Actually a silent film except for 20 minutes of dialogue plus the musical numbers. Disc 1 - The film, "A Plantation Act", and assorted shorts and cartoons. Disc 2 - Feature length documentary "The Dawn of Sound", featurettes, excerpts from the "Gold Diggers of Broadway". Disc 3 - 3.5 hours of Vitaphone shorts.

On August 6, 1926 Don Juan & 8 Vitaphone shorts premiered. The Don Juan score & sound effects of clashing swords & chiming bells were now emanating from disc, synchronized to match the film's action. This was not a musical, but the experiment that gave birth to them. You can see some of the Vitaphone shorts by typing "Vitaphone shorts" into Google. It should be the first address returned.

Known for its moving camera versus the static camera of the early talkies, this is a 1929 backstage musical. The dialogue is obscured due to bad sound technology.

1929 film that is part drama and part musical featuring an entirely African American cast directed by King Vidor in his first talking picture. Its stereotypes will probably make modern audiences uncomfortable, but it is a remarkably sensitive film considering its era. Also included on the DVD are two additional musical numbers by Nina Mae McKinney, who played Chick in the film.

The most cost-effective way to own "Glorifying the American Girl" (1929), "The Great Gabbo" (1929), "Check and Double Check" (1930), "Dixiana" (1930), "Reaching for the Moon" (1930), "Palooka" (1934) and "King Kelly of the U.S.A" (1934).

Actually the sound and video are exceptionally clear on this print. The musical performances are quite good, but the acting is very wooden. Marie Dressler steals the show in her comic performance as a society matron.

Made in 1930, this musical revue presents its numbers around the orchestra leader Paul Whiteman with performances including those by a very young Bing Crosby. Also, it was filmed entirely in two-strip Technicolor.

Bizarre 1930 musical from Cecil B. DeMille. It involves lavish costumes, sets, and a party on a dirigible that ends in an explosion.

It's obvious why this 1930 Jolson film is not on DVD and probably never will be. Great music, but probably just too offensive.

The dialogue is sometimes obscured by wear in this 1930 film, in particular since most all the actors are Irish and offer heavy brogues. However, the singing never is, with McCormack's seeming to overpower the technology of the time. Note the appearance of a very young Maureen O'Sullivan.

In 1931 Eddie Cantor gets mixed up with a group of phony fortune-tellers in this breezy early musical, in which he warbles the immortal "My Baby Said Yes, Yes." Dance routines are choreographed by the legendary Busby Berkeley.

1932 musical starring Eddie Cantor in a series of mix-ups that involve bank heists and bullfighting. Definitely pre-code stuff.

The birth of modern choreography with the great Busby Berkeley. From this era you get 1933's 42nd Street, Footlight Parade, and The Gold Diggers of 1933. From 1934 you have Dames. The Gold Diggers of 1935 is outside the era I'm covering, but it is still excellent.

This riotous, politically incorrect 1933 classic has much in common with the Marx Brother's film "Duck Soup". Consider: (1) Both films were released in 1933. (2) Both films had a strong anti-war message to them. (3) Both films starred Louis Calhern and Edgar Kennedy. (4) Both films had hilarious musical numbers in them. This is more of a comedy than a musical.

1933 musical starring Bing Crosby. "Beautiful Girl" in Singin in the Rain is from this movie. Davies just doesn't click in this film, but Crosby is wonderful as always.

This 1933 musical stars Eddie Cantor as a kind-hearted young man who is thrown out of his corrupt home town of West Rome, Oklahoma. He falls asleep and dreams that he is back in the days of olden Rome, where he gets mixed up with court intrigue and a murder plot against the Emperor.

Besides "Mata-Hari" this 1934 film is the only talkie starring Ramon Novarro available, in either VHS or DVD, and thus one of the only chances to hear his pleasant voice and to check out what a fine actor he was. Plus here is Jeanette McDonald at the beginning of her career before Nelson Eddy.

This 1934 film directed by Ernst Lubitsch is one of the last pre-code musical gems. There are all kinds of sexual situations and innuendos that would be unacceptable just a year later.

A 1934 musical starring Bing Crosby and Carole Lombard. The only copy on DVD is in the "Carole Lombard - The Glamour Collection".

1934 musical starring Josephine Baker, recorded entirely in French. As children, Zouzou and Jean are paired in a traveling circus. After they've grown, he treats her as if she were his sister, but she's in love with him.