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Editorial Reviews
*Includes Featurette on Restoration and Still Gallery! The groundbreaking physical comedy of Jerry Lewis has earned him the undisputed moniker of The King of Comedy. While the vast majority of Lewis extraordinary body of work is readily available, The Jazz Singer a rare dramatic performance, produced as a special for NBC s Lincoln-Mercury Startime TV series hasn t been seen since its original 1959 airing. Meticulously restored, this DVD includes the B&W kinescope version and an extremely rare video version, one of the earliest surviving examples of a color TV broadcast. True entertainment history from Lewis personal archives.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By TheBigClock
Amazon Verified Purchase
Just moments ago watched my DVD of Jerry Lewis' JAZZ SINGER. Fantastic! Great music, and lots of Jerry schtick. Would've been nice to see the Lincoln-Mercury commercials, because they're not here, but the NBC Peacock, show and car logos remain intact. There's even Jerry's angular face logo at the end. Ken Carpenter ( of longtime association with Bing Crosby and the Kraft Music Hall ) does the announcing. Paramount's Walter Scharf arranges and conducts the music. Lewis movie co-star and pal Del Moore has a small role. NOTE: the black and white kinescope adds some stuff not on the color video: a preview of the following week's show, "The Turn of the Screw" starring Ingrid Bergman, plus an NBC camera at the beginning and the NBC chimes at the end. Jerry Lewis fans, GET THIS NOW, before it's impossible to find any longer! You won't regret it. Amazing that we can now watch these rarities, direct from Jerry's personal archives! Thank you, Mr. Lewis. - William Carroll, Denham Springs, Louisiana
17 of 22 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
First time it's been seen in color in over 50 years. Lewis' ego at it biggest.
January 20, 2012
Jerry Lewis is a control freak and - per his son (Chris) on the 111 minute "featurette) about the "restoration" - from his second self-directed film he always had a video made. For his TV shows he had kinescopes. He has 1500 reels of film in his own collection.
The Jazz Singer aired on TV in October 1959 on the Lincoln-Mercury Startime Theater show. It was pre-recorded on COLOR VIDEO TAPE (an RCA product since NBC was promoting color). It was then aired. This color version is from JL's collection and has NEVER been shown since the original televised date. It looks gorgeous, and it's not even a first generation tape. When Chris Lewis found it they found that there were parts where sound was missing. But they found an AUDIO tape of the sound track and using that, and the B&W kinescope, they restored the sound. The Color version is crisp and sharp and BRIGHT. The DVD includes the B&W kinescope too but there's no reason to watch that! (Really- it's also worn and unrestored).
The show was directed by Ralph Nelson. The cast is great - though if they left Lewis out I wouldn't miss him. Eduord Franz as his father, Molly Picon as his mother and Barry Gordon as his nephew. Alan Reed (Fred Flintstone) is uncle and Joey Faye as his agent. Anna Maria Alberghetti is the "love interest". She had just finished "Cinderfella" with Lewis.
Because the show is only 52 minutes (commercials were removed) and Lewis' ego is so big, the story is really cut down. Lewis has his nightclub career already at the beginning and comes home to find his father ill. The final moments of Lewis conducting the Yom Kippur service that his ill Cantor father can't conduct is bizarre. There he is with a yarmulke and clown makeup! And the show ends.
Definitely a "curiosity", but it's at least interesting to see what early color video looked like and to see the other performers. I'm not a huge Jerry Lewis fan so, if you are, add another star to my rating.
Steve Ramm
"Anything Phonographic"
The Jazz Singer aired on TV in October 1959 on the Lincoln-Mercury Startime Theater show. It was pre-recorded on COLOR VIDEO TAPE (an RCA product since NBC was promoting color). It was then aired. This color version is from JL's collection and has NEVER been shown since the original televised date. It looks gorgeous, and it's not even a first generation tape. When Chris Lewis found it they found that there were parts where sound was missing. But they found an AUDIO tape of the sound track and using that, and the B&W kinescope, they restored the sound. The Color version is crisp and sharp and BRIGHT. The DVD includes the B&W kinescope too but there's no reason to watch that! (Really- it's also worn and unrestored).
