The Jazz Singer: 80th Anniversary Collectors Edition

This schmaltzy 1927 classic starring legendary entertainer Al Jolson was the first feature-length film with synchronized dialog and songs, and it sparked the “talkie revolution” that transformed the movie business. The Jazz Singer has been meticulously restored from original nitrate film elements, but what really distinguishes this three-disc set are the extras: a newly commissioned, 93-minute documentary titled “The Dawn of Sound” and nearly four hours of rare short subjects, many of them filmed using the early Vitaphone sound process and starring performers then known for their work in vaudeville and on stage. The bonus material thus makes this box an invaluable collection of cultural artifacts.

Shelf Talk: A bonanza for collectors of vintage films, this Jazz Singer set should perform extremely well with that group, but its historical value will also be attractive to institutional buyers. Mainstream consumers won't buy, but they might rent it, if only out of curiosity. Some of this material has been aired on Turner Classic Movies, which might prove a slight impediment to sales.