Greens technicolor extravaganza the jolson story purports to tell the story of al jolson, one of the most popular singers in the united states in the 1920s and 30s what it actually does is take the bare bones of jolsons life story and tell a mostly fictionalized showbiz story of a mans. A pure delight, the jolson story is classic hollywood biography at its best. The jolson story is a 1946 american technicolor musical biography film which purports to tell the life story of singer al jolson. A movie about jolsons life, the jolson story, won oscars in 1946. The energy of this movie is tremendous it stays with you for hours the. The song was played in the background in the 1932 movie you said a mouthful which starred joe e. The radio shows span the years of the late 1930s through the late 1940s jolson died in the fall 1950 of a heart attack after returning from entertaining the troops in korea. A movie about jolson s life, the jolson story, won oscars in 1946. Greens technicolor extravaganza the jolson story purports to tell the story of al jolson, one of the most popular singers in the united states in the 1920s and 30s. Al jolson simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
The jolson story is one of the most entertaining hollywood biopics about an entertainer but why is it. Directed by 1 writing credits 4 cast 61 produced by 3 music by 4 cinematography by 1 film editing by 1. The jolson story is a 1946 musical biography which purports to tell the life story of singer al jolson. A perfect tribute to al jolson, this movie is as schmaltzy, spirited, and unforgettable as the singer himself. By the time i finished the book, i felt that i really knew this man, a man of incredible and striking opposites in his when i was a little boy back in the late 1940s, al jolson was my favorite entertainer. It stars larry parks as jolson, evelyn keyes as julie benson approximating jolsons wife, ruby keeler, william demarest as his manager, ludwig donath and tamara shayne as his parents, and scotty beckett as the young jolson. One of the greatest musicals ever made, the jolson story is an electrifying cavalcade of lavish production numbers with an all star cast. Columbia tristar home video presents the jolson story 1946 settle back folks. The picture revolutionized the motionpicture industry and marked the end of the silentfilm era. It affectionately traces jolsons tunepacked, kneebending fifty years in show business. Though legendary entertainer al jolson was a highlyvisible presence on the uso circuit during wwii, he was generally regarded as a relic of an earlier time. The film earned academy award nominations for larry parks, as well as winning best sound recording for. Winning academy awards for musical scoring and sound recording, the film also received four academy award nominations in 1946, including best actor for larry parks portrayal of al jolson.
Winning academy awards for musical scoring and sound recording, the film also received four academy award nominations in 1964, including best actor for larry parks portrayal of al jolson. Also like many other entertainer bios, the story itself is far from fresh. When in october of 1947 al jolson took over thursday night host duties on nbcs kraft music hall, he was riding the crest of an amazing career comeback, propelled by the enormous popularity of columbia pictures technicolor biopic, the jolson story 1946. Ludwig donath, tamara shayne, scotty beckett, john alexander, edwin maxwell director. Larry parks played jolson, but jolson sang the songs himself. The jolson story was nominated for six 1946 academy awards. On the early morning of tuesday november 18, 2014, after fighting off the natural instinct to sleep, and watching two pretty good ronald colman silent. Columbia released a sequel, jolson sings again 1949, with parks again in the title role, and jolson again supplying the vocals, as well as making a brief appearance in the film.
In 1927 jolson starred in the jazz singer, the first feature film with synchronized speech as well as music and sound effects. The song was included in the biographical films the jolson story 1946 and the benny goodman story 1956, and is also being noodled by sam dooley wilson at the piano right before he plays as time goes by in the movie casablanca 1942. The 1946 musical biography the jolson story comes to dvd from columbia. It was a shame that larry parkss career was ruined by the communist witch hunts of the. Opera house a sellout for al jolson, with two pictures of him performing one in blackface, the other not. Download jolson the story of al jolson download online.
Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing the jolson story near you. This lead to many guest appearances on the radio, as well as a starring role on a nbc radio program called the kraft music hall, which ran from october 1947 to may 1949. He was great before my time but when i saw the jolson story i fell in love with his voice and to this day when the movie comes on tv, i use my dvr, tape it and now i have it k keep so i can watch it as often as i want sometimes thats daily. Al jolson, byname of asa yoelson, born may 26, 1886, srednike, russia now seredzius, lithuaniadied october 23, 1950, san francisco, california, u. On november 18, 2014, tcm showed two jolson films, and while both were great to see and well worth staying up for, the first film, the singing fool. After the attack on pearl harbor, jolson became the first star to entertain troops overseas during world war ii. The jolson story was nominated for six 1946 academy awards, winning two, best musical scoring and best sound recording. Story al jolson and larry parks hd all the way 1946. This movie shows the idealized career of the singer al jolson, a little jewish boy who. Jolson in town, with two pictures of jolson performing in.
This movie shows the idealized career of the singer al jolson, a little jewish boy who goes against the will of his father in order to be in showbiz. The jolson story 1946 was a huge success, and parks was nominated for an academy award as best actor. The jolson story dvd 1946 larry parks actor, evelyn keyes actor, alfred e. It was introduced by jolson and interpolated in the musicals sinbad and bombo. A sequel, jolson sings again, was released in 1949, and was nominated for three oscars. I have shared this movie experience with people of all ages and it never get tired. He becomes a star, falls in love with a nonjewish dancer, and marries her. Asa al jolson yoelson born to jewish immigrants moshe reuben yoelson and naomi etta cantor the original family name was hesselson in seredzius, lithuania on may 26, 1885 or 1886, and died in san francisco, california on october 23, 1950 was an american singer. Avalon is a 1920 popular song written by al jolson, buddy desylva and vincent rose referencing avalon, california. With larry parks, evelyn keyes, william demarest, bill goodwin. The films imply that jolson had only two wives although he actually had four. The jolson story full frame, keep case packaging, subtitled. The jolson story al jolson and larry parks hd all the. Oct 25, 2010 the jolson story 1946 directed by alfred e.
A sequel to the jolson story was produced in 1949 named jolson sings again. The jolson story introduced the talents of al jolson to a new generation. His unique singing style and personal magnetism established an immediate rapport with. Al jolson the jolson story sound track vinyl discogs.
Larry parks, evelyn keyes, william demarest, bill goodwin other stars. Al jolson had an excellent singing voice, sense of humor, and excellent showmanship. Home trending history get youtube premium get youtube tv best of youtube music. It stars larry parks as jolson, evelyn keyes as julie benson approximating jolson s wife, ruby keeler, william demarest as his manager, ludwig donath and tamara shayne as his parents, and scotty beckett as the young jolson. Directed by 1 writing credits 4 cast 61 produced by 3 music by 4 cinematography by 1 film editing by 1 art direction by 2 set decoration by 2 costume design by 1 makeup department.
Jolsons recording rose to number two on the charts in 1921. The film earned academy award nominations for larry parks, as well as winning best sound recording for a. When i am driving and get tired i put in a jolson disk, and perk right up. When i feel down or cant sleep, i listen to jolson and feel soothed and relaxed. Dec 21, 2014 the jolson story is still considered by many as the finest musical biography ever made. The jolson story is still considered by many as the finest musical biography ever made.
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