Jolson Sings Again (1949)

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

An oddly curious movie. "Jolson Sings Again" is the sequel to "The Jolson Story" (which I have not seen). Both of which star Larry Parks as Jolson) It doesn't matter if you've not seen the first, as the first part of Jolson's life is briefly touched upon, where this movie mainly concentrates on, yes, his later life. Here, he wonders how much his star has faded, and an old agent encourages him to go on USO tours around the world. Unfortunately, it's a bit too much for Al. and he winds up in the hospital. Fortunately for him, he meets a beautiful nurse and marries her. All the while, he wonders what's next for him, as some people in Hollywood have kicked him to the curb. Fortunately, a lucky booking at a benefit re-connects him to the guy who booked the USO tour, he's now a film producer, and he wants to produce... The Al Jolson Story! and here's the guy to play you.... Larry Parks! So yes, we get the ultra- amazing side screen effect of Larry Parks-As-Jolson meeting Younger- Larry-Parks! (Yes, Parks plays Parks). I don't think I've ever seen this technique used before in a biography. It's very startling. Anyways, Jolson gets a second life after the movie with a radio show, and that's when the show ends. There were little teasers towards the end that led me to beloeve they were setting up for a third one, but obviously that didn't happen. I dunno, you may have to REALLY love Jolson to like this (I myself, run hot and cold on him) and it's somewhat super glossy, but entertaining nevertheless.

This is the follow-up movie to The Jolson Story. It brings Al Jolson back into the public eye again. The movie may not be the true story of Al Jolson's life, but it is so enjoyable that you will forget this once Jolson starts to sing. Larry Parks is very believable as the great singer and the moment where Jolson meets Larry Parks in the movie, is special. Larry does a wonderful job and he really does seem to sing himself, he certainly does not appear to be just miming the words. Ludwig Donath as his father and William Demarest as his manager and Barbara Hale as his wife, all combine to support Larry Parks in this very enjoyable musical of a great singer.

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.