) is determined to escape his idyllic Scandinavian hometown and create "true Norwegian black metal" with his band, MAYHEM. He's joined by equally fanatical youths - Dead (Jack Kilmer) and Varg (Emory Cohen). Believing that they're on the cusp of a musical revolution, the group gets even darker, driven by the black metal dogma to spread evil. They begin burning down churches throughout the countryside and stealing tombstones for their record store. But when the press catches up with them and Euronymous takes more credit than he's earned for the group's violent acts, Varg, fresh out of jail, arranges a dark encounter to settle the score and ultimately determine who the darkest black metal musician is. Inspired by a true story, Lords Of Chaos made its debut at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival before going on to impress audiences at Fantastic Fest, Beyond Fest, Fantasia Festival, and more.

THE NEW YORK RIPPER Limited Edition 3 Disc Set Coming 6/25

A blade-wielding psychopath is on the loose, turning The Big Apple bright red with the blood of beautiful young women. As NYPD detective Fred Williams (Jack Hedley of For Your Eyes Only) follows the trail of butchery from the decks of the Staten Island Ferry to the sex shows of Times Square, each brutal murder becomes a sadistic taunt. In the city that never sleeps, the hunt is on for the killer that can't be stopped! Co-written and directed by acclaimed horror maestro Lucio Fulci (Zombie, City Of the Living Dead) and filmed on location in the mean streets of New York City, this is one of Fulci's most savage and controversial thrillers. Now Blue Underground is proud to present The New York Ripper in a new 4K restoration from its original camera negative, completely uncut and uncensored, and fully loaded with exclusive new extras.

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LEPRECHAUN RETURNS on Blu-ray and DVD 6/11

The devious and deadly wisecracking Leprechaun that we all know (and love to hate) returns to reclaim his pot of gold from a sorority house property…all while gleefully going on a Leprechaun-style killing spree. Leprechaun Returns stars Linden Porco as The Leprechaun with his signature hat and shiny shoes, Taylor Spreitler, and Mark Holton, who returns to the series for the first time since the original 1993 film. The Leprechaun Returns Blu-ray and DVD will include a making-of featurette, behind-the-scenes footage and still gallery.

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A VIGILANTE on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and Digital 5/28

Give her a call, and she’ll give you justice. After escaping her violent husband, Sadie (Olivia Wilde) makes it her life’s mission to help free others in danger. Now, after months of rigorous training in survival skills, boxing, and lethal martial arts, Sadie is back with a vengeance in this fight-packed action-thriller. Experience Olivia Wilde’s incredible, critically acclaimed performance in the riveting, genre-bending thriller A Vigilante, arriving on Blu-ray Combo Pack (plus DVD and Digital), DVD, and Digital May 28 from Lionsgate. This film is currently available On Demand. “Olivia Wilde is positively brilliant” (Entertainment Weekly) as an avenger who lives to defend victims of domestic abuse in this electrifying, fight-packed action-thriller. The A Vigilante Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD will include a never-before-seen making-of featurette

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CLIMAX on Blu-ray and DVD May 28

Another truly unique and sensual vision from filmmaker Gaspar Noé. Rotten Tomatoes Certified Fresh, this hypnotic and provocative horror film centers on a troupe of younger dancers who, while rehearsing in an empty school building, learn their sangria is laced with LSD and descend into a passionate and violent delirium. Stirring up buzz upon its premiere at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, the film is “a sensual overload that will have your heart pounding” (Joseph Walsh, Time Out New York) and features rising star Sofia Boutella, Romain Guillermic, Souheila Yacoub, and Claude Gajan Maull. The Climax Blu-ray and DVD include a never-before-seen making-of featurette.

THE GREAT BUSTER is a Fitting Tribute

Featuring Mel Brooks, Paul Dooley, Bill Hader, Werner Herzog, Bill Irwin, James Karen, Richard Lewis, Norman Lloyd, Leonard Maltin, Ben Mankiewicz, Carl Reiner, Cybill Shepherd, French Stewart, Quentin Tarantino, Dick Van Dyke, Jon Watts and, of course, a big batch o' Buster. Narrated & Directed by Peter Bogdanovich. (2018/101 min).

