The Cry of Jazz (1959)
Documentary, Music • 34m
Overview
Filmed in Chicago & finished in 1959, The Cry of Jazz is filmmaker, composer and arranger Edward O. Bland's polemical essay on the politics of music and race - a forecast of what he called "the death of jazz." A landmark moment in black film, foreseeing the civil unrest of subsequent decades, it also features the only known footage of visionary pianist Sun Ra from his beloved Chicago period. Featured are ample images of tenor saxophonist John Gilmore and the rest of Ra's Arkestra in Windy City nightclubs, all shot in glorious black & white.
Director: Edward Bland
OG: "4K80" or "D+80" on the high seas. If not, Disney 4K Blu-ray
Special Edition: "4K97_V" or "D+97_V" on high seas.
2027 Original Trilogy restoration/50th anniversary rerelease clips leaked plus release confirmed
OG: "4K80" or "D+80" on the high seas
Special Edition: "4K97_V" or "D_97_VI" on the high seas. If not, the 4K Blu-rays are generally considered an improvement over the 2011 Blu-rays. (although both restorations are DNR'ed and have issues).
OG: LaserDisc audio is the best option for the Dolby Stereo mixes. 70mm six-track mix is included in 4K80 (taken from an actual 70mm print). There are 16mm rips of the mono mix.
Special Edition: Cinema DTS or 1997 LaserDisc for the Special Edition.
OG: "4K80" or "D+80" on the high seas. If not, Disney 4K Blu-ray
Special Edition: "4K97_V" or "D+97_V" on high seas.
2027 Original Trilogy restoration/50th anniversary rerelease clips leaked plus release confirmed
OG: "4K80" or "D+80" on the high seas
Special Edition: "4K97_V" or "D_97_VI" on the high seas. If not, the 4K Blu-rays are generally considered an improvement over the 2011 Blu-rays. (although both restorations are DNR'ed and have issues).
OG: LaserDisc audio is the best option for the Dolby Stereo mixes. 70mm six-track mix is included in 4K80 (taken from an actual 70mm print). There are 16mm rips of the mono mix.
Special Edition: Cinema DTS or 1997 LaserDisc for the Special Edition.
2017 StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray and subsequent 4K Blu-rays are notorius for being heavily denoised and smoothened. Alternatively, 35mm scans for the theatrical cut is also available.
For the Ultimate Edition with the T-1000 searching John's room and the happy future ending, the 2009 Skynet Blu-ray, which is the older pre-2017 transfer, but has DNR.
2017 StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray and subsequent 4K Blu-rays are notorius for being heavily denoised and smoothened. Alternatively, 35mm scans for the theatrical cut is also available.
For the Ultimate Edition with the T-1000 searching John's room and the happy future ending, the 2009 Skynet Blu-ray, which is the older pre-2017 transfer, but has DNR.
Directors: Ernest B. Schoedsack & Merian C. Cooper
Directors: Ernest B. Schoedsack & Merian C. Cooper
Director: Murray Roth
Warner Archive Blu-ray The Jazz Singer has it included as extras on one of the DVDs
Warner Archive Blu-ray The Jazz Singer has it included as extras on one of the DVDs
Director: Murray Roth
Warner Archive Blu-ray The Jazz Singer has it included as extras on one of the DVDs
Warner Archive Blu-ray The Jazz Singer has it included as extras on one of the DVDs
OG: "4K83" or "OTD83" on the high seas
Special Edition: "4K97_VI" or "D+97_VI" on the high seas
2027 Original Trilogy restoration/50th anniversary rerelease clips leaked plus release confirmed
OG: "4K83" or "OTD83" on the high seas
Special Edition: "4K97_VI" or "D+97_VI" on the high seas
OG: LaserDisc audio is the best option for the Dolby Stereo mixes (and usually included in fan restorations). There are 16mm/TV rips of the mono mixes.
Special Edition: Cinema DTS or 1997 LaserDisc for the Special Edition.
OG: "4K83" or "OTD83" on the high seas
Special Edition: "4K97_VI" or "D+97_VI" on the high seas
2027 Original Trilogy restoration/50th anniversary rerelease clips leaked plus release confirmed
OG: "4K83" or "OTD83" on the high seas
Special Edition: "4K97_VI" or "D+97_VI" on the high seas
OG: LaserDisc audio is the best option for the Dolby Stereo mixes (and usually included in fan restorations). There are 16mm/TV rips of the mono mixes.
