The Jolson Story
“The Music... The Magic... The Times... of America's Greatest Entertainer.”
Synopsis
At the turn of the 20th century, young Asa Yoelson decides to go against the wishes of his cantor father and pursue a career in show business. Gradually working his way up through the vaudeville ranks, Asa — now calling himself Al Jolson — joins a blackface minstrel troupe and soon builds a reputation as a consummate performer. But as his career grows in size, so does his ego, resulting in battles in business as well as in his personal life.
Top Cast
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Larry Parks
Al Jolson
Evelyn Keyes
Julie Benson
William Demarest
Steve Martin
Bill Goodwin
Tom Baron
Ludwig Donath
Cantor Yoelson
Scotty Beckett
Asa Yoelson
Tamara Shayne
Mrs. Yoelson
Jo-Carroll Dennison
Ann Murray
John Alexander
Lew Dockstader
Ernest Cossart
Father McGee
Lilian Bond
Woman (uncredited)
Frank Baker
Audience Member (uncredited)
Franklyn Farnum
Man in Audience (uncredited)
Bess Flowers
Woman in Audience/Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Sam Harris
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Edwin Maxwell
Oscar Hammerstein (uncredited)
Frank McLure
Party Guest (uncredited)
Harold Miller
Night Club Patron (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
October 10, 1946
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Alfred E. Green
- Screenplay & Story
- Stephen Longstreet
- Original Score
- Morris Stoloff
- Original Title
- The Jolson Story
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 2h 8m
- Production Studios
- Columbia Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Alfred E. Green
Stephen Longstreet, Harry Chandlee, Andrew Solt
Morris Stoloff
Joseph Walker
William A. Lyon
Sidney Skolsky, Sidney Buchman
Department Leadership Roster
Alfred E. Green
Director
William A. Lyon
Editor
Jean Louis
Costume Design
Sidney Skolsky
Producer
Joseph Walker
Director of Photography
Sidney Buchman
Producer
Stephen Longstreet
Screenplay
Morris Stoloff
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
General — Suitable for all audiences.
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Jolson Story.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Jolson Story.
Biographies
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Musicals
Every film Wikidata tags as a musical film.
Academy Awards - Best Sound-Sound Mixing Winners 1929-2025
Academy Awards winners archive (Best Sound-Sound Mixing Winners 1929-2025)
Academy Awards - Best Original Score Winners 1934-2025
Academy Awards winners archive (Best Original Score Winners 1934-2025)
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Jolson Story
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Jolson Story about?
At the turn of the 20th century, young Asa Yoelson decides to go against the wishes of his cantor father and pursue a career in show business. Gradually working his way up through the vaudeville ranks, Asa — now calling himself Al Jolson — joins a blackface minstrel troupe and soon builds a reputation as a consummate performer. But as his career grows in size, so does his ego, resulting in battles in business as well as in his personal life.
Who directed The Jolson Story?
The Jolson Story was directed by Alfred E. Green.
Who stars in The Jolson Story?
The principal cast of The Jolson Story includes Larry Parks, Evelyn Keyes, William Demarest, Bill Goodwin, Ludwig Donath.
When was The Jolson Story released and how long is it?
The Jolson Story was released in 1946 with a total runtime of 2h 8m.
Who composed the musical score for The Jolson Story?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Jolson Story was composed by Morris Stoloff.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Jolson Story?
The Jolson Story holds official age classifications: AU: G (General — Suitable for all audiences.); US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).