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

Videos (see all 2)
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.
The Jazz Singer (1980) -- MyMovieScripts.com - Trailer (Flash)

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Overview

User Rating:
5.1/10   1,533 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 2% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
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:
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:
Awards:
Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 3 wins & 4 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(7 articles)
Norah Jones 'sad for Amy Winehouse'
 (From digitalspy. 9 November 2009, 7:06 AM, PST)

Jamie Cullum: 'Stars like my covers'
 (From digitalspy. 9 November 2009, 5:35 AM, PST)

User Comments:
What's the Deal? Need more NEIL! more (52 total)

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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Additional Details

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

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Near the end of the shoot, Neil Diamond was having trouble with the scene where he storms into the recording booth in a rage and has a heated argument with the Lucie Arnaz character. During a break, Richard Fleischer looked into the glass of the recording stage and saw Diamond going berserk, smashing everything in sight. Fleischer quickly yelled action, Diamond burst into the recording booth in an absolute fury, and pulled off the scene. After yelling cut, Fleischer asked him just what happened. Diamond explained that he felt so bad he wasn't able to pull off the scene, he asked his band to play something that would make him mad - which was a Barry Manilow number. more
Goofs:
Continuity: When Jess' father comes to visit him in California and they walk into the apartment, Jess never shuts the door completely. Later when Molly comes home, we hear the sound of the door opening. more
Quotes:
Molly Bell: I'm with Keith Lennox productions. Molly. Molly Bell. That's what they call me. My real name is a lot longer.
Yussel Rabinovitch: So's mine.
Molly Bell: Belengocavela?
Yussel Rabinovitch: Rabinovitch?
Molly Bell: Oh. That's not bad.
more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
Hine Mah Tove more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
21 out of 25 people found the following comment useful.
What's the Deal? Need more NEIL!, 10 July 2002
Author: Clint Ford from Dallas, Texas

Okay... all these submissions below? Ignore them. Here's the real scoop.

The biggest problem most folks have with this film is that they're comparing the two male leads' acting ability. BIG MISTAKE.

One is Neil Diamond-- one of the greatest singers of all time. The other is Sir Laurence Olivier-- one of the greatest ACTORS of all time. Think of it this way: if Sir Larry accompanied Neil in a recording of "Cherry, Cherry"-- people would rave about Neil's performance, but then spend an hour going on about how much Olivier sucks.

The fact is this: neither of them suck. Everything is great! Neil Diamond is a fine actor. (Not an AMAZING actor, mind you... but a fine actor.) He'd even beaten out Dustin Hoffman for the role of Lenny Bruce in "Lenny", but turned it down... leaving the door open for Hoffman.

I made the mistake of reading all of the below jeers and whines about Neil Diamond's "terrible acting performance" in this movie. I then watched it over at my girlfriend's house with very low expectations. But I was very impressed, and greatly enjoyed the film. Granted, there are some times when Neil's performance isn't exactly as dramatic as it should be... (i.e., when his father shrieks "I HAVE NO SON!!", Neil doesn't exactly seem to be heartbroken.) But then, there are times when he manifests a great deal of emotional power... especially in the scenes where he gets angry.

Okay, so I'm a huge Neil Diamond fan, yes. I love his music, and I think it's cool that he's had a lead in a major motion picture. BUT-- from an acting perspective, he has my respect. From one actor to another. (YES, I consider him an "actor" too... and so does the IMDb.)

I only have two complaints: one is that this is the only movie he's been in until Saving Silverman-- where he had just a cameo. That sucks. I want to see Neil in more movies.

The other complaint is what everyone else doesn't like: "The Jazz Singer". AL JOLSON sung Jazz. NEIL DIAMOND sings Pop. Soooooo... couldn't it have been called "The Pop Singer", and had an addition in the credits that read, "Based on 'The Jazz Singer' by Al Jolson" or something?

Anyway... the music is great, (even "Love on the Rocks"-- and I'm not a big ballad fan... as they depress me. But I can't dislike a Neil song.) the movie is a great story, and the acting is FINE. Watch it. If you're a fan of Neil's, or even just a fan of 20+ year old movies that have good stories.... check out "The Jazz Singer".



--and by the way.... neil diamond rules. thank you.

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