Editing The Jolson Story (section)

==Reception==
"This is a show! And what a show it proves to be. The reviewer has his hands full trying to cover even the highlights within the space afforded," enthused ''Showmen's Trade Review''; "Parks is a tremendously effective actor in this role. He must have worked almost endlessly to effect so perfectly the Jolson speech and the Jolson mannerism (in minute detail) in putting over the songs."<ref>''Showmen's Trade Review'', Sept. 21, 1946, p. 33.</ref> Ray Lanning of ''Motion Picture Herald'' agreed: "Now here is the way to produce a musical biography. ''The Jolson Story'' is a show that can't miss. The music will have you humming and remembering, the acting will please you, you'll admire the production and the carefully done and subdued coloring. It's a special kind of picture with the widest kind of appeal."<ref>Ray Lanning, ''Motion Picture Herald'', Sept. 21, 1946, p. 3209.</ref> ''Box Office Digest'' registered amazement: "We didn't believe it possible that the Jolson magic -- as Jolson, and not a character of the stage and screen -- could be brought to pulsating life. Columbia has done it. It is a humdinger of a picture. The outstanding facet of ''The Jolson Story'' is one Larry Parks. Jolson's voice on the soundtrack supplies some 15 of his most memorable songs. From there on this youngster Larry Parks takes up the chore of giving us Jolson physically. The result is uncanny and impressive. Before the end the stuttering critics were wondering whether Jolson could have played Jolson as well. That's sumpin. Reliable Scotty Beckett qualifies for a junior-grade Academy bid as the boyhood Jolson."<ref>''Box Office Digest'', Sept. 28, 1946, p. 5.</ref>

Arthur Beach of the [[National Board of Review]] cautioned readers that the story was heavily fictionalized: "In spite of these hazards ''The Jolson Story'' fares much better that other recent biographies on celluloid. It does reflect the spirit of his time, his flamboyant personality, and the showmanship that captured the applause of his generation. In doing this the picture, for all its sugar and spice, its amiable judgments, its facile mixture of the true, the near-true, and the frankly invented, creates a colorful, song-crammed panorama of show business. Larry Parks is a prettier Al than Al. He is also an astonishingly capable mimic. Mr. Parks' skill and the magic of movie technique have made possible an astounding fusion of two people to create a memorable portrait. Even Al Jolson should be pleased with ''The Jolson Story''."<ref>Arthur Beach, ''New Movies: The National Board of Review Magazine'', Nov.-Dec. 1946, pp. 5-6.</ref>

The film was an outstanding financial success, and won [[Academy Awards]] for [[Academy Award for Original Music Score|Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture]] ([[Morris Stoloff]]), and [[Academy Award for Best Sound|Best Sound Recording]] ([[John Livadary]]). It was nominated for [[Academy Award for Best Actor|Best Actor in a Leading Role]] (Larry Parks), [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Actor in a Supporting Role]] (William Demarest), [[Academy Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematography, Color]] ([[Joseph Walker (cinematographer)|Joseph Walker]]) and [[Academy Award for Film Editing|Best Film Editing]] ([[William A. Lyon]]).<ref name="Oscars1947">{{Cite web|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1947 |title=The 19th Academy Awards (1947) Nominees and Winners |access-date=2011-08-19|work=oscars.org}}</ref> The film was also entered into the [[1947 Cannes Film Festival]].<ref name="festival-cannes.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/4222/year/1947.html |title=Festival de Cannes: The Jolson Story |access-date=2009-01-06|work=festival-cannes.com}}</ref>

On [[Rotten Tomatoes]], ''The Jolson Story'' has a rating of 100% based on 5 reviews.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Jolson Story {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/jolson_story |access-date=2024-08-27 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}}</ref>

Larry Parks became a full-fledged star in major productions, until his career was derailed by [[Hollywood blacklist|blacklisting]] after he admitted to having been a member of the Communist Party before the [[House Unamerican Activities Committee]] in 1951.<ref>{{cite news |title=Actor's career endangered after revealing he was once a communist - archive, 1951 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/mar/22/larry-parks-unamerican-activities-communist-hollywood-1951 |website=[[The Guardian]] |date=22 March 2017 |access-date=3 July 2023}}</ref> His sudden rise to prominence was considered an "overnight success," though he had been prominent in Columbia features for years. Parks continued playing character leads, but was most associated with his interpretation of Jolson. Columbia cast him in a successful sequel, ''[[Jolson Sings Again]]'' (1949).

The film is recognized by the [[American Film Institute]] in these lists:
* 2006: [[AFI's Greatest Movie Musicals]] – Nominated<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/Docs/100Years/musicals_ballot.pdf |title= AFI's Greatest Movie Musicals Nominees |access-date=2016-08-13}}</ref>