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The Jazz Singer - 25th Anniversary Edition

The Jazz Singer

25th Anniversary Edition DVD


Actors: Neil Diamond , Laurence Olivier , Lucie Arnaz , Catlin Adams , Franklyn Ajaye ,
Director: Richard Fleischer ,
Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
Format: Color , DVD-Video , Widescreen , NTSC ,
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audience Rating:  PG  Parental Guidance Suggested
DVD Release Date: 2005-10-18
Theatrical Release Date: 1980-12-19
Region code: 1
Number of Discs: 1


  • - Neil Diamond... songs that touch our hearts
    Neil Diamond plays the roll of Yussel, the son of a Jewish Cantor who is expected to follow the traditional role of five previous generations of Cantors, dedicating their lives to guide a congregation through music.

    As he seeks his own individuality, he defies his father, played masterfully by Sir Laurence Olivier, who is very unhappy to see his son attempting to step out of the role he was "born" to be, for to have received such a voice from God... has to mean that he must be a Cantor at the Synagogue.

    The relentless pursuit of his dream, takes Neil Diamond from New York to California, leaving behind his wife, a woman he grew up with and was supposed to be his companion for life.

    But the wife does not follow the husband's dream, she was quite happy with all she had, a school, a Cantor for a husband, and a role... center stage in the lives of the families that formed the congregation of their synagogue.

    In California, Neil Diamond meets Lucie Arnaz, playing the role of the vibrant, go-getter young woman who, upon hearing him sing for the first time, knows she is meant to see him achieve his dream.

    They fall madly in love and together set out to make a popular pop singer out of Yussel. At some point the wife comes out to California to try to take him back to New York and some of the lines between these two women are simply superb. When the wife, played by Catlin Adams asks Lucie Arnaz about the relationship that is taking place in California... and how far it has actually gone, Lucie replies "I offered him my body and he settled for a pizza."

    But Neil Diamond stays in California and one day is visited by the father who dreams of taking his son back to his beginning... back to continue the family tradition of being a Cantor. The son tells the father he must stay, and when the father sees the new woman in his son's life, he rips his clothing, a tradition to communicate that for him, his son is now dead

    In the end, the family is reunited, but some of the scenes between father and son are priceless jewels of attempting to step out of traditional roles.

    A dear friend of the family visits Yussel and asks that he return in his role of Cantor for the festivity of Yum Kippur. His father is now too old and too ill due to high-blood pressure to sing. He says that Yom Kippur, the day of atonement, is the Jewish day of repentance, and reconciliation. So... there is no better time like the present for father and son to reunite.

    When Neil Diamond returns to the Synagogue, he delivers some of the best lyrics of this movie... the song is deeply moving.

    The movie opens and closes with the timeless classic "America" a song that for all of us, immigrants, reaching US soil in search of liberty, opportunity and the pursuit of happiness, this remains the most moving music of all.

    As with Neil Diamond the best part of the movie are the songs, and here we get the best of Neil Diamond. Hava Nagila, Adon Ojom, You Baby, Love on the Rocks, Amazed and Confused, Summer Love, Hello Again, Acapulco, Songs of Life, Jerusalem, Kol Nidre "My Name is Yussel" and America.

    We are fans of Neil Diamond and have never missed a concert when he has visited South Florida. This newly acquired movie is and shall remain... best in class in our collection. Don't miss it


  • EXCELLENT Very uplifting, 5 star performances, Top Music
    Neil Diamond is BRILLIANT in this performance, and moreso with the musical score. Excellent, excellent show, you'll want to watch again and again

  • Excellent
    You had the movie in stock that I was looking for and I received the DVD within 10 working days.

    Thank you for the great customer service.

  • The Jazz Singer third version
    This movie is usually trashed by everybody. I enjoyed the music, Neil Diamnond and seeing an updated version of the movie. I will agree the the title should be the Rock Singer, then again the last version of A Star is Born with Steisand and Kristofferson could use the same title. The original story of that movie was about the rise and fall of movie stars.

    I grew up seeing the 1950's version of this movie and always enjoyed it. The updated version had the good sense to drop the jazz and vaudeville storyline. Period pieces don't go over well these days.
    I bought the soundtrack in vinyl and loved it. At least when Jess decided he had had enough, he just left town. He didn't get hooked on drugs or booze. That in itself is worth seeing as a piece of good sensible advice. The music is a good mixture. Laurence Olivier gave his usual stellar performance. I kept thinking of hin in a NBC production of The Merchant of Venice. All in all its a good update to an old storyline.



  • The Jazz Singer- 25th Anniversary Edition
    Excellent Music- Lucy Arnez & Neil Diamond are great in this. Wish they both would have been in more movies.

  • The Jazz Singer
    Great to find this. I have wanted to see this movie again since it came out and was very pleased to find a new DVD on Amazon. New condition and shipped as requested. Thank you

  • Jazz Singer better than ever
    Even though this movie is from the 60's era, the plot, message, music, and casting are marvelous. LOVE this anniversary edition as the sound is fantastic. I can watch this movie over and over again. Highly recommend this anniversary edition GREAT

    • Review of The Jazz Singer