ON BLU-RAY FROM COHEN MEDIA GROUP

Review by Fluffy the Fearless😸

The film’s full title is The Great Buster: A Celebration, which is fitting. The problem? It leaves you wanting more.

It’s another great documentary by Peter Bogdanovich, who also chronicled Tom Petty’s career in the epic-length Runnin’ Down a Dream. Since both are arguably the best films he’s directed in at least 30 years, perhaps he should just stick to documentaries for awhile.

Bogdanovich’s approach and structure – not-to-mention his own affectionate narration – does indeed celebrate the life, career and enduring influence of Buster Keaton. The biographical first half is loaded with restored clips from the classic two-reelers where he first found stardom, along with on-screen commentary by dozens of actors, directors, historians and comedians, whose admiration and respect for Keaton is clearly genuine.

Jesus Christ, look at those ticket prices!

The second half focuses exclusively on the ten feature-length films he directed and starred-in from 1923 to 1928 (widely considered his glory years). Celebrity testimonials give-way to lengthy segments in which Bogdanovich himself celebrates each of those films with insightful observations and no-small-amount of gushing praise. Keaton’s most famous bits are showed in their entirety, most of which are still very funny even when presented out of context. I’ll be upfront and admit I’m not too well-versed in silent comedy, so a lot of this was revelatory and one thing becomes quickly obvious: Filmmakers and comics have been ripping-off Keaton’s moves for decades.

Ultimately, what The Great Buster does best is inspire the viewer to experience Keaton’s films themselves. Peter Bogdanovich has assembled an entertaining tribute that might actually appeal more to newcomers than those familiar with comic’s work. The clips themselves have been wonderfully restored, and since Cohen Media Group founder Charles Cohen boasts in a bonus supplement that he’s acquired most of the Keaton filmography, one can only hope we’ll someday see 4K transfers The General and The Navigator. Until then, this charming retrospective will do nicely.

EXTRA KIBBLES

“CONVERSATIONS FROM THE QUAD” - A half-hour discussion/interview with Bogdanovich, with an intro by Charles Cohen.

TRAILER

KITTY CONSENSUS:

MEE-OW! LIKE BEING TURNED LOOSE IN A BIRD SANCTUARY

CAPERNAUM and the World's Worst Parents

Starring Zain Al Rafeea, Yordanos Shiferaw, Boluwatife Treasure Bankole, Kawthar A; Haddad, Fadi Kamel Youssef, Nour el Husseini, Alaa Chouchnieh. Directed by Nadine Labaki. (2018/123 min).

ON BLU-RAY FROM SONY PICTURES CLASSICS

Review by Fluffy the Fearless🙀

Sometimes it seems like the worst parents are the ones who end up having the most kids.

Take Souad & Selim El Hahi, for example, living in a tiny, squalid slum they share with at-least six kids, none of whom even have birth certificates. Neither parent appears to work. While Dad mostly sleeps on the couch, Mom regularly sends 12-year-old Zain to various pharmacies with phony prescriptions to get drugs the family sells to street junkies. Zain also works at a nearby market for Assad, who owns their apartment and lets them live rent free because he has his eye on Zain’s 11-year-old sister, Sahar, who Mom & Dad eventually offer as a wife, apparently so they can remain in the building. Worst of all, despite being neglectful, irresponsible, abusive and indifferent to their kids’ suffering, Souad & Selim keep having babies.

The viewer doesn’t learn all of this right away. At the beginning of Capernaum, Zain (Zain Al Rafeea) is serving five years in a juvenile prison for stabbing a man. He’s also suing his parents for giving birth to him. Zain’s story leading up to that point comprises the bulk of the narrative, told in flashback. Streetwise and resourceful, he’s the only member of the family with a sense of anything resembling responsibility. Since Zain is the family’s main source of income, his parents refuse to let him attend school. He’s also the only person who seems to care about Sahar and is fiercely protective of her, especially around Assad. Eventually, he’s had enough and plans to escape the nightmare with Sahar. Unfortunately, his parents sell her to Assad before he gets the chance.

