Product description

The Jazz Singer [1981]

Price: £17.99
RRP: £6.99
Average customer rating: 4.0

Binding : VHS Tape
EAN : 5099990030420
Label : Warner Home Video
Manufacturer : Warner Home Video
Publisher : Warner Home Video
Release date : 1996-06-11
Title : The Jazz Singer [1981]
Actor : Array
Audience rating : Parental Guidance
Format : Array
Languages : Array
Number of items : 1
Original release date : 1981-01-29
Running time : 110
Studio : Warner Home Video
Theatrical releaseDate : 1980-12-19
Number of discs : 1

Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Back in 1927, The Jazz Singer entered the history books as the first true, sound-on-film talking picture, with Al Jolson uttering the immortal words, "You ain't heard nothing yet!" But even then it was a creakingly sentimental old yarn. By the time this second remake showed up in 1980 (there was a previous one in 1953) it looked as ludicrously dated as a chaperone in a strip club. Our young hero, played by pop singer Neil Diamond in a doomed bid for movie stardom, is the latest in a long line of Jewish cantors, but secretly moonlights with a Harlem soul group. When his strictly Orthodox father (Laurence Olivier, complete with painfully hammy "oya-veh" accent) finds out, the expected ructions follow. Though the lad makes it big in showbiz, it all means nothing while he's cut off from family and roots. But in the end--well, you can guess, can't you? Diamond comes across as likeable enough in a bland way, but unencumbered by acting talent, and the music business has never looked so squeaky clean--nary a trace of drugs, and precious little sex or rock'n'roll. As for anything sounding remotely like jazz, forget it. This is one story that should have been left to slumber in the archives. --Philip Kemp

Customer reviews

review by: date: 2005-02-24 rating:

excellent music and a good film
The Jazz Singer takes the wonderfull music of Niel Diamond and puts it to a very good script. I remember watching this when i was a kid and i have been a fan of niel diamond since. I got this recently and showed my wife it who had never seen it and wasnt a fan of niel diamond, guess what? she is now a fan of niel diamond and so is my 12 year old daughter who has watched the movie 4 or 5 times since i got it. Get it I gaurantee you will enjoy it.

review by: jace31 date: 2004-04-25 rating:

Superb viewing Diaond at his best!
This is a moving and emotional portrayal of the Jazz Singer.... NeilDiamond is as always a true superstar and I defy anyone not to be moved byhis perfomance. The storyline is an excellant adaptation of the original.Anyone not moved by this film doesnt have a heart! Highly recomendedviewing!

review by: date: 2004-04-20 rating:

I Liked the film but the presentation is terrible!
I bought the Jazz Singer DVD in Dublin a few days ago it's a hoary old cult classic with a very naturalistic performance from Neil Diamond in the title role coupled with some cracking tunes. I was also happy to note that it was riding high in the Top 30…great stuff for a movie almost 25 years old that wasn’t a commercial success on its initial release. But I have to say that the presentation is an ABSOLUTE DISGRACE. Warner brothers and their various associates have done NO justice to this film.

What they’ve done is basically transfer the master onto DVD. The sound and picture have not been improved indeed I’d think it fair to say that a recent VHS copy would be of equal quality. What’s the point of releasing a film on DVD by merely transferring the source tape? The Jazz Singer BADLY needs to be remastered for picture and sound. The picture quality is very poor IMHO and the sound could do with a polish. A little bit of effort to include a booklet would’ve been nice with chapter selections and so forth. How about some extras such as brief interviews with Neil AND Lucy Arnaz (and any of the other participants) about the film. How about outtakes? Warner Bros have a poor record on this but this takes the biscuit!
I think a glorious chance was missed here. Considering the amount of money the film is going to procure WB and Studio Canal and the cult following it has this product is a thundering disgrace!
3 stars for the film 1 for the packaging and presentation.

review by: date: 2004-04-20 rating:

A night in with a friend
I first saw the Jazzsinger about 20 years ago and loved it mainly becauseof the songs. I wouldn't rate Diamond's acting ability but he can sing. I have since seen him live in concert and all I want to do is see himagain. My husband and I are hugh fans but not in a conspicious way. I ama 'Diamond Girl'

review by: richienmargie date: 2004-03-26 rating:

A good movie ruined by a sub-standard DVD
Anyone reading this page will no doubt already have their own opinion on 'The Jazz Singer'. Neil Diamond's remake of the classic Al Jolson Movie hits all the right buttons with great songs written and performed by Neil Diamond, an uplifting story of a Jewish cantor breaking into the world of popular music and, in my opinion, an amusingly over-the-top performance by Laurence Olivier. The film itself cannot fail to entertain and demands repeat viewings. This is why, as soon as I heard of it's release on DVD I pre-ordered straight away to replace my old VHS copy. The DVD itself is a total let-down. The picture quality, although now in widescreen, is no better, and perhaps even worse, than the VHS version. The grainy, fuzzy picture has to be the worst I have ever come across on DVD and certainly looks as if this has been mastered straight from the video with no clean-up work whatsoever. The sound quality is also substandard and there are no extra features to be found at all. Being one of my favourtite movies, I was hoping I would be able to give this DVD five stars - the poor DVD production, however has dragged this kicking and screaming down to a three!

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