Special Edition: Cinema DTS or 1997 LaserDisc for the Special Edition.
Directors: Andrew Adamson & Vicky Jenson
2011 Blu-ray (4K Blu-ray is upscaled; former PDI animator Jonathan Gibbs confirms the film was originally rendered at 1828 pixels wide to save file space)
2011 Blu-ray (4K Blu-ray is upscaled; former PDI animator Jonathan Gibbs confirms the film was originally rendered at 1828 pixels wide to save file space)
The old 2 disc DVD has extras missing from 4K Blu-ray
Directors: Andrew Adamson & Vicky Jenson
2011 Blu-ray (4K Blu-ray is upscaled; former PDI animator Jonathan Gibbs confirms the film was originally rendered at 1828 pixels wide to save file space)
2011 Blu-ray (4K Blu-ray is upscaled; former PDI animator Jonathan Gibbs confirms the film was originally rendered at 1828 pixels wide to save file space)
The old 2 disc DVD has extras missing from 4K Blu-ray
Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Director: Kathryn Bigelow
3D Conversion: Disney 3D Blu-ray
3D Conversion: Disney 3D Blu-ray
7.1 Remix: Disney 4K Blu-ray/3D Blu-ray/Blu-ray
Original Dolby Stereo: 1994 Disney LaserDisc
Disney 4K Blu-ray recycles the same 7.1 remix from the past releases, but it's a very faithful remix and sounds better, more detailed, and more dynamic than past mixes.
3D Conversion: Disney 3D Blu-ray
3D Conversion: Disney 3D Blu-ray
7.1 Remix: Disney 4K Blu-ray/3D Blu-ray/Blu-ray
Original Dolby Stereo: 1994 Disney LaserDisc
Disney 4K Blu-ray recycles the same 7.1 remix from the past releases, but it's a very faithful remix and sounds better, more detailed, and more dynamic than past mixes.
Director: Billy Wilder
Paramount 4K Blu-ray. See caps
HDR/grading: nice, but some blown out
Encoding: inconsistent, smeared motion
DNR: inconsistent, frozen
Old Paramount Blu-ray is arguably a solid alternative choice
Paramount 4K Blu-ray mono is different version of the BD mono from the same old 2000 DVD transfer.
The 5.1 remix on the 4K Blu-ray is an appalling remix done by going wild with artificially generated stems from Park Road Post who were given the surviving mono to separate. The experience is jarring and fidelity to original mix in terms of level balance, directionality and impact is nonexistent. Not only does this sound painfully weird, but the Paramount mixers then did whatever they wanted in terms of LFE, sound pans and effect changes.
The original mono mix was not restored and still needs it badly. The 4K master is filled with frozen grain examples coming and going plus some HDR issues in addition to the usual Paramount problems. It is simultaneously better and worse than the Blu-ray master.
Director: Billy Wilder
Paramount 4K Blu-ray. See caps
HDR/grading: nice, but some blown out
Encoding: inconsistent, smeared motion
DNR: inconsistent, frozen
Old Paramount Blu-ray is arguably a solid alternative choice
Paramount 4K Blu-ray mono is different version of the BD mono from the same old 2000 DVD transfer.
The 5.1 remix on the 4K Blu-ray is an appalling remix done by going wild with artificially generated stems from Park Road Post who were given the surviving mono to separate. The experience is jarring and fidelity to original mix in terms of level balance, directionality and impact is nonexistent. Not only does this sound painfully weird, but the Paramount mixers then did whatever they wanted in terms of LFE, sound pans and effect changes.
The original mono mix was not restored and still needs it badly. The 4K master is filled with frozen grain examples coming and going plus some HDR issues in addition to the usual Paramount problems. It is simultaneously better and worse than the Blu-ray master.
