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