Don't get me wrong. This is still a good film. Pretty average for a bio-pic, and as with most sequels, it doesn't come up to the level of "The Jolson Story"...but it's still enjoyable and finishes a highly fabricated version of Jolson's life. Little did they know that had they delayed the film a year, they'd have told the Jolson story from start to finish.The best scene of the film is when Jolson returns to Washington after his mother dies, and Jolson and his father have a brief heart-to-heart.It is very true that Jolson became a tireless performance for the USO during World War II, and that is a big part of this picture. In fact, health issues related to his World War II and Korean War performances appear to have figured in his ultimate demise.Larry parks continues his bravura performance as Al Jolson; William Demarest is again along as Jolson's manager, and although not in as many scenes this time around, it's still one of his best roles. Ludwig Donath is back again as Jolson's father, and again, it is a charming performance. Barbara Hale (of Perry Mason fame) is the love interest this time, and she was enjoyable on screen...Arkansas accent and all.It is clever the way they meld the making of "The Jolson Story" within "Jolson Sings Again".It's a decent followup to "The Jolson Story", but not quite as good as that original. It's too bad the film can't bring up the final year of Jolson's life, including his wonderful appearances with Bing Crosby.Sadly, not long after this film was made, Larry Parks got caught up in the Blacklisting with the Red Scare and was only rarely seen after that. I guess the consolation was that his performances in the two Jolson films could probably not have been done better by anyone; truly fine performances that are near iconic.

Can a sequel be as good as the original? Those who say no, think of "Godfather II." Of course "The Jolson Story" takes us from the time of his blossoming adolescence to the end of marriage number one, with Ruby Keeler played by Evelyn Keyes. This sequel is totally absorbing because it's rapid fire pace, great music, great acting and warmth combined with the fascinating story of how "The Jolson Story" came to be.By the time of Pearl Harbor, Jolie's career had taken a nose dive.That is until he got off his rump and hesitatingly decided to TRY to entertain the boys overseas. Incidentally, Al was one of the first celebs to do it but of course will always be overshadowed by Bob Hope and his troupe.While in the Aleutians, Al meets Officer Ralph Bryant played by Myron McCormick.Bryant was in the cinema profession before joining up and after the war ends, is the one who talks to a depressed Al, sent home twice for illness,about an idea. To take Al into a recording studio to knock out technologically enhanced versions of his great tunes which will be lipsynched by a young actor named Larry Parks. Al begrudgingly decides to opt for it and that's where "liftoff" takes place.Al is on a rocket ride which opens his career all over again. From the time of "Jolson Story" to Oct.1950 marking his death, he had his own radio program, "Kraft Music Hall" plus a zillion guests spots up and down that radio dial.The picture is phenomenal as a sequel which I found as entertaining as the original. By the way, it also was nominated for Oscars as was the original. It is a KNOCKOUT film and I highly recommend either renting it or waiting for it on TCM.

Wonderful sequel to the 1946 film. Larry Parks, William Demarest and several others repeated their parts from the original.The film picks up exactly where the original had ended. Disgusted with his life, Jolson (Parks) walks out on his show business career and for several years travels, dabbles with horses and lives a real care-free life.With the death of his mother, (Tamara Shayne-who really doesn't look or act too Jewish at all), Jolson embarks on a tour for services until illness ends that.There is a nice performance by Barbara Hale (the future Della Street) as the southern nurse that he marries. Hale has just the right Arkansas twang in her speech to carry it off.When illness follows him, Jolson withdraws from entertaining fearing that his lung operation has affected his voice. He also feels that no one is really interested in him anymore. Unfortunately, the latter is true.It is only when his life story is made into a motion picture that he makes a genuine come back.Parks is absolutely amazing as Jolson. Though Al sang, Parks does a brilliant job of dubbing. His mannerisms are so easily identified as those of Al Jolson.Ludwig Donath plays Jolson's cantor father. O my, a cantor eating in a non-kosher restaurant. What were the Hollywood writers thinking?Just hearing Jolson belt out his usual great tunes is great in itself. Entertaining and wonderful to view.

As sequels go this is probably as good as any and it's notable for the novel way they got around the lack of new material; they devoted the second half of the sequel to the MAKING of the original, The Jolson Story. Quite a trick. Against the odds The Jolson Story, released in 1946, cleaned up at a Box Office well into post-war hysteria where a movie that was set mostly BEFORE either The Great Depression or World War II provided a nostalgic look at a more innocent world. Naturally the Accountants running the movie business smelled 'sequel' but what to add? Simple; after a quick once-over-lightly of Jolie's enforced retirement - nobody wanted him - from showbiz and his WWII tours of Army bases have a movie Producer show up and pitch a movie based on Jolie's life/career (it had worked with George M Cohan in 1942) so it was worth a try. This sets the scene for one of the most fictitious things in the movie as Jolie - who in real life would have PAID top dollar to ANY studio in Hollywood to promote him - comes all over modest and queries who would want to see a has-been. He is, of course, over ridden and the movie goes ahead and what's more we, the audience watching the sequel get to SEE the original being made. Among the goofs perhaps the most glaring occurs with Jolie at home (before the Hollywood Producer turns up) listening to the radio, circa 1945/6, and speaking of the song that is playing (Harry Warren's I Only Have Eyes For You) as 'new'. Maybe someone should have told Jolie that the song was written for the 1934 Warner movie 'Dames' starring Dick Powell, Joan Blondell and - wait for it - Ruby Keeler, then very much Mrs Al Jolson. By definition a shorter film than the original this one is fairly painless and Jolie fans will love it.