The Jolson Story is a 1946 American biographical musical film, a fictionalized account of the life of singer Al Jolson. It stars Larry Parks as Jolson, Evelyn Keyes as Julie Benson (approximating Jolson's wife, Ruby Keeler), William Demarest as his manager, Ludwig Donath and Tamara Shayne as his parents, and Scotty Beckett as the young Jolson. Many of the film's episodes are based on fact but the story is simplified, with some people disguised or combined into single characters.
The Columbia Pictures production was written by Sidney Buchman (uncredited), Harry Chandlee, Stephen Longstreet, and Andrew Solt. The dramatic scenes were directed by Alfred E. Green, with the musical sequences directed by Joseph H. Lewis.
Plot
Stage-struck Asa Yoelson wants to sing in burlesque performer Steve Martin's act. Cantor Yoelson, his father, refuses to consider it. After Asa runs away but is found in Baltimore, the Yoelsons grudgingly consent. Martin gives him billing, under a new name: Al Jolson. Jolson receives a job offer from minstrel-show master Lew Dockstader, and Martin releases Jolson.
Al succeeds with the minstrel troupe and is invited to join a Broadway show (thanks to Martin, behind the scenes). Al becomes the leading player and takes the show on tour. Al hires his old mentor Martin, now unemployed, to be his manager. In real life, Jolson never had a manager with this name. Jolson had three managers over the course of his career- Steve Martin is a composite of all three.
Jolson's career prevents him spending much time at home. He had always bargained on marrying his childhood friend, Ann Murray, but she eventually accepts a proposal from another childhood friend.
Soon afterwards, Al meets up-and-coming dancer Julie Benson. It is love at first sight for Al, who proposes to her that night. (Al Jolson was actually married four times. The character Julie Benson is modeled on his third wife, Ruby Keeler.) Julie does not love him immediately, but Al refuses to take no for an answer, and she eventually agrees to consider it. After Al misses a show in order to attend the opening of Julie's first show, she realises his feelings for her are genuine and they marry. Al electrifies the show world with his first feature film, The Jazz Singer, and eagerly signs for more movies. His wife wants to quit show business and settle down, but Al persuades her to continue with her career. Julie becomes a movie star, but eventually can't stand any more of Al's nonstop, show-biz lifestyle. Al realizes that the only way to keep Julie is to quit show business.
Al refuses all job offers and absolutely will not sing, even for family and friends. Papa Yoelson persuades his son to join him in a songthe music he and Mama Yoelson danced to at their weddingand Al gets caught up in it. They adjourn to a nightclub, where the audience demands a song. Al agrees to a single number but the crowd yells for more. Julie, seeing Al happier than he's been in years, leaves while he's performing. She walks out of the nightclub and out of his life, leaving Al to his first love: singing.
Cast
Larry Parks as Al Jolson
Evelyn Keyes as Julie Benson
William Demarest as Steve Martin
Bill Goodwin as Tom Baron
Ludwig Donath as Cantor Yoelson
Scotty Beckett as Asa Yoelson/Al Jolson as a boy
Tamara Shayne as Mrs. Yoelson
Jo-Carroll Dennison as Ann Murray
John Alexander as Lew Dockstader
Edwin Maxwell as Oscar Hammerstein
Ernest Cossart as Father McGee
Harry Shannon as Officer Reilly
Robert Mitchell Boys' Choir as the church choir (as Mitchell 'Boychoir') Rudy Wissler (soundtrack only) as singing voice for Scotty Beckett William Forrest as Dick Glenn, movie producer Eddie Kane as Florenz Ziegfeld Buddy Gorman as Jimmy, theater call boy Eric Wilton as Henry, the Jolsons' butler
Plot accuracy
Some of the plot details were fictionalized. There is no evidence that Jolson ever appeared as a child singer, and he was brought up by his sister, not his mother (who had died). Jolson actually had three managers, who were combined into the William Demarest character "Steve Martin". Ruby Keeler refused to allow her name to be used, so the writers used an alias, "Julie Benson".
Production
Larry Parks' vocals were recorded by Al Jolson; Scotty Beckett's songs were recorded by Rudy Wissler. Al Jolson, determined to appear on screen somehow, persuaded the producer to film him instead of Larry Parks for the blackface "Swanee" number. Jolson is seen entirely in long shot; he performs on a theater runway.