Birth of the Blues (1941)

Birth of the Blues (1941)

All the adventure a man can live, he lives. 1941-11-07 United States of America 87 Min. PG-13
5.5 8 votes
Music, Romance

Overview

Jeff grows up near Basin Street in New Orleans, playing his clarinet with the dock workers. He puts together a band, the Basin Street Hot-Shots, which includes a cornet player, Memphis. They struggle to get their jazz music accepted by the cafe society of the city. Betty Lou joins their band as a singer and gets Louie to show her how to do scat singing. Memphis and Jeff both fall in love with Betty Lou.

Cast

Bing Crosby is Jeff Lambert
Jeff Lambert
Mary Martin is Betty Lou Cobb
Betty Lou Cobb
Brian Donlevy is Memphis
Memphis
Carolyn Lee is Aunt Phoebe Cobb
Aunt Phoebe Cobb
Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson is Louey
Louey
J. Carrol Naish is Blackie
Blackie
Warren Hymer is Limpy
Limpy
Horace McMahon is Wolf
Wolf
Ruby Elzy is Ruby
Ruby
Jack Teagarden is Pepper
Pepper
Danny Beck is Deek
Deek
Harry Barris is Suds
Suds
Perry Botkin Sr. is Leo
Leo
Minor Watson is Henri Lambert
Henri Lambert
Harry Rosenthal is Piano Player
Piano Player
Donald Kerr is Skeeter, Barbershop Musician
Skeeter, Barbershop Musician
Barbara Pepper is Maizie
Maizie
Cecil Kellaway is Granet
Granet
Ronnie Cosby is Jeff as a Boy
Jeff as a Boy
Ted Lewis is Self (archive footage)
Self (archive footage)
Duke Ellington is Self (archive footage)
Self (archive footage)
Louis Armstrong is Self (archive footage)
Self (archive footage)
Tommy Dorsey is Self (archive footage)
Self (archive footage)
Jimmy Dorsey is Self (archive footage)
Self (archive footage)
Benny Goodman is Self (archive footage)
Self (archive footage)
Paul Whiteman is Self (archive footage)
Self (archive footage)
Roscoe Ates is Cab Driver (uncredited)
Cab Driver (uncredited)
Charles Lane is Wilbur - Bijou Theater Manager (uncredited)
Wilbur - Bijou Theater Manager (uncredited)
Mantan Moreland is Black Trumpet Player (uncredited)
Black Trumpet Player (uncredited)

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