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The Jolson Story ()

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This movie shows the idealized career of the singer Al Jolson, a little Jewish boy who goes against the will of his father in order to be in showbiz. He becomes a star, falls in love with a non-Jewish dancer, and marries her. In the end he... See more »
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
  • Won 2 Oscars. Another 1 win & 5 nominations.
  • See more »
Reviews:

Photos and Videos

28 photos

Cast

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Al Jolson
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Julie Benson
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Steve Martin
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Tom Baron
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Cantor Yoelson
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Asa Yoelson / Al Jolson - as a boy
Tamara Shayne ...
Mrs. Yoelson
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Ann Murray
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Lew Dockstader
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Father McGee
The Robert Mitchell Boy Choir ...
Church Choir (as Mitchell 'Boychoir')
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
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Henry - Orchestra Leader (as Bob Stevens)
John Alban ...
Audience Member (uncredited)
Rod Alexander ...
Dancer (uncredited)
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Wardrobe Woman (uncredited)
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Audience Member (uncredited)
Steve Benton ...
Audience Member (uncredited)
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Audience Member (uncredited)
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Dancer in Nightclub Revue (uncredited)
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Woman (uncredited)
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Woman in Audience (uncredited)
Eugene Borden ...
Headwaiter (uncredited)
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Chauffer (uncredited)
Bill Brandt ...
Nightclub Orchestra Leader (uncredited)
Clay Campbell ...
Makeup Artist for 'The Jazz Singer' (uncredited)
James Conaty ...
Man in Audience / Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Dona Dax ...
Girl Publicist (uncredited)
Harry Denny ...
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Harry Evans ...
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
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Man in Audience (uncredited)
Eddie Fetherston ...
Asst. Stage Manager (uncredited)
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Woman in Audience / Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
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Dick Glenn (uncredited)
Raoul Freeman ...
Audience Member (uncredited)
Rudy Germane ...
Audience Member (uncredited)
Buddy Gorman ...
Jimmy - the Call Boy (uncredited)
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Audience Member (uncredited)
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Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Fred Howard ...
Man in Audience (uncredited)
Coulter Irwin ...
John - Young Priest (uncredited)
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Drum soloist heard but not seen for about 30 seconds in the final nightclub scene (uncredited)
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Self - in long shot of 'Swanee' (uncredited)
Charles Jordan ...
Dockstader's Stage Manager (uncredited)
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Florenz Ziegfeld (uncredited)
Edward Keane ...
Winter Garden Director (uncredited)
P.J. Kelly ...
Doorman (uncredited)
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Lab Manager (uncredited)
Pat Lane ...
Cameraman (uncredited)
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Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
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Roy Anderson (uncredited)
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Winter Garden Stage Manager (uncredited)
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Gaffer (uncredited)
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Man in Audience (uncredited)
Ethel Martin ...
Dancer (uncredited)
George Martin ...
Dancer (uncredited)
Thomas Martin ...
Party Guest (uncredited)
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Oscar Hammerstein (uncredited)
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Audience Member (uncredited)
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Party Guest (uncredited)
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Night Club Patron (uncredited)
Robert Mitchell ...
Choir Conductor (uncredited)
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Audience Member (uncredited)
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Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
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Dancer (uncredited)
Joe Palma ...
Worker in Railroad Yard (uncredited)
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Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
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Audience Member (uncredited)
Eddie Rio ...
Nightclub Master of Ceremonies (uncredited)
Adele Roberts ...
Dancer (uncredited)
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Dancer (uncredited)
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Oscar - Cutter (uncredited)
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Policeman Reilly (uncredited)
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Electrician (uncredited)
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Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
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Audience Member (uncredited)
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Ann Murray - as a Child (uncredited)
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Railroad Watchman (uncredited)
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Maid (uncredited)
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Jonsey (uncredited)
Eric Wilton ...
Henry - the Butler (uncredited)
Rudy Wissler ...
Asa Yoelson (uncredited) (singingVoice)
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Sourpuss Movie Patron (uncredited)

