The Jazz Singer (1980): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
The Jazz Singer is a 1980 romantic drama directed by Richard Fleischer, starring Neil Diamond, Laurence Olivier and Franklyn Ajaye. It runs 1 hour 55 minutes and earned $27.1 million worldwide. It earned 3 award nominations, including Best Original Song at the Golden Globes 1981. Critics gave it 37 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.9/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 55m (115 min)
- Director
- Richard Fleischer
- Original language
-
English - After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Jazz Singer About?
The premise of The Jazz Singer without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A young man named Jess Robin struggles to balance his love for jazz music with his father's traditional expectations. His pursuit of a career in the burgeoning music industry leads him into a world of challenges and temptations, forcing him to confront deeply held family values. Torn between the security of his heritage and the promise of fame, Jess must make difficult choices that will impact his future and the harmony of his family.
The Jazz Singer Themes & Keywords
· 31 tags- dream
- son
- jewish
- tradition
- star
- singer
- pop singer
- stage name
- family relationships
- concert
- dysfunctional family
- stage
+19 more Show fewer
- songwriter
- showbiz
- show business
- rock music
- religion
- price of fame
- judaism
- heritage
- generation gap
- big break
- behind the scenes
- ambition
- musician
- remake
- jewish culture
- pop music
- father son relationship
- based on play
- independent film
The Jazz Singer Cast
Neil Diamond leads the cast, with Laurence Olivier and Franklyn Ajaye. Directed by Richard Fleischer; 10 actors are credited in all.
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Director Richard Fleischer
Also Starring in The Jazz Singer
· 6 moreMore from Richard Fleischer
More films directed by Richard Fleischer, best-rated first: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Fantastic Voyage, Soylent Green and Tora! Tora! Tora!.
The Jazz Singer Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Jazz Singer 37 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.9/10.
-
IMDb 5.9 /10
See on IMDb -
Metacritic 37 Metascore
See on Metacritic
The Jazz Singer Plot Summary
What happens in The Jazz Singer from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Yussel Rabinovitch, portrayed by Neil Diamond, is a young Jewish cantor and the fifth-generation in his family at the synagogue overseen by his domineering father, Laurence Olivier. Yussel’s life appears set in the path of religious devotion, alongside his childhood friend and wife, Caitlin Adams. However, beneath the surface, he secretly writes songs for a black singing group. When a band member gets arrested, Yussel takes a risk by donning blackface to perform at a club, leading to unexpected complications after a patron notices his white hands. This incident escalates into a confrontation, resulting in the band’s arrest.
Full summary
The whole story of The Jazz Singer, scene by scene
The Jazz Singer Box Office
The Jazz Singer grossed $27.1 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$27.1M
- US & Canada
- $27.1M
The Jazz Singer Awards & Nominations
The Jazz Singer earned 3 award nominations, including Best Original Song at the Golden Globes 1981.
3 nominations1 ceremony
-
Golden Globes 1981 3 nominations- Nominated Best Original Song – Neil Diamond
- Nominated Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical (Actor) – Neil Diamond
- Nominated Best Supporting Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama, Comedy or Musical (Supporting Actress) – Lucie Arnaz
The Jazz Singer Trailers & Videos
The trailer of The Jazz Singer.
How Well Do You Know The Jazz Singer?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who is the lead character in 'The Jazz Singer'?
Cars in The Jazz Singer
23 cars on screen, including the 1965 Ford Mustang and the Kenworth K-100.
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1965 Ford Mustang Main role -
Kenworth K-100 Important role -
1980 Lincoln Continental Minor role -
1980 MCI MC-9 Minor role
The Jazz Singer Also Known As
10 alternative titles, including “爵士歌手” and “El cantor de jazz”.
- Also known as
-
- 爵士歌手
- El cantor de jazz
- Der Jazz-Sänger
- Il cantante di jazz
- זמר הג'אז
- Джазовият певец
- Nasce um Cantor
- Певец джаза
- Le chanteur de Jazz
- 재즈 싱어
Seen The Jazz Singer?
Movies Like The Jazz Singer
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Jazz Singer, The Jazz Singer and Jazz Boy.
The Jazz Singer FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of The Jazz Singer, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Jazz Singer?
The Jazz Singer runs 1 hour 55 minutes (115 minutes).
When was The Jazz Singer released?
The Jazz Singer was released on December 19, 1980.
Who directed The Jazz Singer?
The Jazz Singer was directed by Richard Fleischer.
More films by Richard Fleischer Who is in the cast of The Jazz Singer?
The Jazz Singer stars Neil Diamond, Laurence Olivier and Franklyn Ajaye, among 10 credited actors.
How much did The Jazz Singer make at the box office?
The Jazz Singer grossed $27.1 million worldwide.
How is The Jazz Singer rated?
The Jazz Singer has 5.9/10 on IMDb and 37 on Metacritic.
Was The Jazz Singer nominated for any awards?
The Jazz Singer received 3 nominations across 1 ceremony.
Does The Jazz Singer have a post-credit scene?
No. The Jazz Singer has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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