# The Jolson Story

The Jolson Story is a 1946 American biographical musical film, a highly fictionalized account of the life of singer Al Jolson. It stars Larry Parks as Jolson, Evelyn Keyes as Julie Benson (approximating Jolson's wife, Ruby Keeler), William Demarest as his performing partner and manager, Ludwig Donath and Tamara Shayne as his parents, and Scotty Beckett as the young Jolson. Some of the film's episodes are based on fact but the story is extremely simplified, with people disguised or combined into single characters.
The Columbia Pictures production was written by Sidney Buchman (uncredited), Harry Chandlee, Stephen Longstreet, and Andrew Solt. The dramatic scenes were directed by Alfred E. Green, with the musical sequences directed by Joseph H. Lewis.

## Plot

Stage-struck Asa Yoelson wants to sing in burlesque performer Steve Martin's act. Cantor Yoelson, his father, refuses to consider it. After Asa runs away but is found in Baltimore, the Yoelsons grudgingly consent. Martin eventually gives him billing, under a new name: Al Jolson. Soon afterwards, an entertainer named Tom Barron, who is in the same show as Martin and Jolson, passes out drunk, and Jolson goes on in his place. Jolson receives a job offer from minstrel-show master Lew Dockstader, who is in the audience, and Martin releases Jolson.
Al succeeds with the minstrel troupe and is invited to join a Broadway show (thanks to Martin, behind the scenes). Al becomes the leading player and takes the show on tour. Al hires his old mentor Martin, now unemployed, to be his manager. (In real life, Jolson never had a manager with this name. Jolson had three managers over the course of his career- Steve Martin is a composite of all three.)
Jolson's career prevents him spending much time at home. He had always bargained on marrying his childhood friend, Ann Murray, but she eventually accepts a proposal from Roy Anderson, another childhood friend.
Soon afterwards, Al meets up-and-coming dancer Julie Benson. It is love at first sight for Al, who proposes to her that night. (Al Jolson was actually married four times. The character Julie Benson is modeled on his third wife, Ruby Keeler.) Julie does not love him immediately, but Al refuses to take no for an answer, and she eventually agrees to consider it. After Al misses a show in order to attend the opening of Julie's first show, she realises his feelings for her are genuine and they marry. Al electrifies the show world with his first feature film, The Jazz Singer, and eagerly signs for more movies. His wife wants to quit show business and settle down, but Al persuades her to continue with her career. Julie becomes a movie star, but eventually can't stand any more of Al's nonstop, show-biz lifestyle. Al realizes that the only way to keep Julie is to quit show business.
Al refuses all job offers and absolutely will not sing, even for family and friends. Papa Yoelson persuades his son to join him in a song – the music he and Mama Yoelson danced to at their wedding – and Al gets caught up in it. They adjourn to a nightclub, where the audience demands a song. Al agrees to a single number but the crowd yells for more. Julie, seeing Al happier than he's been in years, leaves while he's performing. She walks out of the nightclub and out of his life, leaving Al to his first love: singing.

## Cast

* Larry Parks as Al Jolson
* Evelyn Keyes as Julie Benson
* William Demarest as Steve Martin
* Bill Goodwin as Tom Baron
* Ludwig Donath as Cantor Yoelson
* Scotty Beckett as Asa Yoelson/Al Jolson as a boy
* Tamara Shayne as Mrs. Yoelson
* Jo-Carroll Dennison as Ann Murray
* John Alexander as Lew Dockstader
* Edwin Maxwell as Oscar Hammerstein
* Ernest Cossart as Father McGee
* Harry Shannon as Officer Reilly
* Robert Mitchell Boys' Choir as the church choir (as Mitchell 'Boychoir')
* Rudy Wissler (soundtrack only) as singing voice for Scotty Beckett
* William Forrest as Dick Glenn, movie producer
* Eddie Kane as Florenz Ziegfeld
* Buddy Gorman as Jimmy, theater call boy
* Eric Wilton as Henry, the Jolsons' butler

## Plot accuracy

Much of the plot was fictionalized. There is no evidence that Jolson ever appeared as a child singer. His mother is shown as still alive at the end of the picture. In fact, she died in 1895, when he was 9 years old, and he was brought up by his sister. His brother Harry is eliminated as is much of his early career. Jolson actually had three managers, who were combined into the William Demarest character "Steve Martin". Ruby Keeler, Jolson's third wife, refused to allow her name to be used, so the writers used an alias, "Julie Benson".

## Production

Larry Parks' vocals were recorded by Al Jolson; Scotty Beckett's songs were recorded by Rudy Wissler. Al Jolson, determined to appear on screen somehow, persuaded the producer to film him instead of Larry Parks for the blackface "Swanee" number. Jolson is seen entirely in long shot; he performs on a theater runway, recreating his famous fluttering dance step.
Filming was already under way as a black-and-white feature when studio chief Harry Cohn, encouraged by the scenes already filmed, decided to start the project all over as a Technicolor production. Cohn was impressed by director Joseph H. Lewis's handling of the musical numbers in the 1944 PRC feature Minstrel Man, and hired Lewis to stage the musical sequences for the Jolson project.
Jolson had a 50% share of the profits.

## Reception

The film was a tremendous financial success, and won Academy Awards for Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture (Morris Stoloff), and Best Sound Recording (John Livadary). It was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Larry Parks), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (William Demarest), Best Cinematography, Color (Joseph Walker) and Best Film Editing (William A. Lyon). The film was also entered into the 1947 Cannes Film Festival.
On Rotten Tomatoes, The Jolson Story has a rating of 100% based on 5 reviews.
Larry Parks became a full-fledged star in major productions, until his career was derailed by blacklisting after he admitted to having been a member of the Communist Party before the House Unamerican Activities Committee in 1951. His sudden rise to prominence was considered an "overnight success," though he had been featured in Columbia's low-budget features for five years. Parks continued playing character leads, but was most associated with his interpretation of Jolson. Columbia cast him in a successful sequel, Jolson Sings Again (1949).
The film is recognized by the American Film Institute in these lists:
* 2006: AFI's Greatest Movie Musicals – Nominated

## Radio adaptation

Lux Radio Theatre presented The Jolson Story on February 16, 1948. Jolson starred as himself in the one-hour adaptation. Jolson also starred in a Lux adaptation of his first feature The Jazz Singer, supported by Jolson Story actors Ludwig Donath and Tamara Shayne.

## Quotations

* "I heard some music tonight. Something they call 'jazz.' The fellows just make it up as they go along. They pick it out of the air." (Jolson to Dockstader)
* "[I'm] trying to make songs out of music I picked up. Music nobody ever heard of before, but the only kind I want to sing." (Jolson, explaining what he's been doing)
* "That's an audience that never saw a live show. People in small towns who can afford a movie, where they can't afford anything else. Audience of millions. I'd be singing to every one of them at the same time. That's really something!" (Jolson, discussing the new talking picture)
* "Tonight, folks, I'm only going to sing two thousand songs. One to a customer." (Jolson)
* "Broadway? What a street! You know something, baby? It belongs to me. You know something else? If you want it, I'll give it to you." (Jolson)