Birth of the Blues

Birth of the Blues

Strike Up The Band ! * Here comes happiness . . . in a merry medley of romance . . . and rhythm !

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.

US

Made in US

6.2/10

1941

Music
Romance
Paramount Pictures

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Cast

Bing Crosby

Bing Crosby

As Jeff Lambert

Mary Martin

Mary Martin

As Betty Lou Cobb

Brian Donlevy

Brian Donlevy

As Memphis

Carolyn Lee

Carolyn Lee

As Aunt Phoebe Cobb

Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson

Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson

As Louey

J. Carrol Naish

J. Carrol Naish

As Blackie

Warren Hymer

Warren Hymer

As Limpy

Horace McMahon

Horace McMahon

As Wolf

Ruby Elzy

Ruby Elzy

As Ruby

Jack Teagarden

Jack Teagarden

As Pepper

Danny Beck

Danny Beck

As Deek

Harry Barris

Harry Barris

As Suds

Perry Botkin Sr.

Perry Botkin Sr.

As Leo

Minor Watson

Minor Watson

As Henri Lambert

Harry Rosenthal

Harry Rosenthal

As Piano Player

Donald Kerr

Donald Kerr

As Skeeter, Barbershop Musician

Barbara Pepper

Barbara Pepper

As Maizie

Cecil Kellaway

Cecil Kellaway

As Granet

Ronnie Cosby

Ronnie Cosby

As Jeff as a Boy

Ted Lewis

Ted Lewis

As Self (archive footage)

Duke Ellington

Duke Ellington

As Self (archive footage)

Louis Armstrong

Louis Armstrong

As Self (archive footage)

Tommy Dorsey

Tommy Dorsey

As Self (archive footage)

Jimmy Dorsey

Jimmy Dorsey

As Self (archive footage)

Benny Goodman

Benny Goodman

As Self (archive footage)

Paul Whiteman

Paul Whiteman

As Self (archive footage)

Roscoe Ates

Roscoe Ates

As Cab Driver (uncredited)

Charles Lane

Charles Lane

As Wilbur - Bijou Theater Manager (uncredited)

Mantan Moreland

Mantan Moreland

As Black Trumpet Player (uncredited)

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