writers_reign Review of Jolson Sings Again

Jolson Sings Again (1949)

Alien Corn or The Magnificent Hamberson

[5/10 · 11 December 2006]

As sequels go this is probably as good as any and it's notable for the novel way they got around the lack of new material; they devoted the second half of the sequel to the MAKING of the original, The Jolson Story. Quite a trick. Against the odds The Jolson Story, released in 1946, cleaned up at a Box Office well into post-war hysteria where a movie that was set mostly BEFORE either The Great Depression or World War II provided a nostalgic look at a more innocent world. Naturally the Accountants running the movie business smelled 'sequel' but what to add? Simple; after a quick once-over-lightly of Jolie's enforced retirement - nobody wanted him - from showbiz and his WWII tours of Army bases have a movie Producer show up and pitch a movie based on Jolie's life/career (it had worked with George M Cohan in 1942) so it was worth a try. This sets the scene for one of the most fictitious things in the movie as Jolie - who in real life would have PAID top dollar to ANY studio in Hollywood to promote him - comes all over modest and queries who would want to see a has-been. He is, of course, over ridden and the movie goes ahead and what's more we, the audience watching the sequel get to SEE the original being made. Among the goofs perhaps the most glaring occurs with Jolie at home (before the Hollywood Producer turns up) listening to the radio, circa 1945/6, and speaking of the song that is playing (Harry Warren's I Only Have Eyes For You) as 'new'. Maybe someone should have told Jolie that the song was written for the 1934 Warner movie 'Dames' starring Dick Powell, Joan Blondell and - wait for it - Ruby Keeler, then very much Mrs Al Jolson. By definition a shorter film than the original this one is fairly painless and Jolie fans will love it.