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Birth of the Blues
1941, Nov 07
1h 27m
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.
Directed by
Victor Schertzinger
Written by
Walter DeLeon
Charles Lane
Wilbur - Bijou Theater Manager (uncredited)
Brian Donlevy
Memphis
Bing Crosby
Jeff Lambert
Horace McMahon
Wolf
J. Carrol Naish
Blackie
Cecil Kellaway
Granet
Louis Armstrong
Self (archive footage)
Mantan Moreland
Black Trumpet Player (uncredited)
Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson
Louey
Barbara Pepper
Maizie
Roscoe Ates
Cab Driver (uncredited)
Warren Hymer
Limpy
Minor Watson
Henri Lambert
Mary Martin
Betty Lou Cobb
Benny Goodman
Self (archive footage)
Duke Ellington
Self (archive footage)
Ruby Elzy
Ruby
Donald Kerr
Skeeter, Barbershop Musician
Paul Whiteman
Self (archive footage)
Harry Rosenthal
Piano Player
Tommy Dorsey
Self (archive footage)
Ronnie Cosby
Jeff as a Boy
Harry Barris
Suds
Carolyn Lee
Aunt Phoebe Cobb
Jimmy Dorsey
Self (archive footage)
Jack Teagarden
Pepper
Danny Beck
Deek
Ted Lewis
Self (archive footage)
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