The Hangover Part IV: The Daycare Years

Zain runs away and tries to make it on his own, but can’t find legitimate work. Then he meets Rahil (Yordanos Shiferaw), an ex-prostitute and illegal immigrant with a false ID that allows her to work. She also has a one-year-old son, Yonas, that she’s barely able to take care of herself and forced to hide for fear of calling attention to herself. But unlike Zain’s own family, Rahil is a loving mother, willing to do anything to keep Yonas safe, which includes having Zain babysit him while she’s away at work. Eventually, however, she does not return. Now Zain must rely on his own resourcefulness to not only care for Yonas, but keep him out of the hands of Aspro, an ID forger who's also a human trafficker. It’s at this point that Capernaum grows really heartbreaking.

To call the film bleak is an understatement. Though extremely compelling, Capernaum consists of one emotional gut-punch after another, made all-the-more harrowing by its setting and characters, both of which look and feel distressingly real. Beirut, as depicted by writer-director Nadine Labaki, might arguably be the worst place on Earth to raise a family that isn’t a war zone. As a product of his environment, Zain almost immediately earns our empathy. Though he isn’t always likable, the love and responsibility he feels for his sister – and later, Yonas – drives the narrative. Capernaum also features some of the most hateful antagonists I’ve seen in a long time, and not just his despicably narcissistic parents. By the time we learn who Zain stabbed and why, not only do we understand his rationale, we’re as enraged as he is.

But believe it or not, the film does come to a wonderfully satisfying conclusion that justifies running the viewer through an emotional wringer. Whether or not Zain’s story is worth enduring more than once is another matter. After all, this is over two hours of misery inflicted mostly on children. Either way, Capernaum is a film that’s difficult to forget.

EXTRA KIBBLES

MAKING-OF FEATURETTE

Q&A WITH DIRECTOR NADINE LABAKI AND ACTOR ZAIN AL RAFEEA

AUDIO COMMENTARY – With Director Nadine Labaki

TRAILER

KITTY CONSENSUS:

PURR-R-R. LIKE A GOOD SCRATCH BEHIND THE EARS

THE GLASS BOTTOM BOAT and the Disturbing Doppelganger

Starring Doris Day, Rod Taylor, Arthur Godfrey, John McGiver, Paul Lynde, Eric Fleming, Dick Martin, Dom DeLuise. Directed by Frank Tashlin. (1966/110 min).

ON BLU-RAY FROM 
WARNER ARCHIVE COLLECTION

Review by Mr. Paws😼

I’ve seen a lot of Doris Day movies, mostly thanks to my sister. Growing up in the 70s, she used to love old comedies and musicals that our local independent station – KPTV Channel 12 – would air all the time. When they weren’t rerunning old episodes of Gilligan’s Island, Star Trek and Perry Mason, films from the 50s and 60s filled the schedule. If it was a swingin’ sex comedy, rockin’ Elvis musical or Jerry Lewis screechfest, Rebecca was plopped in front of the hand-me-down black & white in the bedroom we shared. Hence, I was often subjected to those same swingin’ sex comedies, rockin' Elvis musicals and Jerry Lewis screechfests.

Then of course, there was Doris Day, who seemed to pop-up on the tube every Saturday afternoon. While I don’t have anything personal against her, she always bore a striking resemblance to my mother...the same perky smile, the same eyes, the same blonde bob hairstyle. I don’t have anything against my mother either, but hey...she’s Mom. Ergo, it was impossible for me to accept Day as a sexy love interest.

Not that Day is a strutting, simmering sexpot in The Glass Bottom Boat, but there are a few scenes which require her to seduce a few horny antagonists. The film is mostly a meet-cute comedy of errors with healthy doses of cornball slapstick. Sometimes it’s funny, other times really, really dumb, which shouldn’t surprise anyone familiar with animator-turned-director Frank Tashlin’s body of work. There are many set-pieces that play like a Jerry Lewis farce (though Day is far funnier than Jerry ever was).

The story has Day playing Jennifer Nelson, a lonely widow who works in public relations at NASA while moonlighting for her dad (Arthur Godfrey) as a mermaid during boating tours. After an amusingly awkward meeting with rocket scientist Bruce Templeton (Rod Taylor), he eventually hires her to write his biography. Of course, they become smitten with each other, but a string of circumstances has his colleagues suspecting she’s actually a Russian spy. Meanwhile, real Russian spies are trying to get-hold of Bruce’s research.

