Je chante pour vous

The sequel to The Jolson Story with Larry Parks playing himself and meeting Al Jolson for the first time to do this film. Jolson also appears in a long shot of a ramp scene singing Swanee River, but most people didn't know this until years later. The story begins with a Hollywood producer wanting to do the story, and takes up where Jolson's first wife gets a divorce. The movie of his life is a big winner! Later, during WW II, Jolson goes overseas to entertain troops, catches malaria, and while in a hospital falls in love with his nurse; a kind and patient beautiful nurse, played by Barbara Hale. William Demarest plays Jolson's manager and press agent. Ludwig Donath plays cantor again, and momma is played by Tamara Shayne, who lend much humor to the story. Perfect for those who loved Jolson and his music! This production won 3 Oscar nominations for writing, cinematography and musical scoring. I give it 10/10

Jolson Sings Again was a film that was almost demanded to be made by the general public. The Jolson Story had generated a comeback for Al Jolson and he was in the word of one of his hit songs, 'sitting on top of the world' in 1949.

He was going on all cylinders in 1949. Jolie hadn't commercially recorded since 1932. He had done a record of Swanee and April Showers in 1945 that went nowhere. But with the success of The Jolson Story, Decca signed him to a long term deal and he was prolifically recording all his old songs and new contemporary material besides. You should hear his Some Enchanted Evening from South Pacific, but not in Jolson Sings Again unfortunately.

Jolson had also replaced Bing Crosby after a couple of interim hosts as star of radio's Kraft Music Hall as Crosby changed sponsors first from Philco Radio to Chesterfield. They guested on each other's programs and those shows are priceless. In fact Bing is mentioned in Jolson Sings Again, but Harry Cohn couldn't get Paramount to part with him for an appearance.

Larry Parks continues his lipsynching to over a dozen Jolson standards and returning from the first film with him are William Demarest, Bill Goodwin, Ludwig Donath, and Tamara Shayne. And this one in bringing Jolson's life up to date stuck closer to the facts than The Jolson Story.

Barbara Hale plays Jolson's fourth wife Erle Galbraith renamed Ellen Clark for the film. I guess Harry Cohn figured he had to since he'd renamed Ruby Keeler, Julie Benson in the first film. It is true she was an army nurse and she met Jolie as a patient there when he collapsed on a USO tour during World War II.

If you liked the first film and Al Jolson in general, no reason you won't like this one.

Larry Parks picks up, almost to the frame, from where he left off with the first part of this biopic of the celebrated singer. Lured back to the stage, his wife "Julie" has done a bunk. She doesn't want to compete with what she thinks will always be his first love, nor does she want to stop him - so off she flies and doesn't feature at all. Distraught? Well not really, no. He immediately embarks on resuscitating his career and goes from strength to strength thanks to the support of long-suffering manager "Steve" (William Demarest) and his now reconciled father (Ludwig Donath). Soon firmly re-established but really rather bored with it all arriving on a plate, he gets quite a sudden wake-up call entertaining the troops in Europe during the war before returning to turn his attentions to the talkies as the concept of "The Jazz Singer" is born. All of these shenanigans are taking their toll and suffering from exhaustion he is confined to bed where he meets the young "Ellen" (Barbara Hale) whose nursing skills soon blossom into something that might just give this man his long sought contentment. Though it takes the chronology to it's conclusion, it doesn't really add much to the character of Jolson as we reprise many of his more famous numbers and reiterate that this was one of the greatest celebrities in the USA. Parks and Hale deliver well enough, and it's an amiably enough strung together history that sounds fine but drags on for too long and rather lacks energy. Watchable, but a little lacklustre.

Wonderful sequel to the 1946 film. Larry Parks, William Demarest and several others repeated their parts from the original.

The film picks up exactly where the original had ended. Disgusted with his life, Jolson (Parks) walks out on his show business career and for several years travels, dabbles with horses and lives a real care-free life.

With the death of his mother, (Tamara Shayne-who really doesn't look or act too Jewish at all), Jolson embarks on a tour for services until illness ends that.

There is a nice performance by Barbara Hale (the future Della Street) as the southern nurse that he marries. Hale has just the right Arkansas twang in her speech to carry it off.

When illness follows him, Jolson withdraws from entertaining fearing that his lung operation has affected his voice. He also feels that no one is really interested in him anymore. Unfortunately, the latter is true.

It is only when his life story is made into a motion picture that he makes a genuine come back.

Parks is absolutely amazing as Jolson. Though Al sang, Parks does a brilliant job of dubbing. His mannerisms are so easily identified as those of Al Jolson.

Ludwig Donath plays Jolson's cantor father. O my, a cantor eating in a non-kosher restaurant. What were the Hollywood writers thinking?

Just hearing Jolson belt out his usual great tunes is great in itself. Entertaining and wonderful to view.

As a rule, sequels don't usually measure up to the original. Of course there are exceptions and this is one of them. Once again, Larry Parks does an amazing job of mouthing the words to Jolson's singing voice and sings a number of great standards. This time the plot focuses on Jolson's disillusionment with show business after his wife leaves him. Prompted by his agent (William Demarest), he agrees to be an entertainer during World War II and on one of his tours he meets a pretty nurse (Barbara Hale) whom he marries. High quality script has Jolson coming to Hollywood for a bio on his life and meeting Larry Parks (courtesy of trick photography). Song-filled gem is a worthy sequel and proved it by winning three Oscar nominations for writing, cinematography and musical scoring. Hale looks great and her pleasant personality adds sparkle to the film, while Parks is once again quite convincing in his colorful role.