The Jolson Story
- Larry Parks: Al Jolson
- Evelyn Keyes: Julie Benson
- William Demarest: Steve Martin
- Bill Goodwin: Tom Baron
- Ludwig Donath: Father Yolson
- Scotty Beckett: Al as a boy
- John Alexander: Doxteter
The Jazz Singer is an American film biography of the director Alfred E. Green from the year 1946. The film told in a biographical nature of the life of Jewish- American jazz singer Al Jolson ( 1886-1950 ). Germany premiere was on 7 June 1957.
Action
In his stage show, the entertainer Steve Martin asks the audience to sing along to a song. But only one of the audience sings along, a boy named Asa Yolson. Martin is enthusiastic about Asa's voice and tried to get him in his show. Asa is a Jew and should be in the synagogue. Martin's visit to the rabbi does not help the rabbi prohibits Asa show a commitment.
The boy runs away to Baltimore. In a home helps him a priest, Steve Martin to find. The get in touch with Asa's parents. The parents agree to them after Asa had said he would continue to tear out if he could not sing. After a few ideas, it comes to creative differences between Asa and Steve. As Asa comes to voice broke, he wants to give up, but Steve convinced him that the new pitch would work. Asa lets himself be convinced and takes the stage name Al Jolson on.
When Al a drunken colleague, Tom Baron represents, who are entrepreneurs Hammerstein and Doxteter pay attention to Al. Doxteter hired him for his stage play. First, Al is happy about it, but after a while he gets bored about to give only the same song again and again for the best. Doxteter tried variations, but Al is not satisfied. One evening Al missed his appearance, when he hears a jazz idea, the music that he loves. Doxteter fires him.
Tom Baron invites him on his show to sing his own songs. Al sings with Tom his best-known hit: Mammy. With time, getting better as appearances. He experimented with light effects and stage sets. Al takes his show on tour. There he meets the dancer Julie Benson know. For Al, it is love at first sight. After the tour marry the two. But Julie wants as opposed to Al to get out of show business.
When they want to celebrate their wedding at As parents one day, his father asks him to sing something. Tom proposes to go to a nightclub, but Al has to be afraid recognized. But nobody wants to know anything about it. It goes to a nightclub and Al is promptly recognized and asked to sing a number. Julie noted that Al only on the stage is happy and leaves the room quietly and as life.
Reviews
- For the filmdienst the film is " a biography not very authentic, entertaining as a movie by show elements and excellent jazz songs that are interpreted by Jolson himself in the playback process. "
Background
- Cutter William A. Lyon came later to Oscar honors. He won an Academy Award twice, in 1954 and 1956. Too, costume designer Jean Louis in 1957 won an Oscar.
- Decorator Stephen Goosson came indulged already oscar awarded to the project. He received his statue already in 1938.
- The film was the most successful at the U.S. box office of the year 1946.
- 1949 Harry Levin turned a sequel titled Jolson Sings Again, again with Larry Parks and William Demarest.
- Under the German title of The Jazz Singer in 1927 was the first American sound film (OT: The Jazz Singer). Directed by Alan Crosland. Starring: Al Jolson.
Awards
Oscar 1947:
- Awards: Best Original Score - Morris Stoloff
- Best Sound - John P. Livadary
- Best Actor - Larry Parks
- Best Supporting Actor - William Demarest
- Best Cinematography (color) - Joseph Walker
- Best Editing - William A. Lyon
Photoplay Award 1947 ( Best Film )