A musical biopic of Al Jolson which stars Larry Parks. Parks got an Oscar nomination as did William Demarest who plays Jolson's mentor. Parks is excellent as Jolson. He has a real sense of enthusiasm and his eyes are expressive. You can see why he became a legendary entertainer. Jolson was the star of The Jazz Singer, the first "talkie." The black face is disturbing, but it was a popular form of entertainment. You hear Jolson's singing of hits like Mammy.
One of the main selling points of the movie is not only Parks performance but the all of the scenes that led to Jolson becoming an entertainer. You see scenes from his youth and his family life. The actor who portrays the young Jolson is very good.
I Saw The Original Movie in 1946
What makes this movie so notable is the artful acting of Larry Parks, who made a decent living at portraying the great singers and musicians of the 20's and 30's. But it would have been just a notable movie without the actual voice of the great Al Jolson doing the singing to Park's masterful lip-movements. With that ingredient added, the movie is great! My personal favorite songs of the movie, and it's difficult to choose only two, were the "Anniversary Song" and "Sweet Sixteen". These had to be two of Jolson's greatest renditions of the romantic ballad form. Both songs were in the movie and became instant hit songs on radio stations around the country. In addition to his great singing, Jolson's whistling, an art form in itself, is introduced in the movie as a 'save the show' stop-gap when his teen-age tenor voice gives out in mid-tune and he quickly introduces the whistle as though it was part of the score. It became his signature and a few other singers of the 30's - 40's tried various forms of whistling, Der Bingle (Bing Crosby), for one but none, in my opinion, had the volume and range of Jolson.
There was, however, one drawback to the movie which would make it, at the least, a 'concern' today . The movie version shows scenes of Jolson performing in 'blackface', which was in fact a significant part of his stage repertoire, and, in 1946, was not considered "politically incorrect". It's unfortunate that Jolson's 'minstrel show' format was included in the movie but in 1946 we, America, still had a long way to go vis-a-vis sensitivity to such portrayals. I have heard that some of the re-releases via VHS tape edited those portions out but I have not viewed any of these.
If one simply concentrates on the story and the music, and if one really enjoys the vaudeville genre of the 20's and 30's, then this movie is for you. Oh, by the way, be prepared to see Al portrayed as less than sensitive to his wife's and their marriage's need for privacy and his withdrawal from the limelight.
"Hard To Repeat On This One"
Growing up in Canada this DVD, The Jolson Story and Jolson Sings Again were always a favorite of mine. When I was young both these films played every New Year's Eve on television, but this stopped about 30 years ago. Film classics even in their own time, these DVD's do justice to the way they used to make them.
Even if you are not entertained by all the Hollywood make believe in these films, you will be introduced to one of the greatest voices of the last century. "Boy" could Al Jolson ever belt them out, considering he performed live most of the time without the support of a microphone. In our times the only other entertainer to reach such vocal highs would have been Roy Orbison.
So if you want an eveing of pure entertainment with out sex or violence, I recommend you purchase both The Jolson Story and Jolson Sings Again and brace yourself for a splendid time.
James Cagney thrills in a rare (and limber) song-and-dance performance as composer-entertainer George M. Cohan. This nostalgic biography is told in flashbacks, covering Cohan's formative years becoming Broadway's brightest star and touching upon his loves, musicals, and artistic triumphs. Director Michael Curtiz (The Adventures of Robin Hood) offers Cagney ample opportunities to invent an utterly charming performance in what is practically a one-man show. If you've never seen Cagney as a hoofer, you're in for a treat: his dancing is as dynamic as anything else he's ever done on screen. --Tom KeoghMore Info about this DVD Actor(s): James Cagney - Joan Leslie - Walter Huston Director(s): Michael Curtiz DVD Release Date: Released the 30 September 2003 Usually ships in 24 hours
List Price: $26.99 Your Price: $21.59YOU SAVE $5.4!
Buy it
Al Jolson says, "You ain't seen nothin' yet," but this isn't The Jazz Singer. Jolson found one of his better movie roles in Hallelujah, I'm a Bum!, a curious 1933 artifact of the early-sound, pre-Code era, a movie replete with music, political comment, and occasionally risqué humor. Jolie plays "the mayor of Central Park," a happy hobo who cleans up after he meets an amnesiac beauty. Alas, the workaday world isn't what it's cracked up to be, as his leisure-minded pals knew all along. Although never quite clicking into classic status, the movie is borne aloft on the Rodgers and Hart score (which includes "You Are Too Beautiful" and much rhyming dialogue) and director Lewis Milestone's fluid tracking shots of hoboes marching and singing through Central Park. That's Harry... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Al Jolson - Madge Evans - Frank Morgan Director(s): Lewis Milestone DVD Release Date: Released the 05 February 2002 Usually ships within 24 hours
List Price: $14.95 Your Price: $13.46YOU SAVE $1.49!
Buy it
James Stewart, at his warmest and most avuncular, plays the bandleader who rocketed to fame during the swing era. The Glenn Miller Story may be a whitewashed version of Miller's life, but it certainly is a pleasant example of the feel-good Hollywood biopic, with the usual conventions: early struggles, loyal wife (June Allyson at her chirpiest), personal sacrifice--Miller joins the Army when war breaks out, although he doesn't have to--and ultimate tragedy. All the Glenn Miller classics filling the soundtrack make the film pretty easy to take, too: "Moonlight Serenade," "A String of Pearls," "Chattanooga Choo-Choo." Miller plays the great "In the Mood" with his military band during a World War II air-raid warning. Pure corn, but it works. Director Anthony Mann, better known for his... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): James Stewart - June Allyson Director(s): Anthony Mann DVD Release Date: Released the 04 March 2003 Usually ships in 24 hours
List Price: $9.99 Your Price: $9.99YOU SAVE $0!
Buy it
