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The Jazz Singer

A young Jewish man is torn between tradition and individuality as his old-fashioned family bristles at his pursuit of a career as a jazz singer.

Director(s)

Richard Fleischer

Cast & Crew

John Witherspoon

John Witherspoon

M.C. Cinderella Club

James Karen

James Karen

Barney Callahan

Paul Nicholas

Paul Nicholas

Keith Lennox

Ernie Hudson

Ernie Hudson

Heckler

Billie Perkins

Billie Perkins

Waitress

Brion James

Brion James

Man in Bar

Seymour Cassel

Seymour Cassel

Unnamed

Victor Paul

Victor Paul

-

David Coburn

David Coburn

Bar Mitzvah Boy

Laurence Olivier

Laurence Olivier

Cantor Rabinovitch

Lucie Arnaz

Lucie Arnaz

Molly Bell

Steve Dash

Steve Dash

Policeman

Rod Gist

Rod Gist

Timmy

Sandy Helberg

Sandy Helberg

Sound Engineer

Tim Herbert

Tim Herbert

Technician #1

Hugh Gillin

Hugh Gillin

Texas Bartender

Neil Diamond

Neil Diamond

Jess Robin / Yussel Rabinovitch

Sully Boyar

Sully Boyar

Eddie Gibbs

Franklyn Ajaye

Franklyn Ajaye

Bubba

Jill Jaress

Jill Jaress

Cowgirl

Hank Garrett

Hank Garrett

Police Sergeant

James Booth

James Booth

Paul Rossini

Edward Jahnke

Edward Jahnke

Guard

Mike Kellin

Mike Kellin

Leo

Richard Fleischer

Richard Fleischer

-

Oren Waters

Oren Waters

Mel

Michael Pasternak

Michael Pasternak

Zany Gray

Dale Robinette

Dale Robinette

-

Catlin Adams

Catlin Adams

Rivka Rabinovitch

Janet Brandt

Janet Brandt

Aunt Tillie

Walter Janovitz

Walter Janovitz

Rabbi Birnbaum

Luther Waters

Luther Waters

Teddy

Judy Gibson

Judy Gibson

Peg

Uri Frenkel

Uri Frenkel

The Cantor

Rex Cutter

Rex Cutter

Semi Driver

Douglas Nigh

Douglas Nigh

Technician #2

Patrick Stansfield

Patrick Stansfield

Stage Manager

Lev Liberman

Lev Liberman

Boots (uncredited)

Details

GenresDrama, Music, Romance
Runtime1h 55 mins
Released on17 Dec 1980
Languageen
Produced InUnited Kingdom
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Reviews

MK40

/10

Very disappointing. The main character, Jess Robin, is a self-centered and apathetic individual who walks out on his wife (telling her that he would only be gone for two weeks) to pursue a recording contract. He does not return home and instead quickly takes up with his agent, Molly, who he moves in with after telling his wife that he no longer wants a life as a canter. He shows no emotion toward her or anything that is meaningful to her. After his father discovers that Jess is living with another woman and is divorcing his wife, his father disowns him. Jess cannot seem to connect with anyone in his life. He expects everyone to accept his choices, joyfully, thinking nothing of how he is destroying the lives of those who love him. Molly discovers that she is pregnant with their child while Jess is abusing everyone around him as he struggles with the rejection of his father. He storms out of the studio and simply disappears for year with no explanation to anyone. A family friend tries to reunite Jess with his father but he appears very reluctant. His father finds forgiveness for Jess when Jess shows him a photograph of his baby boy. He reunites with Molly as if he never abandoned her. She is joined by his father is for Jess's big moment on stage at the end of the film. Very unrealistic story with an unrealistic ending about a typical narcissist who only sees things in terms of how they affect him.

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