Jolson Story, The (Full Frame)

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A pure delight, "The Jolson Story" is classic Hollywood biography at its best; a fast-paced, tune-filled extravaganza following the meteoric rise of legendary performer Al Jolson. "The Jolson Story" was nominated for six 1946 Academy Awards?, winning two, (Best Musical Scoring and Best Sound Recording). Asa Yoelson (Larry Parks) is a talented cantor's son determined to succeed in show business. From humble beginnings in vaudeville to the pinnacle of success on stage and in motion pictures, Asa, who later changed his name to Al Jolson, struggled to balance the demands of his personal life with the swelling adoration of millions of fans. As Jolson's star ascends, his single-minded pursuit of stardom takes its toll on his relationship with his wife, Broadway legend Ruby Keeler (called Julie Benson in the film and portrayed by Evelyn Keyes), and the support of life-long friend and mentor Steve Martin (William Demarest). Featuring lavish, show-stopping musical numbers (actually sung by Jolson and lip-synched by Parks) "The Jolson Story" is a spectacle to behold. A huge box-office hit, "The Jolson Story" was Columbia Pictures' highest-grossing film up to that point. It was so successful that a sequel was produced re-teaming Parks and Demarest in Jolson Sings Again, 1949.

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