Directed by

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Alfred E. Green

Written by

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Sidney Buchman ... () (uncredited)
 
Harry Chandlee ... (adaptation)
 
Stephen Longstreet ... (screenplay)
 
Andrew Solt ... (adaptation)

Produced by

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Sidney Buchman ... producer (uncredited)
Gordon Griffith ... associate producer (as Gordon S. Griffith)
Sidney Skolsky ... producer

Music by

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George Duning ... (uncredited)
Hugo Friedhofer ... (uncredited)
Arthur Morton ... (uncredited)
Marlin Skiles ... (uncredited)

Cinematography by

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Joseph Walker ... director of photography

Editing by

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William A. Lyon ... (as William Lyon)

Editorial Department

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Natalie Kalmus ... color director: Technicolor
Morgan Padelford ... associate color director: Technicolor
Douglas Hines ... assistant editor (uncredited)

Art Direction by

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Stephen Goosson
Walter Holscher

Set Decoration by

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Louis Diage
William Kiernan

Costume Design by

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Jean Louis

Makeup Department

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Clay Campbell ... makeup artist
Helen Hunt ... hair stylist
Robert J. Schiffer ... makeup artist (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

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Wilbur McGaugh ... assistant director

Sound Department

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Hugh McDowell Jr. ... sound recordist (as Hugh McDowell)
Richard Olson ... sound re-recordist
John P. Livadary ... sound (uncredited)

Visual Effects by

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Donald C. Glouner ... matte paintings camera (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department

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Ned Scott ... still photographer
Victor Scheurich ... second camera operator (uncredited)

Music Department

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Saul Chaplin ... vocal arranger
Martin Fried ... music arranger
Morris Stoloff ... musical director (as M.W. Stoloff)
Edwin Wetzel ... music recordist
George Duning ... music arranger (uncredited)
Virginia Rees ... singing voice: Evelyn Keyes (uncredited)
Saul Silverman ... singing voice: Ludwig Donath (uncredited)
Rudy Wissler ... singing voice: Scotty Beckett (uncredited)

Additional Crew

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Lawrence W. Butler ... montage director
Jack Cole ... choreographer
Joseph H. Lewis ... director: production numbers
James T. 'Bud' Nelson ... singing double
Robert Gordon ... technical advisor (uncredited)
Roy Hamilton ... dialogue director (uncredited)
Thelma Hoover ... research director (uncredited)
Al Jolson ... original singing voice: Larry Parks (uncredited)

Production Companies

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Distributors

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Special Effects

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Other Companies

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Storyline

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Plot Summary

This movie shows the idealized career of the singer Al Jolson, a little Jewish boy who goes against the will of his father in order to be in showbiz. He becomes a star, falls in love with a non-Jewish dancer, and marries her. In the end he chooses success on the stage. Written by Stephan Eichenberg

Plot Keywords
Taglines The Music...The Magic...The Times...of America's Greatest Entertainer See more »
Genres
Parents Guide Add content advisory for parents »
Certification

Additional Details

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Also Known As
  • Al Jolson Story (France)
  • Le roman d'Al Jolson (France)
  • Al Jolson (Italy)
  • Al Jolson (Sweden)
  • Der Jazzsänger (Austria)
  • See more »
Runtime
  • 128 min
Country
Language
Color
Aspect Ratio
Sound Mix

Box Office

Budget $2,800,000 (estimated)

Did You Know?

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Trivia In the long shot of Jolson performing on the runway, Al Jolson played himself, his only appearance in the film. See more »
Goofs The Jazz Singer (1927) had its world premiere at the Warner Theatre in New York, not the Winter Garden as depicted in the film (as "The Jolson Story" was a Columbia picture, the change is understandable). See more »
Movie Connections Featured in The Soundman (1950). See more »
Soundtracks Let Me Sing and I'm Happy See more »
Quotes Al Jolson: I heard some music tonight. Something they call 'jazz.' The fellows just make it up as they go along. They pick it out of the air.
See more »
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