"Hey...the meds are kickin' in!"

Again, some of this is amusing. Other times the comedy is so broad that I almost expected a laugh track. Still, Day is her usual sunny self and Taylor is...well, Rod Taylor, a serviceable leading man when Hudson or Garner are unavailable (though I still can’t see what these handsome hunks see in someone that looks like Mom). Dom DeLuise also has a few funny moments in an early comedic role. However, third-billed Arthur Godfrey is hardly in the movie at all.

While it was successful, The Glass Bottom Boat is ultimately one of Doris Day’s lesser comedies. It isn’t bad, but relies a bit too much on slapstick and lacks the congenial charm of, say, Pillow Talk or Send Me No Flowers. Still, I’m certain people like my sister Rebecca would have more nostalgic fondness for the movie than a guy with Mom issues.

EXTRA KIBBLES

VINTAGE PROMOTIONAL FEATURETTES - “Catalina Island” (mostly a travelogue of the island, with a few behind-the-scenes clips); “Every Girl’s Dream” (a beauty queen tours MGM studios); “NASA” (features Doris Day and contains a few bloopers and scenes from the film).

CARTOON – “The Dot and the Line” By Chuck Jones

TRAILER

KITTY CONSENSUS:

NOT BAD. LIKE CAT CHOW.

Rest in Peace, Agnes Varda

Agnes Varda (1918-2019)

FKMG's review of FACES PLACES

AT THE DRIVE-IN is a Love Story

Featuring Jeff Mattox & Friends. Directed by Alexander Monelli. (2017/80 min).

ON DVD & DIGITAL FROM MVD VISUAL

Review by Fluffy the Fearless😺

Anyone who’s ever actually been to a drive-in knows it isn't the optimum way to see a movie. However, it’s an experience that home video – which more-or-less killed the business – cannot possibly duplicate. As someone with fond memories of piling into a car with friends for double features under the stars, I sure miss the old Foster Road Drive-In, which was just a twenty-minute drive away. There’s now an industrial park where its screen once stood.

Jeff Mattox fondly remembers those days, too. He’s the owner of the Mahoning Drive-in, which has been in business in rural Pennsylvania since 1949. Not only is it one of only 300 remaining drive-ins in the entire country (there used to be several thousand), it still shows 35mm prints using the same 67-year-old projector, mostly out of necessity. Since they cannot afford the upgrade to a digital projector, Jeff and his two young partners, Matt & Virgil, have resorted to showing vintage print films, planning thematic weekends with nostalgic or cult appeal.

The disarmingly bittersweet documentary, At the Drive-In, chronicles the theater’s 2016 season, mostly focusing on Jeff, his employees and a few loyal patrons, some of whom travel great distances for the drive-in experience. In fact, one guy drives 6 hours every weekend just to work the concession counter. Since Jeff can’t afford to pay them, everyone works voluntarily, simply because they're movie fans in-love with this archaic venue.

Someone on the team keeps eating the profits.

Some weekends are better than others. For every horror festival that packs-in the fans, there are rainy nights with only a couple of cars. Still, the show goes on, even if it would be cheaper to cancel the show on those dead nights. Though nothing is said, we get the lingering impression that the Mahoning’s days are numbered and this group – dedicated as they may be - is simply prolonging the inevitable (though as of this writing, I’m happy to report the place is gearing up for its 2019 season).

"Hey, guys...what if we tried showing these movies at night?"

Jeff himself comes across as extremely likable, whose enthusiasm and love of what he does is infectious. Yet despite his outwardly sunny demeanor, it is obvious he longs for the way things used to be, a feeling viewers of a certain age may share. But even though his younger employees & friends receive no paycheck, regularly struggle to keep everything working and camp-out in the storeroom during the off-hours, their sheer joy of simply being there would make any movie fan envious. If I didn’t have a wife & kids, I’d trade places with any of them in a heartbeat.

Ultimately, it’s the unique characters we meet that makes At the Drive-In such an enjoyable film. These are the kind of people you cheer for, keeping the past alive for the sheer love of movies and the communal experience of seeing them outdoors. I suspect the day will come when the last of America’s drive-ins will make-way for an industrial park or Walmart store, but hope the fine folks at the Mahoning Drive-In will be around to prove me wrong. Their story is a must-see for anyone passionate about movies.

