Some movies seem overly sappy but as the saying goes ' sometimes you need a little shmaltz'. This is one of those movies where the smaltz perfectly adds to the flavour. A 1946 dramatization of the career of Al Jolson, one of the greatest singers of all time ( sadly all but unknown to the last 3 or 4 generations of modern movie goers )
, it offers possibly the greatest lip syncing performance of all time by the incomparable Larry Parks ( whose promising career was sadly almost completely curtailed by the McCarthy anti-red communist witch hunt hearings in the early 1950's ). Featuring a bevy of unforgettable songs, it will open up a whole new world of music to anyone lucky enough to either stumble across it on a classic movie channel such as TCM in the U.S. and Canada or perhaps in a bargain basement bin of an old book store. Park's uncanny ability to mimic Jolson in body language and s exuberant spirit while performing the musical numbers only adds to the deligt. Supported by a more than able cast including Evelyn Keyes and William Demarest ( later better known for playing Uncle Charlie in the 1960's t.v. sitcom My Three Sons alongside Fred McMurray ) you will find yourself rooting for the inevitable success of the title character. True cinephiles should be interested because Jolson helped pioneer the era of talking pictures by starring in the very first one, 1929's The Jazz Singer as well introducing innovations in thatres such as the extended stage jutting out into the audience ( he wanted to be closer to the people ). It is a real pity that it is seldom seen nowadays on any entertainment platform whatsoever. It is a truely lost gem.
Review of The Jolson Story
