Hollywood Revue Of 1929

This film is of historical interest being among the earliest of optical synchronized sound films. The presentation of this DVD is, however, not that of the original aspect ratio of 1.20:1 of early optical sound films and of which this is an example, but is of the TV standard of 1.33:1 making the cropping of the top and bottom of the image rather obvious. Silent 35mm films were made with Edison’s original ratio of 1.33:1 (4 units wide by 3 units high), the same ratio that would later be decided upon for American NTSC television in 1941. The first optical sound films of the 1920s were those of Fox Movietone News and, as it was necessary to provide space for the new optical soundtrack, the width of the image had to be reduced thus changing the image aspect ratio from 1.33:1 to 1.20:1 thus allowing the continued use of 35 mm film. Examples of other early optical sound films having this aspect ratio were the first Marx Brothers movie “The Cocoanuts” (1929) and Fritz Lang’s “M” (1931) the latter of which the Criterion DVD provides in the original aspect ratio. I suspect that if “Hollywood Revue” had been presented in this format there would have been numerous customer complaints about the big black spaces on either side of the picture.

 Warner Bros. “The Jazz Singer” (1927) had the original 1.33:1 ratio since the sound was not printed on the film but was provided by phonograph disc recordings synchronized with the projector which was known as “Vitaphone” and which didn’t last very long.The 1.20:1 aspect ratio remained the standard for optical sound movies for about 3 years. Audiences didn't like this aspect ratio which looked nearly like a square and theater owners didn’t like it as they had installed large wide screens for silent movies. In 1932 the Academy of Motion Picture Standards made the decision to change the aspect ratio to 1.37:1 by cropping the top and bottom of the frame and providing a new aperture plate to be inserted into all movie projectors which was known as the “Academy Aperture”. Film cameras likewise compensated for this change for all subsequent films. This maintained the original spacing between frames in order to avoid obsoleting all existing cameras and projectors. This aspect ratio remained the standard until 1953 when wider images became the thing thus resulting in the current standards for movies of 1.85:1 to 1.66:1. In the late 90s American HD television adopted a 1.78:1 aspect ratio which it remains to this day.Except for this, the DVD of “Hollywood Revue of 1929” is much appreciated and, considering its age, is of surprisingly good quality. Amazingly, Jack Benny looks the same in 1929 as he did in his television shows the 1950s. No wonder his ongoing jokes about being 39. Since it was then necessary for the singing and dance numbers to be done live before the cameras and microphones, the difficulties in producing this film must have been enormous. Prerecording the singing and lip syncing to it on the set and sound mixing were in the near future and would soon become the standard method of producing nearly all musical films.