Director: Tay Garnett
Unofficial Streaming
The print seems to be preserved at Library of Congress
Director: Tay Garnett
Unofficial Streaming
The print seems to be preserved at Library of Congress
Director: John Ford
Warner Archive Blu-ray new restoration by Library of Congress and the Film Foundation
Director: John Ford
Warner Archive Blu-ray new restoration by Library of Congress and the Film Foundation
Unofficial Streaming
Complete copies survive in Library of Congress
Unofficial Streaming
Complete copies survive in Library of Congress
Director: John G. Adolfi
Only the trailer survives and is held at Library of Congress
Director: John G. Adolfi
Only the trailer survives and is held at Library of Congress
Director: Phil Rosen
According to Library of Congress https://web.archive.org/web/20231009210800/http://memory.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/loc.mbrs.sfdb.2710/default.html, a complete print survives in Lobster Films but no restoration or release yet
Director: Phil Rosen
According to Library of Congress https://web.archive.org/web/20231009210800/http://memory.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/loc.mbrs.sfdb.2710/default.html, a complete print survives in Lobster Films but no restoration or release yet
Director: William A. Seiter
Unofficial sources ripped from TCM
Library of Congress has completed a digital restoration around 2018 but no release yet
Director: William A. Seiter
Unofficial sources ripped from TCM
Library of Congress has completed a digital restoration around 2018 but no release yet
Director: Alan Crosland
Unofficial Streaming online
Library of Congress said in 2019 that it's restoring it after it came to public domain and the source material, a nitrate print in the AFI/Marion Davies Collection, is missing reels 3 and 9 of 11, plus suffers from some deterioration in reels 4, 5, and 8. No update since.
Director: Alan Crosland
Unofficial Streaming online
Library of Congress said in 2019 that it's restoring it after it came to public domain and the source material, a nitrate print in the AFI/Marion Davies Collection, is missing reels 3 and 9 of 11, plus suffers from some deterioration in reels 4, 5, and 8. No update since.
Director: Lois Weber
OOP 2018 Kino Lorber Blu-ray, or HD Streaming available
OOP 2018 Kino Lorber Blu-ray, or HD Streaming available
The 2018 Kino Lorber Blu-ray and DVD releases as part of the "Pioneers: First Women Filmmakers" set are a newer restoration than the 2008 Kino Lorber DVD, additional info on Silent Era website, but it is worth noting the order of the movie sequences are not the same between the new and old releases. A couple comparisons uploaded to slowpics. The Library of Congress has a safety duplicate negative of this film, and it is also available for viewing on Wikipedia.
Director: Lois Weber
OOP 2018 Kino Lorber Blu-ray, or HD Streaming available
OOP 2018 Kino Lorber Blu-ray, or HD Streaming available
The 2018 Kino Lorber Blu-ray and DVD releases as part of the "Pioneers: First Women Filmmakers" set are a newer restoration than the 2008 Kino Lorber DVD, additional info on Silent Era website, but it is worth noting the order of the movie sequences are not the same between the new and old releases. A couple comparisons uploaded to slowpics. The Library of Congress has a safety duplicate negative of this film, and it is also available for viewing on Wikipedia.
Director: Dudley Murphy
Cohen Syncopation Blu-ray 1080p extras
Also available in HD Streaming by Library of Congress https://www.loc.gov/item/2023602002/
Director: Dudley Murphy
Cohen Syncopation Blu-ray 1080p extras
Also available in HD Streaming by Library of Congress https://www.loc.gov/item/2023602002/
Director: Frank Borzage
Only has really bad public domain copies
New restoration done by Library of Congress with DCP has no release yet
Director: Frank Borzage
Only has really bad public domain copies
New restoration done by Library of Congress with DCP has no release yet
More Documentary on Blu-ray
Director: Jennie Livingston
Director: Jennie Livingston
2026 Sony/Columbia 4K Blu-ray
2026 Sony/Columbia 4K Blu-ray
2026 Sony/Columbia 4K Blu-ray
2026 Sony/Columbia 4K Blu-ray
Director: Jean Vigo
Director: Jean Vigo
Directors: Jean Vigo & Boris Kaufman
Directors: Jean Vigo & Boris Kaufman
Warner Archive 4K Blu-ray 4K restoration from Original Camera Negative
Warner Archive 4K Blu-ray 4K restoration from Original Camera Negative
Director: Martin Scorsese
Director: Martin Scorsese
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