NekoHomey Purely Joyful Movie!

Lollivan It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Kien Navarro Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Michelle Ridley The movie is wonderful and true, an act of love in all its contradictions and complexity

OneView Columbia had scored a significant financial and critical success with The Jolson Story in 1946 featuring actor Larry Parks miming successfully to Al Jolson's singing voice, the ageing entertainer re-recording all his great hits for the film. Then as now thoughts of a sequel were forthcoming but the story of Jolson's career had essentially been told in its entirety. This can be seen in the struggle the screenwriters had in creating a compelling narrative for the second film. The key plot points are fairly anaemic, including the end of one marriage, the gestation of another, a temporary retirement for Jolson and his re-discovery entertaining the troops in World War II. The final third of the film, in almost an act of desperation, is given over to the production of The Jolson Story, resulting in Larry Parks playing Jolson opposite Larry Parks playing himself. This includes one sequence where Parks playing Jolson stands on set urging Parks playing Parks who is in fact playing Jolson to successfully mime to the real Jolson's singing. Possibly the word meta was invented to describe just this kind of scenario.The lack of plot means that the audience is left mostly idling between musical numbers. The actors try hard; Parks in particular is very personable and captures some of the sheer stage presence and energy of the real Jolson. Barbara Hale has a thankless role as Jolson's new wife, mostly sitting admiring the prolonged performance scenes. Ludwig Donath is precise as Jolson's cantor father with concern for his son echoing through every scene even when he is conveying anger. Despite the presence of Technicolor the production looks a little cheap with a lot of fairly basic sets - the cinema foyer looks like a re-dress of something used in another film and the Alaskan army hut is two walls and a backdrop. Many scenes are conveyed through newspaper and other montages and there is never really much conviction to Jolson's international travels.The music is the main drawcard here and the real Jolson provides committed and passionate singing throughout. It is a pity that the surrounding fabric of the film could not better support his work

edwagreen Wonderful sequel to the 1946 film. Larry Parks, William Demarest and several others repeated their parts from the original.The film picks up exactly where the original had ended. Disgusted with his life, Jolson (Parks) walks out on his show business career and for several years travels, dabbles with horses and lives a real care-free life.With the death of his mother, (Tamara Shayne-who really doesn't look or act too Jewish at all), Jolson embarks on a tour for services until illness ends that.There is a nice performance by Barbara Hale (the future Della Street) as the southern nurse that he marries. Hale has just the right Arkansas twang in her speech to carry it off.When illness follows him, Jolson withdraws from entertaining fearing that his lung operation has affected his voice. He also feels that no one is really interested in him anymore. Unfortunately, the latter is true.It is only when his life story is made into a motion picture that he makes a genuine come back.Parks is absolutely amazing as Jolson. Though Al sang, Parks does a brilliant job of dubbing. His mannerisms are so easily identified as those of Al Jolson.Ludwig Donath plays Jolson's cantor father. O my, a cantor eating in a non-kosher restaurant. What were the Hollywood writers thinking?Just hearing Jolson belt out his usual great tunes is great in itself. Entertaining and wonderful to view.

toonnnnn This takes the Jolson story that stage further, it shows him slide into a rut of self pity, then when realising he has something to live for he fights back in his own way.Jolson was one of the first entertainers to travel and give troops a show.The energy of the man comes through , he was no saint and i bet at times he was very difficult but the talent shines through.The film fetches back a lot of characters from the first movie, and lets be honest if your a fan you will love this.Barbara Hale is excellent as the love interest and its an inspiring movie all round.There's a clever sequence when filming the Jolson story which has Larry Parks as himself and the star.Watch and enjoy.I also hope a new film about Jolson will be made in the near future.

willrams The sequel to The Jolson Story with Larry Parks playing himself and meeting Al Jolson for the first time to do this film. Jolson also appears in a long shot of a ramp scene singing Swanee River, but most people didn't know this until years later. The story begins with a Hollywood producer wanting to do the story, and takes up where Jolson's first wife gets a divorce. The movie of his life is a big winner! Later, during WW II, Jolson goes overseas to entertain troops, catches malaria, and while in a hospital falls in love with his nurse; a kind and patient beautiful nurse, played by Barbara Hale. William Demarest plays Jolson's manager and press agent. Ludwig Donath plays cantor again, and momma is played by Tamara Shayne, who lend much humor to the story. Perfect for those who loved Jolson and his music! This production won 3 Oscar nominations for writing, cinematography and musical scoring. I give it 10/10