| Director | Henry Levin |
|---|---|
| Genre | biographical film, drama film, musical film |
| Runtime | 96 min |
| Country | United States |
| Budget | $1.5 million |
| Box office | $5 million |
Al Jolson returns home after an unexpected nightclub performance only to find that his wife has left him. Devastated, he trades show business for life in the fast lane: women, horses, prizefighters, and travel. His father becomes increasingly concerned about his frivolous lifestyle. With the death of his mother and the beginning of World War II, Jolson returns to reality and the stage. Teamed with manager Steve Martin, Jolson travels the world entertaining troops everywhere from Alaska to Africa. When he finally collapses from exhaustion, pretty young nurse Ellen Clark shows him that there is more to life than "just rushing around".
New singers have eclipsed Jolson in popularity and his health has declined. He now has only one good lung, reducing his vocal power. Martin finds that there is no demand for Al Jolson anymore, but he withholds this news from Jolson. In desperation, Martin secures a spot for Jolson in an all-star charity benefit. Jolson is dismayed to find his name absent from the posters and programs, and his spot on the bill is even more humbling, as he does not take the stage until the marathon show has almost ended, singing "Sonny Boy" to the patrons still in attendance. He is disheartened by the experience, although his wife Ellen insists that his performance was magnificent. One of the remaining patrons is Ralph Bryant, an Army officer who met Jolson during his military tour. Bryant is now a Hollywood producer, and he approaches Jolson with the idea of producing a screen biography of his life. Jolson is interested, although he warns that the quality of his old, worn phonograph records would not be acceptable for use in a film. Bryant asks Jolson to sing for new, higher-fidelity recordings at the film studio.
The project renews Jolson's interest in show business and he trains actor Larry Parks to mimic his stage movements. When The Jolson Story premieres, Jolson is terrified of the public's reaction and can't sit still in the theater. However, the film is a great success and Jolson is again a major celebrity, with the jubilant Ellen at his side.