Birth of the Blues (1941): Cast & Plot
Birth of the Blues is a 1941 romantic music film directed by Victor Schertzinger, starring Brian Donlevy as Memphis, Mary Martin and Bing Crosby. It runs 1 hour 27 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 27m (87 min)
- Director
- Victor Schertzinger
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Paramount Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Birth of the Blues About?
The premise of Birth of the Blues without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
The story follows Jeff, a clarinetist from Basin Street in New Orleans, who forms the Basin Street Hot‑Shots with cornetist Memphis. They attempt to win over the city’s upscale cafe crowd with their jazz, while singer Betty Lou joins and learns scat from Louie. Both Jeff and Memphis fall for her, adding romance to their musical battle.
Birth of the Blues Themes & Keywords
· 8 tags- scat singing
- jazz
- new orleans louisiana
- cultural conflict
- african american
- murder
- musician
- movie theater
Birth of the Blues Cast & Characters
Brian Donlevy leads the cast as Memphis, with Mary Martin as Betty Lou Cobb and Bing Crosby as Jeff Lambert. Directed by Victor Schertzinger; 29 actors are credited in all.
- Director Victor Schertzinger
- Brian Donlevy as Memphis
- Mary Martin as Betty Lou Cobb
-
Bing Crosby as Jeff Lambert - Minor Watson as Henri Lambert
Also Starring in Birth of the Blues
· 25 more- Carolyn Lee Aunt Phoebe Cobb
- J. Carrol Naish Blackie
- Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson Louey
- Ruby Elzy Ruby
- Cecil Kellaway Granet
- Louis Armstrong Themselves
- Duke Ellington Themselves
- Charles Lane Wilbur - Bijou Theater Manager (uncredited)
- Donald Kerr Skeeter, Barbershop Musician
- Benny Goodman Themselves
- Mantan Moreland Black Trumpet Player (uncredited)
- Warren Hymer Limpy
- Barbara Pepper Maizie
- Roscoe Ates Cab Driver (uncredited)
- Horace McMahon Wolf
- Ronnie Cosby Jeff as a Boy
Show all 29 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Harry Barris Suds
- Tommy Dorsey Themselves
- Harry Rosenthal Piano Player
- Jimmy Dorsey Themselves
- Paul Whiteman Themselves
- Ted Lewis Themselves
- Danny Beck Deek
- Jack Teagarden Pepper
- Perry Botkin Sr. Leo
More from Victor Schertzinger
More films directed by Victor Schertzinger, best-rated first: Road to Zanzibar, Road to Singapore, The Fleet’s In and Kiss the Boys Goodbye.
Birth of the Blues Plot Summary
What happens in Birth of the Blues from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Jeff Lambert is a prodigiously gifted twelve-year-old clarinetist whose father has spent a fortune on classical training, but his heart beats to the rhythm of New Orleans jazz. He grows into a young man who instinctively gravitates toward a tight-knit group of black musicians who perform in a dim, smoky Bourbon Street dive. The pull of jazz deepens his passion, and soon he forms his own band, much to the concern of a father who had hoped for a different, more genteel path for his son.
Full summary
The whole story of Birth of the Blues, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know Birth of the Blues?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What instrument does Jeff Lambert famously play at the start of the film?
Birth of the Blues Also Known As
2 alternative titles: “El nacimiento del blues” and “Рождение блюза”.
- Also known as
-
- El nacimiento del blues
- Рождение блюза
Seen Birth of the Blues?
Movies Like Birth of the Blues
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Blues in the Night, New Orleans and A Jazzman's Blues.
Birth of the Blues FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Birth of the Blues, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Birth of the Blues?
Birth of the Blues runs 1 hour 27 minutes (87 minutes).
When was Birth of the Blues released?
Birth of the Blues was released on November 7, 1941.
Who directed Birth of the Blues?
Birth of the Blues was directed by Victor Schertzinger.
More films by Victor Schertzinger Who is in the cast of Birth of the Blues?
Birth of the Blues stars Brian Donlevy as Memphis, Mary Martin as Betty Lou Cobb and Bing Crosby as Jeff Lambert, among 29 credited actors.
Does Birth of the Blues have a post-credit scene?
No. Birth of the Blues has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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