It’s 70 years since the film The Jolson Story was released which makes this year (2016) the Platinum Anniversary of it’s release.
Included in the film was a musical score entitled ‘Anniversary Song’ penned by Al Jolson and Saul Chaplin. The original song was adapted from Losif (aka Ivano or Jovan) Ivanovici’s Romanian Waltz ‘Waves of the Danube’ first published in 1880 (136 years ago.) An accomplished composer which a few nations like to claim as their own. The tune is also claimed to be at the root of KPop as a Korean recorded a song based on the tune in 1926.
The film covers Al Jonson’s life and career although some scenes were pure fiction, the film contains a number of well know Jolson songs along with new material such as the Anniversary Song, well known songs including ‘My Mammy’ and Swannee, Toot Toot Tootsie, Ma Blushin’ Rosie were some of the highlights.
The film was a tremendous financial success for Columbia Pictures, and won three Academy Awards for
- Best Music,
- Scoring of a Musical Picture,
- Best Sound Recording,
and was nominated for seven in total including
- Best Actor in a Leading Role for Larry Parks,
- Best Actor in a Supporting Role for William Demarest,
- Best Cinematography, (Colour)
- Best Film Editing.
The Lyrics are a wonderful tribute for an anniversary.
Lyrics
Oh How we danced on the night we were wed.
We vowed our true love, though a word wasn’t said.
The world was in bloom, there were stars in the skies.
Except for the few that were there in your eyes.
Dear, as I held you so close in my arms, angels were singing a hymn to your charms .
Two Hearts gently beating were murmuring low “My darling I love you so.”
The Night seemed to fade into blossoming dawn.
The sun shone a new but the dance lingered on.
Could we but relive that sweet moment sublime.
We’d find that our love is unaltered by time.
The Lyrics as sung on the film vary from the sheet music however there are a number of variations available from various international Crooners using the actual penned prose.
