Al Jolson - Is It True What They Say About Dixie

[aaaaasssss]

Good old American singers are the best

[2441883]

Although I do not like blackface, I appreciate that it was not intended to be a rascist jest. I read up on Mr. Jolson after I saw this movie. I read he was a staunch opponent of racism in the "business", and had the respect of a number of African-American performers like Cab Calloway and others.

[TheHeavybreather]

Why is this subtitled in English? Are there really english speakers who can't tell what he is saying? Weird

[grandslam1998]

What a show man. The Best. Bravo Bravo.

[up2space]

rascism is only allowable if a jew do it put nigger lover back

[navydoctrinidad]

Thank you for this marvelous clip. This is one of his greatest.

[HolyMotherofGrid]

You just CAN'T watch this and not smile....... if you can, i suggest seeing a shrink FAST, because you are seriously depressed.  Al Jolsen was an entertainer;s entertainer - pure class, and just one of the very best at everything he did.

[MyThomas123]

parks is brilliant

[MDJJ32]

When did he sing this song? please answer

[AntillesP]

I heard him sing this on a Jack Benny radio program or the Eddie Cantor program . I think the radio show I heard was recorded in the early Forties.

[gpoyt]

1948 i think.

[mattybock]

yes al, it's still true. that man was pure talent in wingtips.

[diddymuck]

this guy don't look a thing like Jolson

[friscolobo]

Jolson was and is still pure magic and captivating. He could thrill you and also make you cry.

[123JDB789]

Listen to Jolson's LIVING VOICE.... See Clive Baldwin!!

[rmayers22]

HolyMotherofGrid, i couldnt agree with you more, whenever i have a rough day i simply turn to Jolson to make my day a better one. he is one of the few things that can turn my day from awful to perfect, jolson will be forever my one true love and he will forever be a legend

[HolyMotherofGrid]

THANK YOU!! This wonderful video has brightened up my day nicely. The man was a performing genius, and one of the great voices of the 20th century - for 35 years the man was just plain Solid Gold.

[GrandPrix55]

A pity Larry Park's career was ended by the McCarthy witchhunt.

His looks and Jolson's voice - great combination.

[nintendobeatleman14]

Love it!

[dallasdeemo]

I can certainly see why his wife left him. and lucky for her this performance was after that, because this man is an absolute pussy magnet. If his angelic voice isnt an automatic panty dropper than i dont know what is...maybe his amazing bird whistle?

[rmayers22]

i was lucky enough to see this wonder of a man in person and let me tell you it was truly a life altering experience, it will go down as one of the single greatest nights of my life and one that i will truly not forget. i am thankful to have been blessed to see this living legend before his passing and i can only hope all of you were fortunate enough to witness his stellar stage presence as well

[298625]

to rmaryers22: Where and when did you see Jolson? Details? I was born 30 years too late - darn!

[Robert4770]

Jolson pure entertainment. I can play these songs over and over and over and never tire of them. I can only imagine what it must have been like seeing him in person.

[bchfront]

Dear Lazlo, On this, I will defer to the experts, like yourself. The fact that Jolson was still a headliner on radio probably didn't mean anything to the studios. It is a matter of record that every major turned Sidney Skolsky down originally. Harry Jolson told my Dad of a long-period where Al sat alone in his den going thru old scrapbooks. Otherwise, yeah, Cohn had an enormous hit, and Jolie a "second career", Thanks for the mention on "Yankee Doodle" -- my grandfather wrote some of the music!

[LazlosPlane]

Further to Harry Cohn...

Original production of the Jolson Story was in black and white, but after the first rushes were seen by Cohn, he realized that he had a major hit on his hands, so color film was used and the entire resources of Columbia was put into this project.

It was no fluke.

[juv7]

larry parks was born to play this part but jolson was to me the worlds greatest entertainer in the planet

[bchfront]

Dear diddymuck,

The very reason that Larry Parks DIDN'T resemble Jolson (I resemble that remark!) is why he got the part! Larry was a contract player at that time at Columbia Pictures, and in those days films were made to attract large , mass audiences. Studio Pres. Harry Cohn was taking a very big gamble at that time even making "The Jolson Story", because Jolie was considered a "has-been". Park's good-looks and manner were much responsible for the film's success! And Jolie did dub the vocals.

[LazlosPlane]

Couple of corrections:

Harry Cohn was not taking such a big gamble. Jolson was NOT a has been as so many like to believe. His radio show always placed in the top ten and was a frequent guest on other's shows. Plus, he was ALWAYS perceived as the greatest entertainer in the business. That never changed during his lifetime.

Also, "nostalgia" bio's were all the rage, especially after the success of "Yankee Doodle Dandy," ; in the post-war years was a reminder of happier days-nostalgia

[1oldirishman]

Larry Parks was an actor - a good one, as shown by his performance in The Jolson Story. Al Jolson was a singer and showman - an entertainer. In his day, the greatest of them all.

[diddymuck]

this guy don't look a damn bit like jolson and probably his songs were dubbed. What's the reason he got the role???

[mclarpet]

He was the greatest entertainer of them all.

Thankyou for uploading this footage.

[topliff12345]

why didn,t they have al johnson in the film ?instead of someone lip syncing.

[lfiregirl]

because apparently at that time al was old at the time of filming and didnt want 2 star in it,im glad he didnt appear in it cos larry parks done it 100% done a great job n hes much sexier lol.

[95671]

i hav 2 agree wiv u sayin larry parks is sexy ;p

[95671]

because he was too old and he cant play himself as a twenty year old when he is in his mid sixties

[Axirru]

He's amazing because he sounds like a black man!

[CarlDuke]

Hey you're entitled by your opinion, but Jolie didn't sound like anyone else. No one else ever sounded that good.

[TheStubbleking]

I agree!!

[jazzpianoman01]

'Jolson Sings Again' was the follow up to the smash sensation 'The Jolson Story' three years earlier in 1946. Jolson was 63 at this time and a more mellow Jolson due to the operation on his lung.But just check out 'Toot Toot Tootsie' later in the film;Jolson is incredible the way he delivers with of course Parks miming a good role.

[jrt16]

No matter what anyone says . . .

Elvis, Brilliant . . . Sinatra, unbelievable. The Beatles! The Best.

But there was THE one man.

The start.

He was the one that voiced the first 'TALKIE'.

Nothing can compare. The words are : THE FIRST

And yes . . .

His music was not that bad . . . Maybe, but he entertained on talent, not what is available today - electronics.

Especially compared with the idiots we have today.

May I suggest Amy Winehouse?

[jazzpianoman01]

Thanks for that comment jrt16 I agree one hundred percent

[boxr4]

Larry Parks did the best Lip Sync I ever saw. Joley did the actual singing in "The Jolson Story" and "Jolson Sings Again". His voice is a little raspy in "Jolson Sings Again" due to his age and cancer.

[FB1BB1BB1]

This is Larry Parks. He became famous singing "Miss America" for the pageant. Here he's lip-syncing Al.

[boxr4]

you're thinking of Bert Parks singing "Here She Comes"

[FB1BB1BB1]

Thanks for correcting me.

[95671]

is that on youtube larry parks singing miss america for the pageant???

[CarlDuke]

Larry Parks did sing on Miss America, he didn't sing at all. The man you are thinking of is Bert Parks, who also starred in The Music Man on Broadway for a time.

[CarlDuke]

That was supposed to read Larry Parks DIDN'T sing on Miss America

[millsbrothers]

HE LOOKS LIKE BILLY DANIELS!