The Jolson Story

1946

2h 8m

IMDb RATING

6.6/10

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At the turn of the 20th century, young Asa Yoelson decides to go against the wishes of his cantor father and pursue a career in show business. Gradually working his way up through the vaudeville ranks, Asa — now calling himself Al Jolson — joins a blackface minstrel troupe and soon builds a reputation as a consummate performer. But as his career grows in size, so does his ego, resulting in battles in business as well as in his personal life.

Directors

Alfred E. Green

Writers

Harry Chandlee(adaptation by)

Andrew Solt(adaptation by)

Stephen Longstreet(screenplay by)

Stars

Larry Parks

Evelyn Keyes

William Demarest

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Top cast

Al Jolson

Julie Benson

Steve Martin

Tom Baron

Cantor Yoelson

Asa Yoelson

Mrs. Yoelson

Ann Murray

Lew Dockstader

Father McGee

Woman (uncredited)

Audience Member (uncredited)

Franklyn Farnum

Man in Audience (uncredited)

Bess Flowers

Woman in Audience…

Sam Harris

Nightclub Patron (uncredited)

Edwin Maxwell

Oscar Hammerstein (uncredited)

Frank McLure

Party Guest (uncredited)

Harold Miller

Night Club Patron (uncredited)

Directors

Alfred E. Green

Writers

Harry Chandlee(adaptation by)

Andrew Solt(adaptation by)

Stephen Longstreet(screenplay by)

All cast & crew

Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Featured review

6/10

I can’t say I knew much about Al Jolson aside from his “Mammy”, and I’m not sure I really know that much more now. Larry Parks does, however, deliver quite engagingly as the young Jewish lad who was spotted by “Steve” (William Demarest) and in spite of strong objection from his father (Ludwig Donath) takes to the boards. He is a talented lad, no doubt about that, and so is quickly offered bigger and better parts that challenge his loyalties and priorities whilst offering him all the trappings of stardom. When he encounters aspiring Ziegfeld gal “Julie” (Evelyn Keyes), she brings an whole new dimension to their lives as she hopes to enjoy success in a slightly different fashion that will mean retirement to a new house in the country. The question for Jolson, though, is whether he can be satisfied with this more sedentary existence or whether the smell of the greasepaint and the roar of the crowd will prove too much for him to resist. It’s all perfectly watchable fayre in the vein of so many of these 1940s biopics that selectively and creatively re-write history but with a solid musical score underpinning a story of it’s time, it is still watchable enough as an illustration of just what did entertain folks desperate for diversion after years of WWII austerity. It’s also quite interesting that much is made of the “Blackface” characterisation here and yet so many of his own contemporary African Americans acknowledge that this very activity, considered racist nowadays, actually served to help acclimatise a considerable number of the not so tolerant American citizenry to the idea that black people were every bit as equal and talented as their fairer skinned compatriots. Moreover, many are ready to certify that Jolson didn’t have a racist bone in his body. Could this be an early conduit for more enlightened thinking?

Geronimo196705 Jun, 2025