Others have dealt with the content so I'll focus on the technical aspects of THE JOLSON STORY (1946).
Viewing this 60 year old movie on DVD is simply amazing. The technical quality is phenomenal. The sound is in STEREO with doorbells and ringing phones coming from off screen left or right and trains and cars passing from side to side!!! Al Jolson and the orchestra sound great. The audio recording is so good that it won an Oscar. The music and arrangements are first rate.
The color and clarity of the image are phenomenal - although the restoration quality slips slightly after the first 60 minutes. (Could it be that the second reel of the master print had not aged as well as the first before they transferred it to video??? I don't know)
The sets, lighting and photography are wonderful because they are used to tell the story rather than draw attention to themselves.
Casting is perfect. Larry Parks as Jolson is excellent as he brings enthusiasm and verve to the role. His singing gestures are right on.
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In terms of content, Jolson's bold style influenced many performers in his own time and to this day. His popularity lasted many, many years. Jolson's use of "black-face" make up was a convention of its time but he appeared to hold onto it long after his fame would have allowed him to drop it. Despite that, I happen to like Jolson's songs and style and the producers wisely used Jolson's own voice on the music tracks.
Apparently, liberties were taken with some of the facts of Jolson's life in this movie bio but the essence of the story is true. It was and is a very entertaining film that did big box office and is still being sold and rented today on VHS and DVD.
For young people who want a time capsule of show business in the first half of the last century, this is a must see movie.
Viewing this 60 year old movie on DVD is simply amazing. The technical quality is phenomenal. The sound is in STEREO with doorbells and ringing phones coming from off screen left or right and trains and cars passing from side to side!!! Al Jolson and the orchestra sound great. The audio recording is so good that it won an Oscar. The music and arrangements are first rate.
The color and clarity of the image are phenomenal - although the restoration quality slips slightly after the first 60 minutes. (Could it be that the second reel of the master print had not aged as well as the first before they transferred it to video??? I don't know)
The sets, lighting and photography are wonderful because they are used to tell the story rather than draw attention to themselves.
Casting is perfect. Larry Parks as Jolson is excellent as he brings enthusiasm and verve to the role. His singing gestures are right on.
---------
In terms of content, Jolson's bold style influenced many performers in his own time and to this day. His popularity lasted many, many years. Jolson's use of "black-face" make up was a convention of its time but he appeared to hold onto it long after his fame would have allowed him to drop it. Despite that, I happen to like Jolson's songs and style and the producers wisely used Jolson's own voice on the music tracks.
Apparently, liberties were taken with some of the facts of Jolson's life in this movie bio but the essence of the story is true. It was and is a very entertaining film that did big box office and is still being sold and rented today on VHS and DVD.
For young people who want a time capsule of show business in the first half of the last century, this is a must see movie.