The Jazz Singer (1980)
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15% of critics liked it
(20 reviews) -
69% of users liked it
(4,802 ratings)
Pop singer Neil Diamond stars in this ill-begotten second remake of Al Jolson's seminal 1927 musical The Jazz Singer. The moth-eaten story concerns a cantor's son who desires success as a pop singer, despite the wishes of his imperious father. The film takes place in the present day with… More Pop singer Neil Diamond stars in this ill-begotten second remake of Al Jolson's seminal 1927 musical The Jazz Singer. The moth-eaten story concerns a cantor's son who desires success as a pop singer, despite the wishes of his imperious father. The film takes place in the present day with Yussel Rabinowitz (Neil Diamond) playing a young (though middle-aged looking) cantor performing at the synagogue of his father (Laurence Olivier). Yussel is married and has settled down to a life of religious devotion to the teaching of his fath. But on the side, he writes songs for a black singing group, and when a member of the quartet takes ill, Yussel covers for him at one of their gigs by wearing blackface! The nightclub engagement is such a success that Yussel abandons his family -- and his father's synagogue -- and leaves his New York home for Los Angeles, hoping to break into the music business. Almost immediately he is spotted by spunky agent Molly Bell (Lucie Arnaz), who books him as an opening act for a touring comic. Yussel hits it big, but his father resents Yussel's forsaking their traditional Jewish ways. His father disowns him, rending his garments and bellowing, "I hef no son!" ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Directed By
- Ralph Thomas, Richard Fleischer
- Written By
- Herbert Baker
- Genres
- Musical & Performing Arts, Drama
PG,
- In Theaters
- Dec 19, 1980 Limited
Critic Reviews
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, Time Out
The most cautious soft-rock superstar movie debut you'll ever get to see.
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Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The Jazz Singer has so many things wrong with it that a review threatens to become a list.
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Janet Maslin, New York Times
Mr. Diamond, looking glum and seldom making eye contact with anyone, isn't enough of a focus for the outmoded story.
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Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Richard Fleischer's direction is appropriately close-in and small, and Diamond himself, while no actor, proves to be a commandingly intense, brooding presence.
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Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Stick with Jolson's version via 1927. Or even the Danny Thomas take. Skip Neil.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
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Cast
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Neil Diamond
as Yussel Rabinovitch
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Laurence Olivier
as Cantor Rabinovitch
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Lucie Arnaz
as Molly Bell
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Catlin Adams
as Rivka Rabinovitch
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Paul Nicholas
as Keith Lennox
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Franklyn Ajaye
as Bubba
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Sully Boyar
as Eddie Gibbs
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Mike Kellin
as Leo
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James Booth
as Paul Rossini
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Luther Waters
as Teddy
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Oren Waters
as Mel
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Rod Gist
as Timmy
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Janet Brandt
as Aunt Tillie
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Hank Garrett
as Police Sergeant
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Walter Janowitz
as Rabbi Birnbaum
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Jill Jaress
as Cowgirl
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James Karen
as Barney Callahan
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John Witherspoon
as M.C. Cinderella Club
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Victor Paul
as Irate Driver
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Dale Robinette
as Tommy
- Ernie Hudson