The show was directed by Ralph Nelson. The cast is great - though if they left Lewis out I wouldn't miss him. Eduord Franz as his father, Molly Picon as his mother and Barry Gordon as his nephew. Alan Reed (Fred Flintstone) is uncle and Joey Faye as his agent. Anna Maria Alberghetti is the "love interest". She had just finished "Cinderfella" with Lewis.
Because the show is only 52 minutes (commercials were removed) and Lewis' ego is so big, the story is really cut down. Lewis has his nightclub career already at the beginning and comes home to find his father ill. The final moments of Lewis conducting the Yom Kippur service that his ill Cantor father can't conduct is bizarre. There he is with a yarmulke and clown makeup! And the show ends.
Definitely a "curiosity", but it's at least interesting to see what early color video looked like and to see the other performers. I'm not a huge Jerry Lewis fan so, if you are, add another star to my rating.
Steve Ramm
"Anything Phonographic"
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Verified Purchase
Jerry Lewis' 1959 TV special of "The Jazz Singer" is a must-have for those who are either Lewis fans, early TV historians, or just curious about this remake of Al Jolson's 1927 superb film. It is quite a surprise, far better than I'd imagined. As Lewis' son says on the featurette, the show was done as an homage to Jolson,, one of Lewis'idols. Jerry's acting is unusually good- subtle and moving. The DVD was remastered from a second generation color copy of an NBC color tape in Lewis' private archive--a rarity in 1959.
Well worth the price!
Well worth the price!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Jazz Singer
When I first saw this title advertised on Amazon, my eyes grew wide and I knew in my heart that I had to own this DVD. Read more
Published 14 days ago by Edward Lee
4.0 out of 5 stars
Jerrys Hidden Gem!
I enjoyed it , it is not as Hollywood , bUT STILL A PIECE OF JERRY HISTORY. I LOVE JERRY NO MATTER WHAT SOME PEOPLE SAY, AS JERRY PUTS IT THE SHOW MUST GO ON!!! Read more
Published 2 months ago by Matthew Roll
4.0 out of 5 stars
Jerry Lewis - Made in Brooklyn
A superb slice of late 1950's color TV programming - also a rare extant early example of a color show that was hand-edited [much like film] from multiple takes. Read more
Published 4 months ago by 5w30
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very Good Acting!
The Jazz Singer was a very good movie. My only complaint was that it was too short.
Jerry is very talented and I really enjoyed him in this foray into comedy drama. Read more
Jerry is very talented and I really enjoyed him in this foray into comedy drama. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Harold Edmunds
5.0 out of 5 stars
DVD review
Being able to view original material like this (color video from this period is so rarely shown) is wonderful. Read more
Published 7 months ago by s
4.0 out of 5 stars
Crazy Jerry plays it 'straight'.
Well, you either love or hate Mr. Lewis! His attempt to play a straight role, even one originated by his idol Al Jolson, was a daring attempt to be serious, if only for a... Read more
Published 9 months ago by P. LINDUP
5.0 out of 5 stars
Highly recommended for Jerry Lewis fans!
For many years I have been accustomed to the comedy side of Jerry Lewis. In this 1959 television special,THE JAZZ SINGER shows a dramatic side. Read more
Published 13 months ago by PATRICK J.POWERS
2.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointing
This movie was not what we expected and it ended too abruptly. It was more a group of Jerry Lewis show segments patched together than a movie.
Published 14 months ago by patricia burns
1.0 out of 5 stars
The Jazz Singer (Jerry Lewis)
gave this as a gift to a J.L. aficionado. he absolutely hated it. guess it was long unavailable for a good reason.
Published 14 months ago by suzee
