CODA
Drama · Music
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Film / 1941
Birth of the Blues
Directed by
Victor Schertzinger
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.
The story
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.
Cast
Bing CrosbyJeff Lambert
Mary MartinBetty Lou Cobb
Brian DonlevyMemphis
Carolyn LeeAunt Phoebe Cobb
Eddie 'Rochester' AndersonLouey
J. Carrol NaishBlackie
Warren HymerLimpy
Horace McMahonWolf
Ruby ElzyRuby
Jack TeagardenPepper
Danny BeckDeek
Harry BarrisSuds
See more cast
Perry Botkin Sr.Leo
Minor WatsonHenri Lambert
Harry RosenthalPiano Player
Donald KerrSkeeter, Barbershop Musician
Barbara PepperMaizie
Cecil KellawayGranet
Ronnie CosbyJeff as a Boy
Ted LewisSelf (archive footage)
Duke EllingtonSelf (archive footage)
Louis ArmstrongSelf (archive footage)
Tommy DorseySelf (archive footage)
Jimmy DorseySelf (archive footage)
Benny GoodmanSelf (archive footage)
Paul WhitemanSelf (archive footage)
Roscoe AtesCab Driver (uncredited)
Charles LaneWilbur - Bijou Theater Manager (uncredited)
Mantan MorelandBlack Trumpet Player (uncredited)
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