The third and, one hopes, final remake of THE JAZZ SINGER is the least interesting attempt so far, its music forgettable. Neil Diamond (who even reverts to Al Jolson's blackface for one sequence) is wholly unbelievable as the cantor's son who forsakes the synagogue for the bright lights of
pop music in this $15-million bomb, which failed to generate box-office interest. Laurence Olivier doesn't help the proceedings by overplaying his role as the cantor and using the histrionic style employed by Warner Oland six decades earlier, replete with eye-rolling, chest-thumping, and
hand-wringing. Olivier made no bones about his role here.
Released:
1980
Rated:
PG
Length:
115 mins