The Jazz Singer

(Anchor Bay)

Neil Diamond isn’t the best actor, and the 1980 version of The Jazz Singer doesn’t have the best script, but this movie (love on the) rocks nonetheless. The 25th anniversary DVD, now in widescreen with a handful of extras, still tracks Yussel Rabinovitch, the Jewish cantor with pop aspirations, and remains a Spinal Tap-like masterpiece. The soundtrack is everything the new Rick Rubin-produced 12 Songs isn’t: a classic. The clincher: Neil Diamond in blackface.

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This article appears in December 23 • 2005.

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