The Jazz Singer (1980 film)
The Jazz Singer is a 1980 American drama film and a remake of the 1927 classic The Jazz Singer, released by EMI Films. It starred Neil Diamond, Laurence Olivier and Lucie Arnaz and was codirected by Richard Fleischer and Sidney J. Furie.
In New York City, Jess Robin Neil Diamond, whose real name is Yussel Rabinovitch, is an Orthodox Jewish cantor performing at the synagogue of his imperious father Cantor Rabinovitch Laurence Olivier. Yussel is married to his childhood sweetheart Rivka Catlin Adams and has settled down to a life of religious devotion to the teaching of his faith as a sideline, he writes songs for a black vocal quartet, The Four Brothers. One night after Maariv, Yussel is recruited by the group to cover for one of the members who is in trouble with the law and must wear blackface and an Afro wig as it is a strictly allblack venue. The group performs You Baby and the engagement is a success, but an audience member Ernie Hudson notices that Yussels hands are white, sparking a riot in which the band is arrested. Cantor Rabinovitch goes to the jail to bail them out but finds there is not a Yussel Rabinovitch there, only a Jess Robin. Yussel explains his use of a stage name, but his father informs him that his singing voice is to be used for Gods purposes, not his own. YusselJess decides to relent and do whatever his father wants, at least for now.Yussels best friend Bubba Franklyn Ajaye, who is one of the Four Brothers, informs him that the band has received work in Los Angeles performing backup vocals for various artists, including British rock star Keith Lennox Paul Nicholas. Shortly after Bubba leaves, Yussel begins writing and composing a song that will eventually become Love on the Rocks and sends a demo to Bubba. Through it all, Rivka senses that since her husband has been spending a lot of his free time writing and composing songs, he yearns for a bigger stage for his voice. However, her values keep her grounded to the home life they have built together. ........
Source: Wikipedia
