The Jolson Story
Release date 10th October 1946
Country : USA
Running time : 128 mins
Genre : Musical
Starring Larry Parks, Evelyn Keyes, William Demarest, Ludwig Donath
 Screenplay by Stephen Longstreet
Directed by Alfred E Green
A Columbia Picture

The life story of the World's Greatest Entertainer from his days in vaudeville to Broadway and the first big talking picture The Jazz Singer. With success though comes marital difficulties.

 Magical showbusiness biopic the best ever made with a brilliant performance from Parks in the lead. Though the story is inevitably simplified it still retains the spirit of the life of this extraordinary entertainer. It was daring too in showing Al as he was, a man hungry for applause who would sacrifice anything for that. Jolson is in great voice on the soundtrack singing a deluge of his hits. In short a film to remember.

 

Ruby Keeler Al's wife in the 30s wouldn't allow her name to be used in the film unless she was paid a hefty settlement even then she had to be called Julie Benson.

Songs included Let Me Sing And I'm Happy, Ma Blushin' Rosie, My Mammy, You Made Me Love You, Swanee, Toot Toot Tootsie, California Here I Come, April Showers, Rockabye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody

A sequel followed in 1949  : Jolson Sings Again which was very good too.