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"The Jolson Story"
(1946)
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Excerpt
from
"Hollywood and the Stars:
The Immortal Jolson"
1963
Narrator: Joseph Cotten
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Larry Parks as Al Jolson in
"The Al Jolson Story" |
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In 1946, Columbia pictures
released "The Jolson Story," a highly fictionalized musical
biography of Al Jolson. The film starred Larry Parks as Al
Jolson, Evelyn Keyes as Julie Benson (based on Jolson's third
wife Ruby Keeler), William Demarest (who played his manager),
Ludwig Donath and Tamara Shayne (who played Jolson's parents),
and Scotty Beckett, who played the young Jolson (though
Beckett did not actually sing in the film, nor did he do young
Jolson's whistling.)
"The Jolson Story" was highly successful and did much to
revive Jolson's career which had been sagging during the years
previous to the film's release. The film won numerous Academy
Awards, i.e. for Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture, and
Best Sound Recording. Larry Parks was nominated for Best Actor
in a Leading Role, and William Demarest was nominated for Best
Actor in a Supporting Role. The film was also nominated for
Best Cinematography, Color and Film Editing. The great success
of "The Jolson Story" spawned a sequel "Jolson Sings Again"
just three years later--also successful, but not as much as
the first film.
"The Jolson Story" introduced the talents of Al Jolson to a
new generation. 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.
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Middle top:
Jolson and Parks on set of "The Jolson Story";
Middle bottom: Jolson and Evelyn Keyes,
who played
his wife Julie in the movie (based on Ruby Keeler) |
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The screenplay for this film
was mostly fictional, though it did contain certain elements
of truth. He first started in show business by singing
from the balcony. His name was really Asa Yoelson. Some
characters, however, were created from a composite of characters from
Jolson's real life, e.g. his manager. In the film he has
parents he refers to as "Papa" and "Mamma" Yoelson. In the
film, however, his mother lives a long life; in reality, Al's
mother died when he was only eight years old.
A sequel to "The Jolson
Story" was produced in 1949 (named "Jolson Sings Again!"), also
starring Larry Parks, that covered the period of Jolson's life
between 1939 and 1948.
The films imply that Jolson
had only two wives although he actually had four. His last two
wives were Ruby Keeler and Erle Galbraith, though
their real names weren't used in the film. Keeler, having been divorced
from Jolson for more than six years, did not even want her name
associated with the picture. At the time "The Jolson Story"
was released, Jolson was happily married to his fourth wife,
Erle, since March 1945. |
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With performer Tom
Baron soused and blacked out in his dressing room, young Jolson decides to take his place, for
the first time singing in blackface. Hammerstein and Docksteder are seated
nearby.
Jolson sings out: "Rosie, you are my posie...you are my
heart's bouquet....Come out...here in the moonlight....there's
something, sweet love, I want to say....,Your honey boy am
waiting...those ruby lips to greet....don't be so
aggravating....my blushing Rosie, my posie sweet...."
From
this impressive performance, Jolson is offered work with Docksteder's Minstrel. Hammerstein thinks this is Baron and
signs Baron up for his own show.
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Jolson returns home to
his parents' home after having left the Docksteder's
Minstrels. He receives a telephone call from Tom Baron who,
having performed quite unimpressively for Hammerstein, was put in
charge of the new Winter Garden Theatre in New York City.
Unbeknownst to Jolson, Jolson's former manager has Tom call
Jolson to offer him a job:
Baron says to Al, "We open in three weeks (at the Winter
Garden Theatre), and there's a spot in the show for you
if you want it." Jolson replies, "Do I want it?? Winter
Garden...Yeah, yeah....I heard you, Tom...It's just a part,
but Broadway!" " I'll be on the train in an hour!!" Jolson
says his quick goodbyes, and is off to New York City... |
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"Show's running too long. It's
almost eleven now. Who's on next?" asks the stage manager. "Jolson." "We'll cut Jolson out
and jump to the finish."
Jolson says, "Hey, wait a minute!" The
stage manager says "Call the orchestra leader. Tell him we're
cutting out the Jolson number."
Jolson is adamant. "Look, I want to
go on...Where's Baron? Ask Tom Baron?"
The manager says, "Baron isn't
running this end of it, I am. "Jolson nevertheless runs onto the stage. The stage
manager yells out to him, "Hold it! You're not on!" Jolson says,
"That's what you think!" |
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"Well,
I see a rival producer sitting out front. Ziggy, will you
stand up and take a bow? Try and stop him! Folks, not to
much...Say Ziggy, who's that pretty gal with you?" Ziegfield
announces, "This is Julie Benson, the star of my next
production, 'Showgirl.'"(applause)" Mr. Ziegfield, you will
please not advertise on my time." (laughs) Jolson: "Glad to
know you, Miss Benson..."
Jolson asks the crowd at the theatre what song would they like
him to sing. Shouts from the audience: "Swanee! Rock-a-Bye!"
Jolson: "Wait a second! Hold it! I want to know what Miss
Benson would like to hear. Miss Benson, what is your
pleasure?" Julie: "April Showers..." (applause)
He comes out to from the stage onto the runway and sits next to Julie:
"Though April Showers may come your way..." Jolson to Julie,
smiling, "Just for you....just for you..."
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Jolson, on one
knee, sings to an adoring crowd. |
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Jolson and wife
Ruby Keeler performed together in only one production--the 1935 film
"Go Into Your Dance."
Here is the Larry Parks-Evelyn Keyes version. |
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Often after his
performances, Jolson would have friends come up to his
apartment until the wee hours. While there, he would often
perform for them. During one of these post-performance
parties he sings "Cantor on the Sabbath" (in Yiddish.)
This scene was cut out of the final version of the film,
as it was considered to be "too ethnic."
Jolson's song "Sonny Boy" was originally supposed to be
included in "The Jolson Story," but this too was also excluded in
the version released to the public. |
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Here Jolson's parents visit
the house of Al and wife and are dining out on the patio. The
group toasts his parents , as this is their wedding
anniversary. They ask Al to sing a song, but he needs
convincing. The sense is that, though he states that he is
now retired from show business, he still misses performing before a live
audience. He wants them to know that he doesn't miss it and plans
to stay retired. He finally consents to serenade his
parents and sings the "The Anniversary
Song." |
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