The Singing Fool

The Singing Fool is a 1928 American musical drama part-talkie motion picture directed by Lloyd Bacon which was released by Warner Bros. The film stars Al Jolson and is a follow-up to his previous film, The Jazz Singer. It is credited with helping to cement the popularity of American films of both sound and the musical genre. Plot After years of hopeful struggle, Al Stone (Jolson) is on his way to stardom. He plays a blackface minstrel. "I'm Sittin' on Top of the World", he sings to an appreciative speakeasy crowd. But, as Al discovers, getting there is one thing. Staying there is another. Singing waiter Stone gets his huge break on a magical night when his song wows a big-time producer and a gold-digging showgirl he fancies. Broadway success and marriage follow, but sure enough, hard times are on the way. Al's fickle wife abandons him, taking the beloved son he calls Sonny Boy with her. Heartbroken, Al becomes a devastated loner until friends from the speakeasy that launched his career rescue him from a life on the streets. Soon, Al is back in lights. But another crisis awaits: Sonny Boy is in the hospital and dying. Cast Al Jolson as Al Stone Betty Bronson as Grace Josephine Dunn as Molly Winton Arthur Housman as Blackie Joe Reed Howes as John Perry Davey Lee as Sonny Boy Edward Martindel as Louis Marcus Robert O'Connor as Bill, cafe owner Helen Lynch as Maid Agnes Franey as "Balloon" girl The Yacht Club Boys as Singing quartet Jack Stoutenburg (uncredited) Carl M. Leviness as Carl, a Waiter at Clicquot Club (uncredited) William H. O'Brien as Waiter at Blackie Joe's (uncredited) Bob Perry as Doorman at Blackie Joe's (uncredited)