The Jazz Singer (1980)

Reżyseria: Richard Fleischer

Scenariusz: Herbert Baker, Stephen H. Foreman, Samson Raphaelson

In New York City, Jess Robin (Neil Diamond), whose real name is Yussel Rabinovitch, is a young Jewish cantor performing at the synagogue of his imperious father Cantor Rabinovitch (Sir 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. But on the side, he writes songs for a black singing group, and when a member of the quartet gets in trouble with the law, Yussel covers for him at one of their gigs by wearing blackface. The nightclub engagement is a success, but a patron at the nightclub (an unknown Ernie Hudson, a few years before his Ghostbusters role) notices that Yussel's hands are not black and incites a riot. A fight ensues and the band is arrested. Cantor comes to the jail to bail them out, but finds there is not a Yussel Rabinovitch there, only a Jess Robin. His son explains it is just a stage name he uses when performing. Cantor informs him that his singing voice was to be used for God's purposes, not his own. Yussel/Jess decides to relent and do whatever his father wants...at least for now.