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