Jolson Sings Again

Jolson Sings Again (1949)

The rest of the Jolson story

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".

Date of release
1949-08-17
TMDB
6.4 / 10 (11)
Runtime
1h 36m
Genres
Drama, Music
Director
Henry Levin

Casting

Interesting facts

  • Awards: 0 · Nominations: 3

Jolson Sings Again is a 1949 American musical biographical film directed by Henry Levin. It is the sequel to The Jolson Story (1946), and both films cover the life of singer Al Jolson. It was the highest-grossing film of 1949 and received three Oscar nominations at the 22nd Academy Awards.

Production

The huge commercial success of The Jolson Story prompted a sequel, announced in 1947. At one point it seemed the film might be made at MGM rather than Columbia, due to conflicts between Jolson and Columbia's head of production Harry Cohn. Edwin Knopf was announced as producer and Gene Kelly was mentioned as a possible Jolson.

Jolson recorded 40 songs for the movie, twice more than were needed, as Columbia wanted to possibly make a third film. At one point Eddie Buzzell was going to direct; eventually the job went to Henry Levin. The film had a smaller budget than the original and a reduced shooting time - 36 days as opposed to 100.

Larry Parks was having contractual problems with Columbia, and there were doubts that he would reprise his portrayal of Jolson. Jolson himself made a screen test, hoping to play the lead. George Jessel recommended Mark Stevens. However, Parks agreed to play the lead, and filming started on November 11, 1948.

Parks, already impressive in The Jolson Story, improved on his dramatic interpretation of Al Jolson: "I had one particular problem. Jolson had pre-recorded all the songs before the script was ready, and he sang every one as if he were going to drop dead at the end of it. Well, that was Jolson. He always sang like that, which was why people loved him. But it was difficult from an actor's point of view.

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