KITTY CONSENSUS:

MEE-OW! LIKE TAUNTING A MOUSE TO DEATH

BUMBLEBEE: The Bayless Wonder

Starring Hailee Steinfeld, John Cena, Jorge Lendeborg Jr, John Ortiz, Jason Drucker, Pamela Adlon, Stephen Schneider, Len Carlou, voices of Angela Bassett, Justin Theroux, Dylan O’Brien, Peter Cullen. Directed by Travis Knight. (2018/113 min).

ON BLU-RAY FROM PARAMOUNT

Review by Stinky the Destroyer😺

As someone who has absolutely loathed every movie in the bloated – and endless – Transformers franchise, sick dread welled in the pit of my gut upon first-seeing the trailer for Bumblebee last summer. Simply avoiding these movies has never really been an option because my wife actually likes them, so I just knew this cynical cash-grab loomed somewhere in my future. But at least I was able to avoid its theatrical release. Cruel husband that I am and citing holiday budgetary concerns, I made her choose between this and Aquaman. For obvious aesthetic reasons, Jason Momoa won out.

So now it sorta surprises me to say that not only is Bumblebee easily the best film in the franchise by a wide margin, I have to grudgingly concede it’s one of the more engaging recent movies aimed at a mass audience. After a woefully-familiar opening action sequence – yet-another CGI showdown between Autobots and Decepticons – it morphs into everything the previous Transformers movies aren’t: witty, character-driven, charming, occasionally bittersweet and anchored by good performances. Though it could be considered both a prequel and a spin-off, the film has more in common with The Iron Giant and The Love Bug than Michael Bay’s brand of ‘bot bashing.

Not to beat a dead horse, but the absence of Bay’s heavy-handed approach is exactly what a story like this needed (Laika Studios veteran Travis Knight directs here). While it doesn’t win any points for originality, the fact that it draws favorable comparisons to The Iron Giant (with a little E.T. thrown in for good measure) is pretty remarkable, thanks to Knight’s more humanistic approach and screenwriter Christina Hodson, who dares to create characters who feel more-or-less authentic (only a few bitchy teenage antagonists ring hollow).

Some guests don't know when to leave.

As for the titular character, Bumblebee is wonderfully childlike and endearing, especially once he loses his ability to speak. Instead, he learns to express himself by speed-dialing through his car radio for songs that reflect what he’s feeling. Nostalgic Transformers purists will also appreciate the fact the film takes place in the 80s and Bumblebee himself is once again a VW Beetle. The two Decepticons who track him to Earth also have distinct personalities. Especially amusing is Dropkick, who professes to enjoy blasting people because he likes “how they pop.”

Despite scaling back on the over-the-top spectacle the franchise is infamous for, Bumblebee still remembers its pedigree. But by taking the time to create well-rounded characters, we feel there’s a lot more at-stake during the inevitable robot showdown. And even though the conflict is the least interesting aspect of the film, we’re spared Bay’s typical seizure-inducing style. We can actually follow the action pretty closely and, for once, are not bombarded by so much hyperkinetic CGI that it ceases to be logistically convincing.

Best of all, Bumblebee tells a great stand-alone story, meaning one doesn’t need to endure any previous Transformers film get anything out of it. Its almost Disney-like approach to a familiar tale renders it engaging for fans and non-fans alike. I never thought I’d hear myself say this, but Bumblebee is a terrific film.

EXTRA KIBBLES

“BRINGING BUMBLEBEE TO THE BIG SCREEN” - Consists of five featurettes: “The Story of Bumblebee,” “The Stars Align,” “Bumblebee Goes Back to G1,” “Back to the Beetle,” “California Cruisin’ Down Memory Lane.”

DELETED/EXTENDED SCENES

OUTTAKES – Mostly featuring John Cena, these are hilarious. It’s almost like he’s going MST3K on his own movie.

COMIC BOOK

“BEE VISION: THE TRANSFORMERS ROBOTS OF CYBERTRON” - The opening action sequence, along with text descriptions of the Transformers characters doing the fighting. Only fanboys will care.

