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