Jolson Sings Again (1949)

In this sequel to The Jolson Story, we pick up the singer's career just as he has returned to the stage after a premature retirement. But his wife has left him and the appeal of the ... See full summary »

Director:

Henry Levin

Writer:

Sidney Buchman

Stars:

Larry Parks, Barbara Hale, William Demarest

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Larry Parks	...	Al Jolson / Larry Parks
Barbara Hale	...	Ellen Clark
William Demarest	...	Steve Martin
Ludwig Donath	...	Cantor Yoelson
Bill Goodwin	...	Tom Baron
Myron McCormick	...	Ralph Bryant
Tamara Shayne	...	Moma Yoelson
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ray Carnay	...	Cantor Yoelson (singing voice)

Storyline

In this sequel to The Jolson Story, we pick up the singer's career just as he has returned to the stage after a premature retirement. But his wife has left him and the appeal of the spotlight isn't what it used to be. This time Jolson trades in the stage for life in the fast lane: women, horses, travel. It takes the death of Moma Yoelson and World War II to bring Jolson back to earth - and to the stage. Once again teamed with manager Steve Martin, Jolson travels the world entertaining troops everywhere from Alaska to Africa. When he finally collapses from exhaustion it takes young, pretty nurse Ellen Clark to show him there's more to life than "just rushing around".

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Plot Keywords:

singer | travel | troops | nurse | manager | 

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Genres:

Biography | Music

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Details

Official Sites:

Jolson site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 August 1949 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Eterna Canção

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sidney Buchman Enterprises, Columbia Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

"Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a 60-minute radio adaptation of the movie on May 22, 1950, with Barbara Hale and William Demarest reprising their film roles. Al Jolson, who provides the singing for Larry Parks in the film, plays himself.

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Goofs

The headline "Forced By Weather To Cut Radio Programs" appears first next to a story about Al Jolson going overseas to entertain the troops and then again, several years later, next to an article about Jolson's successful return to show business.

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Quotes

Ellen Clark: [leaving room] My! We'll soon be smart as pigs!

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Connections

Referenced in The Fisher King (1991)

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Soundtracks

Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody
(uncredited)
Music by Jean Schwartz
Lyrics by Sam Lewis and Joe Young
Played during the opening credits
Performed by Larry Parks (dubbed by Al Jolson)

User Reviews

Jolson Sings Again-He Could Go on Singing ****

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.