“AGENT BURNS: WELCOME TO SECTOR 7” - Featuring John Cena in-character.

“SECTOR 7 ADVENTURES” MOTION COMIC – Continues the story begun in the comic book.

DVD & DIGITAL COPIES

KITTY CONSENSUS:

PURR-R-R. A SURPRISINGLY GOOD SCRATCH BEHIND THE EARS.

THE POOP SCOOP: Retro Releases & More Dragon Training

MORE RETRO PACKAGING COMING FROM MILL CREEK ENTERTAINMENT

Mill Creek Entertainment, the leader in value home entertainment, is excited to announce 4 new Blu-ray releases with a retro VHS-style o-sleeve with a 90s upgrade.  These upcoming releases will be an extension of the Retro VHS line that was developed last year featuring mostly films from the 80s reminiscent of the video rental store era, but now featuring updated graphics that give a nod to the bight and colorful 90s.  The four films, Opportunity Knocks, Jury Duty, Excess Baggage and Double Team will each be available starting June 4.

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HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: THE HIDDEN WORLD on Digital 5/7 & 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD 5/21

Features over an hour of exclusive behind-the-scenes bonus content including an alternate opening, two DreamWorks animated shorts, deleted scenes and more. To mark the film’s global 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD release, Universal has partnered with Facebook and Messenger to debut two exclusive adorable Night Lights (baby dragons) to train and an awe-inspiring in-store Augmented Reality (AR) experience. In pack, fans can unlock an exclusive code that reveals your very own Night Light that you can hatch, train, and send on adventures within the popular Dragon Pets Instant Game available on Facebook and Messenger. Additionally, participating retailers around the world will unveil in-store displays that trigger a visually stunning AR adventure bringing Toothless and Light Fury to flight! Both the in-home and in-store experiences are compatible with iOS and Android devices, and users should download the latest version of the Facebook and Messenger apps.

DRAGGED ACROSS CONCRETE on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital 4/30

From critically acclaimed writer/director S. Craig Zahler (Bone Tomahawk, Brawl in Cell Block 99) comes the gritty action-thriller Dragged Across Concrete, arriving on Blu-ray Combo Pack (plus DVD & Digital), DVD, and Digital April 30 from Lionsgate. This film is currently available On Demand. Oscar winner Mel Gibson (1995, Best Picture/Best Director, Braveheart) and Vince Vaughn star as two hard-boiled veteran cops who attempt to hijack a bank heist. A festival favorite at the 2018 Beyond Fest Film Festival and BFI London Film Festival, the film also stars Jennifer Carpenter (“Dexter”), Michael Jai White (“Black Dynamite”), Don Johnson (Django Unchained), and Udo Kier (Downsizing). The Dragged Across Concrete Blu-ray and DVD will include a 3-part “making of” documentary and a featurette.

EARTHQUAKE - COLLECTOR'S EDITION on Blu-ray 5/21

Including a new transfer of the extended television version with over 35 minutes of added footage! Charlton Heston leads an all-star cast in an epic film about ordinary citizens who must come together in the face of an unstoppable natural disaster! When the most catastrophic earthquake of all time rips through Southern California, it levels Los Angeles and sends shockwaves through the lives of all who live there. Now strangers must become saviors as the city struggles to get to its feet before the next terrifying aftershock hits! Also starring Ava Gardner, George Kennedy, Lorne Greene, Victoria Principal, Geneviève Bujold and Richard Roundtree, Earthquake combines outstanding performances with Academy Award-winning sound and groundbreaking special effects.

TARANTULA on Blu-ray 4/30

Feeding on cattle and humans, this towering tarantula has the people of Desert Rock, Arizona running for their lives. Can this horrifying creature be stopped, or will the world succumb to this oversized arachnid? This classic sci-fi film from director Jack Arnold (Creature From The Black Lagoon, It Came From Outer Space) stars John Agar (The Mole People, Attack Of The Puppet People) and Mara Corday (The Black Scorpion, The Giant Claw) and features a cameo by Clint Eastwood as a jet squadron leader!

