The Jazz Singer - DaaVeeDee

The Jazz Singer (DVD) (*)

$20.99

Screened, competed or awarded at:
Golden Globes
Other Film Festival Awards

Language Selections:
English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )

Product Origin/Format:
Australia ( PAL/NTSC/Region 0 )

Running Time:
116 min

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen

Special Features:
Biographies
Commentary
Interactive Menu
Photo Gallery
Posters
Scene Access
Trailer(s)

Movie filmed in 1980 and produced in:
United States ( USA, Canada )

Directed By:
Richard Fleischer

Written By:
Samson Raphaelson
Herbert Baker

Actors:
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
Janet Brandt ..... Aunt Tillie
John Witherspoon ..... M.C. Cinderella Club

Synopsis:

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!'

Neil Diamond stars as Yussel in this tale of a young Jewish cantor who strives to make a career in music. Against the wishes of his rigid father and his loving wife, Yussel travels to California to play his music. Swept up by the excitement, he meets a woman who shares his dream. He grows apart from his family, and becomes confused about what he should ultimately do with his life.

Jakie Rabinowitz runs away from home to become a jazz-singer rather than the cantor his father had intended. He returns years later a famous man and finally makes peace with his dying father by singing the Kol Nidre in the Synagogue.

This product was added to our catalog on Tuesday 30 August, 2011.