Jolson Sings Again 1949

This sequel picks up Jolson’s story where The Jolson Story left off, tracing the singer’s life as he returns home to find his wife has left him. Devastated, Jolson flees into a flashy, relentless rhythm of life—romance, horses, prizefights, and constant travel—briefly stepping away from the stage. His father grows increasingly worried about the frivolous lifestyle that seems to define him. With the death of his mother and the onset of World War II, Jolson is jolted back to earth and drawn back to the spotlight.

Reunited with his longtime manager Steve Martin, Jolson again travels the globe, entertaining troops from Alaska to Africa, his presence a familiar beacon for soldiers far from home.

Yet exhaustion catches up with him. After a collapse, Ellen Clark shows him there is more to life than ‘just rushing around’.

“just rushing around”

New singers have eclipsed Jolson in popularity, and his health has declined; he now has only one good lung, limiting his power on stage.

Steve Martin, sensing that the parade has passed Jolson, arranges a late spot in an all-star charity benefit. Jolson is dismayed to find his name absent from posters and programs, and his turn comes near the end; he steps onto the stage to perform Sonny Boy for the remaining patrons, a moment that carries both nostalgia and a touch of melancholy about his faded peak.

One of the patrons, Ralph Bryant, an Army officer who met Jolson during a tour and now a movie producer, approaches Jolson with the idea of making a screen biography of his life. Jolson is intrigued, though he warns that his old, worn phonograph records wouldn’t be good enough for a movie. Bryant reassures him by proposing new, higher-fidelity recordings made at the movie studio, and Jolson agrees to explore the project.

The film project rekindles Jolson’s enthusiasm for show business, and he begins to coach actor Larry Parks to mimic his stage movements, bringing a sense of discipline and craft back to his art.

When The Jolson Story premieres, Jolson is terrified of the public’s reaction and can’t sit still in the theater. Yet the movie proves to be a resounding success, restoring Jolson to major celebrity status and reuniting him with his wife in celebratory crowds. The experience underscores a bittersweet arc: a legendary performer who has weathered personal turmoil and physical decline, yet finds renewed purpose and a lasting legacy.