Info from IMDB: "Some sources list the original running time of "Hollywood Revue of 1929" as 130 minutes. At least two sequences in the original roadshow version are missing from current prints: an opening recitation by the showgirls who are seen posing in the "Hollywood Revue" sign after the opening credits, and the appearance of Nils Asther, who assisted Jack Benny in introducing the final "Orange Blossom" number.2"This Version has a lenght of 116 min and its very entertaining. It's not a movie with a story. Its a revue show with 25 stars from silent movie era like: William Haines, Marie Dressler (her "I'm the Queen" its very entertaining), Ukelele Ike, Jack Benny (his first on screen appearance), Anita Page, Joan Crawford, and any more, including a chorus girl named Carla Laemmle (who had the first speaking words in a fantasy/horror movie: "Dracula" in 1931 and who's still living and making at age of 101 a new movie "The Extra"), Buster Keaton, Polly MoranACT I- The Palace of Minstrel sung and danced by a minstrel chorus- Masters of Ceremonies Jack Benny introduces Conrad Nagel. Cliff Edwards interferes.- Got a Feeling for You sung by Joan Crawford- "Old Folks at Home" sung by chorus- Old Black Joe sung by chorus- Low-Down Rhythm sung and danced by June Purcell- Your Mother and Mine sung by Charles King- You Were Meant for Me "sung" by Conrad Nagel (whose voice was dubbed by Charles King) to Anita Page- Nobody but You sung by Cliff Edwards- Your Mother and Mine played by Jack Benny on his violin with interjections from Karl Dane and George K. Arthur- Cut Up comedy skit featuring William Haines ripping up Jack Benny's suit- I Never Knew I Could Do a Thing Like That sung by Bessie Love- For I'm the Queen sung by Marie Dressler, assisted by Polly Moran- Magic Act introduced by Jack Benny, featuring Laurel and Hardy as magicians in a comedy skit (their first appearance in a sound feature film)-Military March with Marion Davies singing "Oh, What a Man" and "Tommy Atkins on Parade" followed by military drill and dancing. The Brox Sisters conclude this number singing "Strike Up the Band"IntermissionIntermission - "Nobody But You", "Your Mother and Mine" and "I've Got A Feeling for You" - OrchestraACT II- The Pearl Ballet sung by James Burrows, danced by Beth Laemmle and the Albertina Rasch ballet- The Dance of the Sea, an "underwater" dance performed by Buster Keaton- Lon Chaney's Gonna Get You If You Don't Watch Out sung by Gus Edwards- The Adagio Dance with the Natova Company- Romeo and Juliet (in Technicolor) with John Gilbert and Norma Shearer, with Lionel Barrymore as director- Singin' in the Rain introduced by Cliff Edwards, with The Brox Sisters- Charlie, Gus, and Ike with Charles King, Gus Edwards, and Cliff Edwards- Marie, Polly, and Bess with Marie Dressler, Polly Moran, and Bessie Love- Orange Blossom Time (in two-strip Technicolor), sung by Charles King to Myrtle McLaughlin, danced by the Albertina Rasch Ballet- Singin' in the Rain (finale) (in two-strip Technicolor), sung by entire castThe DVDThe Picture quality is pretty good for NOT remastered or restored.A Minus: has no subtitlesFazit: its entertaining!!!

Host Jack Benny introduces former silent screen superstars to the talking picture audiences in a one-of -a-kind variety show, including color sequences. You will see Joan Crawford dancing the Charleston, comedians Buster Keaton and Laurel and Hardy in comedy sketches, Conrad Nagel, Norma Shearer, John Gilbert, Canada's Marie Dressler, Lionel Barrymore and many more. The color finale features the entire cast in the original screen performance of "Singing In The Rain". You must have this movie if you are a fan of Hollywood stars of the 1920's.

Just a quick comment to say that even though it is listed as a 'Region 1' DVD it plays with no problems on my `Region 2' Sony RDR-HXD710.My interest in this was purely from the perspective of being a Laurel & Hardy fan, so I can only judge it on that basis and I see this as a very welcome addition to the increasing range of Laurel & Hardy appearances now being released officially on DVD. Released under the Warner "Archive Collection" label this film marks their first appearance in a full 'feature' (having only appeared in 'shorts' up to this point) and it is worth also checking out two other films of interest to Laurel & Hardy fans in this range, namely "The Hollywood Party (1934)" and "Pick A Star (1937)". Although all three of these films contain very brief appearances by Laurel & Hardy - and there are MUCH better L&H feature films to go for first - it's still great to see them all finally available on DVD in full to be judged in their entirety!

This DVD encapsulates everything that was fun in the USA before sound films came along. It is simply a collection of acts from vaudeville days transformed onto film, a truly wonderful experience, I didn't even know Jack Benny was that old !It also has of course the original of "Singing in the rain" with an amazing bunch of people involved, just magic, but beware, the print quality shows it's age, however I find that adds to the effect.

I have seen clips of this movie many times before, but always believed they were only surviving fragments of a lost film. So it came as a great pleasure to be able to watch the show in its entirety. Some of the acts are boring by today's standards, but the music is great, especially the Singing in The Rain sequences, as are the occasional bursts of early Technicolor in a mainly black and white movie. And even the boring bits are fascinating, if only to marvel at what audiences considered amusing back then.

worth buying for the rare clip of laurel and Hardy as magicians.. the dancing girls are very nice,considering this was made in 1929 !mostly black and white with one or two rare (original scenes) filmed in colour.