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Birth of the Blues
1941, Nov 07
1h 26m
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
Louis Armstrong
Self (archive footage)
Bing Crosby
Jeff Lambert
Minor Watson
Henri Lambert
J. Carrol Naish
Blackie
Barbara Pepper
Maizie
Cecil Kellaway
Granet
Horace McMahon
Wolf
Warren Hymer
Limpy
Donald Kerr
Skeeter, Barbershop Musician
Mantan Moreland
Black Trumpet Player (uncredited)
Roscoe Ates
Cab Driver (uncredited)
Mary Martin
Betty Lou Cobb
Duke Ellington
Self (archive footage)
Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson
Louey
Ronnie Cosby
Jeff as a Boy
Benny Goodman
Self (archive footage)
Tommy Dorsey
Self (archive footage)
Paul Whiteman
Self (archive footage)
Jimmy Dorsey
Self (archive footage)
Harry Barris
Suds
Carolyn Lee
Aunt Phoebe Cobb
Harry Rosenthal
Piano Player
Ruby Elzy
Ruby
Jack Teagarden
Pepper
Danny Beck
Deek
Ted Lewis
Self (archive footage)
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