THE JAZZ SINGER (1927): An Instant History Lesson

Starring Al Jolson, Warner Oland, Eugenie Besserer, May McAvoy, Otto Lederer, Yosseie Rosenblatt. Directed by Alan Crosland. (1927/96 min).

ON BLU-RAY FROM 

WARNER ARCHIVE COLLECTION

Review by Mr. Paws😸

Contrary to popular belief, The Jazz Singer was not the first “talkie.” People had been trying to marry images and sound ever since Edison invented the moving picture, mostly with terrible results. While it’s true that The Jazz Singer was the first feature-length talkie, several short subjects were previously produced that successfully incorporated sound.

Nor is The Jazz Singer a talkie in the purest sense. Only the musical numbers and a few Al Jolson improvisations have sound. A majority of the film is still silent. The first 100% talkie was 1928’s Lights of New York, which by all accounts is terrible, but the sheer novelty made it a huge hit.

Lest anyone thinks I’m just flaunting my cinema smarts, I wasn’t aware of any of these facts until reviewing this massive three-disc set, which is just-as-much a history lesson as it is the restoration of a landmark film. Hence, this is a must-own for any cinephile.

The Jazz Singer was, of course, a game changer, more important to the advancement of film technology than any subsequent innovation you’d care to name. The film is beautifully restored on disc 1, the only Blu-ray in the set. But it’s the two supplementary DVDs that make this a keeper, especially the 90 minute documentary on disc 2, “The Dawn of Sound: How Movies Learned to Talk.” Dozens of historians, authors, studio bigwigs and some heirs of early sound innovators are interviewed, telling the complete story of the evolution of sound and its impact on the film industry.

How to creep your mom out.

While The Jazz Singer itself remains more noteworthy for its influence than its story, the film is still pretty entertaining. Jolson was never what anyone would consider a great actor, but he had loads of charisma and a hell of a singing voice, both of which are prominently on display. There’s been some retro-condemnation of the film in recent years – i.e. Jolson’s infamous blackface routine – which is understandable. In this day and age, these scenes are indeed cringe-worthy, but it was a different time. One needs to keep in-mind the context of when this was made, when blackface was not-only considered inoffensive, but worn at one time or another by a wide variety of Hollywood heavyweights.

It also bears mentioning that this set has been released before, back in 2013 as a Digibook, with the exact same bonus features. So there’s no need for double-dipping here. But for anyone who has-yet to experience The Jazz Singer, it is an indispensable piece of movie history.

EXTRA KIBBLES

Disc 1 (Blu-ray)

AUDIO COMMENTARY – By historian Ron Hutchinson and bandleader Vince Giordano.

THE JAZZ SINGER LUX RADIO THEATER BROADCAST – From 1947, featuring Al Jolson and May McAvoy.

JOLSON RELATED SHORTS - “I Love to Singa” (Looney Tunes Cartoon); “A Plantation Act”; “Hollywood Handicap: A Day at Santa Anita”; “An Intimate Dinner in Celebration of Warner Bros’ Silver Jubilee.”

Disc 2 (DVD): The Early Sound Era

“THE DAWN OF SOUND: HOW MOVIES LEARNED TO TALK” - Feature-length documentary about the game-changing development of sound and its lasting impact on the movie industry. The Jazz Singer figures large in this one, for obvious reasons. The best of the bonus features and as entertaining as the movie itself.

STUDIO SHORTS - “The Voice from the Screen”; “Finding His Voice” (MGM cartoon); “The Voice that Thrilled the World”; “Okay for Sound” (20 years after The Jazz Singer, Warner Bros celebrates itself); “When the Talkies Were Young” (features excerpts of James Cagney & Spencer Tracy early in their careers).

GOLD DIGGERS OF BROADWAY (EXCERPTS) – Two surviving scenes from one of many lost films.

Disc 3 (DVD): Vitaphone Shorts

The Vitaphone process essentially made talkies a reality. This disc contains 2 dozen shorts ranging from 5-10 minutes each, roughly spanning the first decade of talkies. Some are more interesting than others and time has diminished the video/audio quality of many of them.

KITTY CONSENSUS:

PURR-R-R...LIKE A GOOD SCRATCH BEHIND THE EARS. 

Rest in Peace, Joe Pilato

Joe Pilato (1949-2019)