The Jazz Singer

The Jazz Singer (1980)

  • 15% of critics liked it
    (20 reviews)

  • 70% of users liked it
    (4,733 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 Yussel… More

PG, 1 hr. 55 min.
Directed By
Ralph Thomas, Richard Fleischer
Written By
Herbert Baker
Genres
Musical & Performing Arts, Drama
In Theaters
Dec 19, 1980 Limited
On DVD
Mar 15, 2000

Critic Reviews

  • Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

    The Jazz Singer has so many things wrong with it that a review threatens to become a list.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com

    Stick with Jolson's version via 1927. Or even the Danny Thomas take. Skip Neil.

  • , TV Guide's Movie Guide

    The third and, one hopes, final remake of THE Jazz Singer is the least interesting attempt so far.

Read all 11 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Erin C


    This was a pretty good movie. Some of the acting was really cheesy, but I thought it was entertaining enough.

  • Lee K


    Great for fans of the singer as i am but however this is a musical and i only like about two of them.

  • Chad R


    I had to watch this damn movie a bunch when I was a kid - NOTHING ELSE ON GODDAMN IT HBO!

Cast

See full cast

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