Jolson Sings Again Page #6

Must be the resonance in here.

Resonance, of course.

Okay, Steve.

If they can use me on that benefit.

- You win.

- Another game, Papa?

Another game, Steve?

I'm glad he's in shape again, Steve.

But actually, I got too big a list of stars,

right now.

Every year, the program's too long.

You know how it is.

Yeah, I know.

If you could still get a big name,

you'd grab it.

You just don't want Jolson.

Ten years ago,

you'd be kissing his feet to get him.

Be reasonable. All I'm trying to do

is get a big turnout for a benefit.

I've got to have names that mean something.

I don't care what you got to have.

When Al Jolson says he'll appear...

the guy you and I remember when he was

bigger than your whole list put together...

I'm not going to that guy

with some lame excuse...

that adds up to only one thing:

He's not wanted.

I can't do it, Charlie.

And you're not gonna make me do it.

All right, Steve. He's on.

- Hi.

- Good morning, baby.

Today is the day. Is it in the paper?

Let me see it.

My name is a little hard to find, baby.

It is at the bottom there.

"And many others." That's me.

- Nice day?

- Yeah. Real nice.

This is going way over time.

- Look at the time, Ralph. Let's go.

- No, wait. Please.

There's one fellow I've got to hear.

It's great to go on near the finish,

except there won't be any audience.

Where is everybody?

Seriously, I guess I've got

a few old friends out there.

Who else would be

hanging around at this hour?

So I'm gonna sing you an old one,

just one and let you go home.

By the way, a nice quiet one...

so as we won't disturb the people

who sleep.

Just like we rehearsed it, pal.

Climb upon my knee, sonny boy

Though you are only three, sonny boy

You have no way of knowing

There's no way of showing

What you mean to me

sonny boy

When there are grey skies

I don't mind the grey skies

You make them blue

sonny boy

Friends, friends may forsake me

Let them, let them all forsake me

I still have you

sonny boy

You are sent from heaven

and I know your worth

You have made a heaven

for me here on earth

And the angels grew lonely

Took you, because they were lonely

I am lonely, too

sonny boy

Nothing like singing for a lot of old-timers.

- I liked it, and I am not an old-timer.

- But you happen to be very nice.

Better watch the road, honey.

Amazing how he can still get you

with a corny old song like that.

I think he can still get anybody,

singing anything.

Singing styles have changed a little, Ralph.

I don't know about that.

But I know one thing.

His voice is better now than it ever was,

warmer, more heart.

Oddly enough...

a certain newspaper columnist brought me

a picture idea a few weeks ago:

The Life of Jolson.

He had to bring that idea to me, an old fan.

Listening to that voice tonight,

I kept thinking...

if you could give people a real chance

to hear him again...

Bit of a tough one, though.

- It was a beating, wasn't it?

- What?

This whole thing tonight

that I plagued you into doing.

It wasn't anything, honey.

I just said to myself:

"Now in Arkansas, we'd look at it this way."

I know I'm not headlining this show.

I got a hunch they don't even want me on it.

I know half this crowd

didn't want to hear me sing.

The other half is only sticking around

for old times' sake. I know all that.

I didn't come here for glory.

I just came to do something I wanted to do.

I don't care.

You were absolutely marvellous tonight.

There you are.

And I got something out of my system.

In fact, a couple more jobs like tonight,

and I'm a pretty happy man.

So what are you talking about?

Hello?

Yes, it is.

That's all right.

Who?

Oh, yes. How are you?

You really liked it, didn't you, pal?

It's nice of you to call and tell me.

No, that's okay. I hadn't gone to bed yet.

Thanks a lot.

Why, sure.

Anytime. I am generally home.

Thanks again. Goodnight.

Bryant?

How are you, Mr. Bryant?

You still don't know me, do you?

Colonel Bryant, the Aleutians.

- Duluth, Minnesota.

- That's right.

If it ain't old Duluth! It had to be an old fan.

I'm glad to see you.

Come on out and meet the family.

They will love you.

They are fans of mine, too.

And, brother, how many members

of that club are still around?

Meet Colonel Bryant. My wife, Mrs. Jolson.

- How do you do?

- How do you do?

- My father and Steve Martin.

- How are you, sir?

- Glad to know you, sir.

- How do you do?

This fellow phones in the middle

of the night to tell me I am terrific.

- Don't you love him?

- Mad about him.

See. Old homely.

- Sit down. Stay for lunch with us.

- Thanks. I'd like to.

You'll want him to stay for dinner, too,

'cause up in the Aleutians...

if it hadn't been for the pat on the back

he gave me...

I was worried and scared stiff.

He picked me right up off the floor.

In fact, you can bring your clothes

and move in, Colonel Bryant.

Let's forget the "Colonel."

I'm just a picture producer again.

I didn't tell you that.

Came from Hollywood all the time.

How does it feel to be back making movies?

They are always tough,

except when you get a really exciting idea.

- And I got one last night, listening to you.

- Yeah?

I didn't sleep much.

This morning I was still at it.

So I thought I'd come over

and talk to you about it.

- What's that?

- A motion picture.

You mean you want me

to play a part or something? Me?

No. A picture about you. Your whole career.

- Sound crazy?

- My friend, as goofy as can be.

- Why?

- Why?

- Last night should tell you why.

- Last night brought me out here.

Yeah, you and a few hundred others.

But you make pictures today

for a whole new generation.

They buy the tickets.

What's in this one for them?

The story of the biggest man

in entertainment for 30 years...

singing the biggest songs.

- That are deader than a doornail.

- Not when you sing them.

Amazing fellow.

Don't you love him? You would.

Look, pal, I'm going to forget

you ever mentioned an idea like this...

'cause if it ever got out you'd have

the whole town laughing at you.

That's the best thing this town does.

- Just begging for trouble, aren't you?

- Give me some reasons.

He wants reasons.

- That's only fair. Give him some.

- Reasons.

Look, I was singing in vaudeville at 15.

Let's say when I was really

getting underway in my 20s.

You expect me to play a 20-year-old

on the screen today?

I know, that one I wrestled with last night.

- But suppose somebody else played it?

- Somebody else?

- But me singing, of course.

- Of course.

You mean, put the songs through him

like he was singing.

I know a lot of the kick

is how you put the songs over.

I'm not talking about that.

I've seen a thousand guys imitate me,

and good, too.

But this would be my stuff

coming out of his mouth on the screen...

- just like I sang it?

- I think it could be done.

Let's say we found the guy and he is great,

but look, the songs?

Couldn't use the old recordings

I made years ago, right?

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