Jolson Story

Director: Alfred E. Green

Overview

"The 1946 musical biography The Jolson Story comes to DVD from Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment. Presented with a full-frame transfer in the original Technicolor. The Dolby Digital Mono soundtrack is in English. Subtitles are available in English and J

Product Details

Release Date:	12/21/2004
UPC:	0043396009011
Original Release:	1946
Rating:	NR
Source:	Sony Pictures
Region Code:	1
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono]
Language:	English
Time:	2:10:00
Sales rank:	22,736

Special Features

Closed Caption; Trailers

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Larry Parks	Al Jolson
Evelyn Keyes	Julie Benson
William Demarest	Steve Martin
Bill Goodwin	Tom Baron
Ludwig Donath	Cantor Yoelson
Tamara Shayne	Mrs. Yoelson
John Alexander	Lew Dockstader
Jo-Carroll Dennison	Ann Murray
Ernest Cossart	Father McGee
Scotty Beckett	Jolson as a Boy
William Forrest	Dick Glenn
Ann Todd	Ann Murray (younger),Ann as a Girl
Edwin Maxwell	Oscar Hammerstein
Emmett Vogan	Jonsey
Eddie Kane	Ziegfeld
Franklin Farnum	Man in Audience,Man in Audience
Jimmy Lloyd	Roy Anderson
Coulter Irwin	Young Priest
Adelle Roberts	Ingenue
Bob Stevens	Henry
Harry Shannon	Policeman Riley
Buddy Gorman	Call Boy
Charles Jordan	Asst. Stage Manager
Pierre Watkin	Architect
Lilian Bond	Woman,Woman
Al Jolson	Himself (Swanee sequence)
Eugene Borden	Headwaiter
Eddie Rio	MC
Will Wright	Sourpuss Movie Patron
Arthur Loft	Stage Manager
Edward Keane	Director
Eddie Fetherston	Assistant Stage Manager
Bill Brandt	Orchestra Leader
Pat Lane	Cameraman
Mike Lally	Lab Manager
George Magrill	Gaffer
Helen O'Hara	Dancer
Jessie Arnold	Wardrobe Woman
Donna Dax	Girl Publicist
Fred Sears	Cutter
Eric Wilton	Harry the Butler
Eddie Fetherstone	Asst. Stage Manager
Major Sam Harris	Nightclubber

Technical Credits

Sidney Skolsky

Producer

Scene Index

Side #1 --
1. Start ("Let Me Sing and I'm Happy") [:11]
2. Ave Maria [11:41]
3. When You Were Sweet Sixteen [3:27]
4. After the Ball [1:22]
5. By the Light of the Silvery Moon [:45]
6. Blue Ball [2:39]
7. Ma Blushin' Rosie [9:16]
8. I Want a Girl Just Like the Girl That Married Dear Old Dad [7:26]
9. My Mommy [11:53]
10. I'm Sitting on Top of the World [5:17]
11. You Made Me Love You [3:17]
12. Swanee [1:58]
13. Toot Toot Tootsie Goodbye [1:22]
14. The Spaniard Who Blighted [1:52]
15. April Showers [7:16]
16. California Here I Come [2:54]
17. Liza [8:36]
18. There's a Rainbow Round My Shoulder [4:28]
19. Medley [5:54]
20. About A Quarter to Nine [4:00]
21. The Anniversary Song [14:34]
22. Waiting for the The Robert E. Lee [4:51]
23. Rock-a-Bye Your Baby [7:06]
24. April Showers [1:46]

Menu

Side #1 --
Play Movie
Subtitles
English
Japanese
Subtitles Off
Scene Selections
Trailers
Lost Horizon
Pal Joey

Editorial Reviews

The Jolson Story is one of the most entertaining Hollywood biopics about an entertainer -- but why is it? Like almost every other biopic of the period (and, for that matter, of almost any period), Jolson plays fast and loose with the facts. Also like many other entertainer bios, the story itself is far from fresh. The dialogue and character development is a notch above average, but neither is as outstanding as should be deserved by a film of this reputation. What Jolson does have that accounts for its magic is a landmark lead performance, the actual, unmistakable voice of the real Jolson and an abundance of the songs that this legendary entertainer made famous. Larry Parks is right on the money as Jolson; it's a great impression, with all of the mannerisms and brashness captured perfectly, but it's also a beautifully nuanced piece of acting. As Jolson, Parks displays a power and a charisma that was never in evidence to the same degree in any of his other portrayals. Yes, he's lip syncing to the real thing when singing rather than using his own voice, but it doesn't matter; he becomes Jolson in a way that is frighteningly accurate. Jolson's singing also adds immeasurably to the film. His voice is as pugnacious, determined, excited, enthralling and demanding as he himself is. And the songs are a time capsule in themselves. Some of them are great, some are hokey, but they all grab the listener and hold onto him in a strange way. Jolson manages to overcome its flaws and to emerge as one of the finest biopics ever.