LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Larry Parks: Jolson Story
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In 1947 Larry Parks was riding high. He had starred in "The Jolson Story," winning an Academy Award nomination as best actor of 1946. "Jolson Sings Again" scored a similar success.
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Larry Parks returns in the title role in this sequel to The Jolson Story. After realizing he's not ready to retire after all, Jolson stages a comeback. But times have changed, and his style appears to be out of touch with what the public wants. Defeated, Jolson heads overseas to entertain the troops, where he meets a nurse (Barbara Hale) who not only "nurses" his heart, but ... convinces him to return to entertainment.
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Larry Parks gives a heck of a performance in this loosey-goosey biopic, liberally larded with classic Jolson performances. The story's a bit ridiculous but the total package is hugely entertaining, with an infectious goodwill that will amuse even the crankiest soul. Alas, not much for extras.
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On his return to art school, Larry specialised in book illustration, and published his first cartoons in the Birmingham Gazette. He qualified as an art teacher, and initially took up a position at Lincoln Road secondary modern in Peterborough (1951-54). But, while he got on with the boys, his relaxed teaching methods were not appreciated by the head and, after three years, he resigned. What remained from the experience was his nickname, given to him by pupils who had seen Larry Parks star in the film The Al Jolson Story. He would later write: "I've been Larry ever since. Besides, it's nice and short, so it saves time when it comes to signing your drawings."
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This Technicolor follow-up to Columbia's 1946 blockbuster The Jolson Story again stars Larry Parks as legendary entertainer Al Jolson--and Jolson himself, as Parks' singing voice. The story concentrates on Jolson's tireless activities entertaining the troops during WW II. After VJ day, Jolson finds that his services are no longer required. Fortunately, he stages a spectacular comeback, thanks in great part to the release of The Jolson Story! The film's Pirandellian overtones come to a head when Larry Parks as Jolson meets Larry Parks as Larry Parks. Also returning from The Jolson Story are William Demarest as the title character's manager Steve Martin, Bill Goodwyn as Broadway-producer Tom Baron, and Ludwig Donath and Tamara Shayne as Jolson's old-world parents.
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His pseudonym derives from Larry Parks, star of the film, The Al Jolson Story, which was shown in Peterborough when he was teaching there in 1954 - the pupils' nickname for their art master stuck. Elected an Honorary Fellow of Birmingham Polytechnic (now University of West Midlands) in 1991, he began experimenting with sculpturedclay cartoons on art themes in 1992. Larry's cartoons never have captions and he draws without roughs on 10 x 8in. typing paper using a Rolinx dip pen andRotring black ink (sometimes ... water-colour).
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Jolson Story