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The Jazz Singer
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The Jazz Singer (1980) More at IMDbPro »

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The Jazz Singer (1980) -- The son of a Jewish Cantor must defy his father in order to pursue his dream of being a pop singer.

Overview

User Rating:
5.1/10   1,487 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 14% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Richard Fleischer
Writers:
Samson Raphaelson (play)
Herbert Baker (screenplay)
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Contact:
View company contact information for The Jazz Singer on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
19 December 1980 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama | Music | Romance more
Tagline:
His story will make you cry. His music will make you sing. His triumph will make you cheer. more
Plot:
The son of a Jewish Cantor must defy his father in order to pursue his dream of being a pop singer. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 3 wins & 4 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(3 articles)
Quick List: Worst Musical Moments
 (From Cinematical. 17 June 2009, 3:15 PM, PDT)

Movie Reviews: Notorious
 (From Studio Briefing - Film News. 16 January 2009, 1:30 AM, PST)

User Comments:
A great score applied to a great story more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Neil Diamond ... Jess Robin

Laurence Olivier ... Cantor Rabinovitch
Lucie Arnaz ... Molly Bell
Catlin Adams ... Rivka Rabinovitch
Franklyn Ajaye ... Bubba

Paul Nicholas ... Keith Lennox
Sully Boyar ... Eddie Gibbs
Mike Kellin ... Leo
James Booth ... Paul Rossini
Luther Waters ... Teddy
Oren Waters ... Mel
Rod Gist ... Timmy
Walter Janovitz ... Rabbi Birnbaum (as Walter Janowitz)
Janet Brandt ... Aunt Tillie

John Witherspoon ... M.C. Cinderella Club
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Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
115 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby | DTS-ES (DVD version) | Dolby Digital EX (DVD version) | 70 mm 6-Track
Company:
EMI Films more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Richard Fleischer re-shot a lot of the Laurence Olivier scenes because he felt Olivier had overacted. When Olivier asked Fleischer why they were doing these scenes again, Fleischer explained the truth in a diplomatic manner: that he didn't like how the scenes had been staged originally. more
Goofs:
Continuity: Jess sings to an audience in California in the middle of the movie. At the end of the movie he is singing to an audience in New York (it is assumed from the progression of the film) and it is quite obviously the same audience and venue. A number of audience members are present in both scenes. There is a woman with glasses wearing a vest and white shirt, a man in the middle of the audience with a checked cap, and a large man having a great time down front clapping very excitedly. more
Quotes:
Molly Bell: Honey what happened? What was that all about?
Yussel Rabinovitch: When a Jew mourns somebody dead, they tear a piece of their clothing
Molly Bell: Who's dead?
Yussel Rabinovitch: I am
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude (2004) (VG) more
Soundtrack:
Songs Of Life more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
9 out of 11 people found the following comment useful:-
A great score applied to a great story, 26 May 2006
10/10
Author: SmgBag1 from United States

I try to go into a movie uncolored with opinions, and thankfully hadn't heard any negative reviews on this one prior to seeing it for the first time in 1980. That allowed me to view it with an open mind.

The score is superb. It's what makes the movie what it is. The songs fit the mood in every scene, and are all well-placed. The acting, while not the best I've ever seen, isn't nearly as bad as made out to be by critics. Let's face it. Neil Diamond is not an actor. He is a singer, a performer. In this movie he does that very well. And yet, he manages to pull off his character, Yussel Rabinovich, without a hitch. His scenes with Sir Lawrence Olivier are touching and believable. They are indeed a good match as father and son cantors. But for Yussel, his heritage isn't enough. His music roots drive him, and that's what he sets out to discover. Against the will of his father, and over the protest of his wife Rivka, he leaves his home in New York for L.A. and seeks his destiny.

Lucie Arnaz turns in a good performance as Molly Bell, a "retired" music promoter who sees potential in Yussel and takes him under her wing. What follows is a tug-of-war, a battle of values—old and new—as Neil's character, now Jess Robin, climbs the charts professionally, yet never really forgets where he came from.

Watching Neil perform in this movie is like seeing one of his concerts. He's all-show, and not a bit shy. When he picks up a guitar, you know you're in for a treat, and he does music as only he can. It's a great story, well-told and, on the whole, well-acted. Neil gives emotions where called for. But in this movie, the music's the star. That's where Neil really delivers.

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Hello Again Hello... schneid123
Uncredited cameo? schmidt_haus
It seems to me. jack31961
Why were none of the songs nominated for an Oscar? zintar2001
Is it just me?.................. ..... fpanny
another Goof welshNick
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