Jolson Sings Again (1949)

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Jolson Sings Again was a film that was almost demanded to be made by the general public. The Jolson Story had generated a comeback for Al Jolson and he was in the word of one of his hit songs, 'sitting on top of the world' in 1949.He was going on all cylinders in 1949. Jolie hadn't commercially recorded since 1932. He had done a record of Swanee and April Showers in 1945 that went nowhere. But with the success of The Jolson Story, Decca signed him to a long term deal and he was prolifically recording all his old songs and new contemporary material besides. You should hear his Some Enchanted Evening from South Pacific, but not in Jolson Sings Again unfortunately. Jolson had also replaced Bing Crosby after a couple of interim hosts as star of radio's Kraft Music Hall as Crosby changed sponsors first from Philco Radio to Chesterfield. They guested on each other's programs and those shows are priceless. In fact Bing is mentioned in Jolson Sings Again, but Harry Cohn couldn't get Paramount to part with him for an appearance.Larry Parks continues his lipsynching to over a dozen Jolson standards and returning from the first film with him are William Demarest, Bill Goodwin, Ludwig Donath, and Tamara Shayne. And this one in bringing Jolson's life up to date stuck closer to the facts than The Jolson Story.Barbara Hale plays Jolson's fourth wife Erle Galbraith renamed Ellen Clark for the film. I guess Harry Cohn figured he had to since he'd renamed Ruby Keeler, Julie Benson in the first film. It is true she was an army nurse and she met Jolie as a patient there when he collapsed on a USO tour during World War II.If you liked the first film and Al Jolson in general, no reason you won't like this one.

As sequels go this is probably as good as any and it's notable for the novel way they got around the lack of new material; they devoted the second half of the sequel to the MAKING of the original, The Jolson Story. Quite a trick. Against the odds The Jolson Story, released in 1946, cleaned up at a Box Office well into post-war hysteria where a movie that was set mostly BEFORE either The Great Depression or World War II provided a nostalgic look at a more innocent world. Naturally the Accountants running the movie business smelled 'sequel' but what to add? Simple; after a quick once-over-lightly of Jolie's enforced retirement - nobody wanted him - from showbiz and his WWII tours of Army bases have a movie Producer show up and pitch a movie based on Jolie's life/career (it had worked with George M Cohan in 1942) so it was worth a try. This sets the scene for one of the most fictitious things in the movie as Jolie - who in real life would have PAID top dollar to ANY studio in Hollywood to promote him - comes all over modest and queries who would want to see a has-been. He is, of course, over ridden and the movie goes ahead and what's more we, the audience watching the sequel get to SEE the original being made. Among the goofs perhaps the most glaring occurs with Jolie at home (before the Hollywood Producer turns up) listening to the radio, circa 1945/6, and speaking of the song that is playing (Harry Warren's I Only Have Eyes For You) as 'new'. Maybe someone should have told Jolie that the song was written for the 1934 Warner movie 'Dames' starring Dick Powell, Joan Blondell and - wait for it - Ruby Keeler, then very much Mrs Al Jolson. By definition a shorter film than the original this one is fairly painless and Jolie fans will love it.

Continuing where 'The Jolson Story' left off, this sequel explores a less exciting part of Al Jolson's life, however it is saved from dullness by a great gimmick in the final 25 minutes: depicting the making of 'The Jolson Story', which includes Jolson meeting Larry Parks. It is certainly inferior to the first film, but yet still entertaining whenever Parks performs one of Jolson's tunes…the songs are still great. Although he does not look or sound old enough, Parks still gives it his best too. The film definitely resurrects good memories of the original, without a strong yearning to see something better, which is a good thing. The characters, the acting, the originality, in fact, just about everything was better in 'The Jolson Story', however, even if not quite as involving or as well made, this still passes the test for an adequately amusing piece.

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