tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8014874020674080213.post7831801354407014110..comments2024-03-22T11:43:15.466-07:00Comments on Oscargasms: Larry Parks, The Jolson StoryAllenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964977693763983338noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8014874020674080213.post-69476288688735309092015-12-16T17:34:04.994-08:002015-12-16T17:34:04.994-08:00I think you're right in many ways re: Larry Pa...I think you're right in many ways re: Larry Parks' performance: he has energy and charisma and he does a superb job of lip sinking to Al Jolson's newly recorded vocals. He also does an admirable job of indicating without just imitating Jolson's performing style. After all, Jolson had been one of the most popular entertainers of the first half of the 20th century so he was still very familiar to audiences.<br /><br />Unfortunately, the combination of Jolson's involvement in script approval and the inherent nature of films in this era to avoid controversy means that Parks was saddled with a rather banal screenplay and a character with most of the rough edges sanded away. His character doesn't change or grow .... he just goes on to the next big show or boffo performance. The film was a huge hit, which is why it was followed by the sequel "Jolson Sings Again" in 1949, a reasonable hit though not on the level of TJS. Sadly, Parks was another victim of the motion picture Blacklist in the McCarthy era. His career never recovered from this and he was never given another chance to display or develop the potential that was evident in his "Jolson Story" work.Frank/click5https://www.blogger.com/profile/03605293626729520817noreply@blogger.com