Is there a biopic about Al Jolson?

Question

Is there a biopic about Al Jolson?

Question #152087. Asked by chabenao1.
Last updated May 09 2025.
Originally posted May 07 2025 10:56 AM.

looney_tunes

Answer has 2 votes

looney_tunes

Moderator
20 year member
3335 replies avatar

Answer has 2 votes.

Indeed there is. Larry Parks played Al Jolson in the 1946 film 'The Jolson Story'. But it is considered more fiction than fact, so more a glorification than a biography.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038661/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jolson_Story

May 07 2025, 3:45 PM

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Answer 1

elburcher

Answer has 1 vote

elburcher

25 year member
1594 replies avatar

Answer has 1 vote.

There is a sequel to "The Al Jolson Story", 1949's "Jolson Sings Again". Reportedly Al Jolson failed the screen test to portray himself, presumably due to his age, he was 63 at the time.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041530/?ref_=nmbio_trv

Response last updated by elburcher on May 09 2025.
May 09 2025, 6:14 AM

Answer 2

There have been a couple of stage shows one being the 1999's "Jolson & Co." by Stephen Mo Hanan and Jay Berkow.

...Jolson & Co. by Stephen Mo Hanan and Jay Berkow, which calls itself a "new musical play" and is the life story of Al Jolson told in monologue, dialogue, and a goodly number of songs from Jolson's ragbag. It does a pretty fair job of giving you the man, warts and all, and generally avoids sappiness. Directed by Berkow, it is aptly accompanied by Peter Larson and two associates on a variety of instruments.

https://nymag.com/nymetro/arts/theater/reviews/1798/

Is there a biopic about Al Jolson?

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