The Jazz Singer (1980 film)
| The Jazz Singer | |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by |
Richard Fleischer uncredited: Sidney J. Furie |
| Produced by | Jerry Leider |
| Written by | Herbert Baker |
| Starring |
Neil Diamond Laurence Olivier Lucie Arnaz Catlin Adams Franklyn Ajaye Paul Nicholas |
| Music by |
Gilbert Bécaud Neil Diamond Leonard Rosenman Richard Bennett Alan E. Lindgren |
| Cinematography | Isidore Mankofsky |
| Edited by |
Frank J. Urioste Maury Winetrobe |
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Production
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| Distributed by | Associated Film Distribution |
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Release date
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Running time
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115 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $27,118,000 |
The Jazz Singer is a 1980 American drama film and a remake of the 1927 classic The Jazz Singer, released by EMI Films. It starred Neil Diamond, Laurence Olivier and Lucie Arnaz and was co-directed by Richard Fleischer and Sidney J. Furie.
Although the film was a critical flop, the soundtrack was enormously successful, eventually reaching multi-platinum status and becoming Diamond's most successful album to date. It resulted in three hit songs, "America", "Love on the Rocks" and "Hello Again".
Yussel Rabinovitch is a young Jewish cantor performing at the synagogue of his imperious father. Yussel is married to his childhood friend, Rivka, and has settled down to a life of religious devotion to the teaching of his faith.
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 but one of the patrons at the nightclub notices that Yussel hands are white and calls him out. A fight ensues and the band is arrested. Yussel's father comes to the jail to bail them out but finds out that there is not a Yussel Rabinovitch there but a Jess Robin. Later his father questions him about that and Yussel tells him it is just a professional stage name he uses when performing. His father reminds him that his singing voice was to be used for God's purposes not his own.
Yussel/Jess' best friend and member of the "Four Brothers" signing group, Bubba, informs him that the band got a gig in Los Angeles performing back up vocals for Keith Lennox. Shortly after Bubba leaves Yussel begins composing a song that would eventually become Love On The Rocks. His wife Rivka notices him writing the song in his free time and senses that Yussel yearns for a bigger stage for his voice but her values keep her grounded to the home life they have built together.
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