Pete Kelly’s Blues (1955): Cast & Plot
Pete Kelly’s Blues is a 1955 music drama starring Jack Webb as Pete Kelly, Edmond O'Brien and Janet Leigh. It runs 1 hour 35 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 35m (95 min)
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Mark VII Ltd.
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Pete Kelly’s Blues About?
The premise of Pete Kelly’s Blues without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
In 1927 Kansas City, a talented cornetist leads his jazz band at a rundown speakeasy, entertaining nightly amid the Prohibition‑era hustle. Their rhythm is threatened when a violent racketeer demands protection money, forcing the musicians into a dangerous standoff where music and survival collide.
Pete Kelly’s Blues Themes & Keywords
· 47 tags- kansas city missouri
- psychotronic film
- jazz
- homosexual subtext
- roaring twenties
- singer
- singing
- song
- film noir in color
- year 1915
- horse drawn hearse
- year 1919
+35 more Show fewer
- jersey city new jersey
- mourner
- directed by cast member
- musician
- narrated by character
- manipulative woman
- possessive woman
- band
- 1910s
- based on radio program
- speakeasy
- jazz band
- gangster
- cornet
- flapper
- extortion
- drummer
- crap game
- alcoholic
- new orleans louisiana
- mirror ball
- psychiatric hospital
- punched in the face
- rain
- ballroom
- canary
- voice over narration
- prohibition
- funeral
- jazz singer
- jazz score
- ex soldier
- dixieland band
- 1920s
- character name in title
Pete Kelly’s Blues Cast & Characters
Jack Webb leads the cast as Pete Kelly, with Edmond O'Brien as Fran McCarg and Janet Leigh as Ivy Conrad.
- Jack Webb as Pete Kelly
-
Edmond O'Brien as Fran McCarg -
Janet Leigh as Ivy Conrad - Than Wyenn as Rudy Shulak
Also Starring in Pete Kelly’s Blues
· 26 more- Martin Milner Joey Firestone
- Lee Marvin Al Gannaway
- Peggy Lee Rose Hopkins
- Andy Devine George Tenell
- Harry 'Snub' Pollard Waiter (uncredited)
- Ella Fitzgerald Maggie Jackson
- Donald Kerr Drunk in Speakeasy (uncredited)
- Hank Mann Argumentative Husband in Speakeasy (uncredited)
- Jayne Mansfield Cigarette Girl
- John Dennis Guy Bettenhouser
- Nesdon Booth Squat Henchman (uncredited)
- Jester Hairston Mourner (uncredited)
- Mort Marshall Cootie Jacobs
- Teddy Buckner Cornet Soloist (uncredited)
- Harper Goff Tuxedo Band Banjo Player (uncredited)
- Perry Botkin Sr. Tuxedo Band Member (uncredited)
Show all 30 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Dick Cathcart Trumpet Player / Webb's Cornet Double
- Herbert Ellis Bedido
- Joe Venuti Tuxedo Band Member (uncredited)
- Eddie Miller Saxophonist (Big 7)
- Jud De Naut Bassist (Big 7)
- Nick Fatool Drummer (Big 7)
- George Van Eps Guitarist (Big 7)
- Moe Schneider Trombonist (Big 7)
- Ray Sherman Pianist (Big 7)
- Matty Matlock Clarinetist (Big 7)
Pete Kelly’s Blues Plot Summary
What happens in Pete Kelly’s Blues from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Jazz cornetist Pete Kelly, Jack Webb, and his Big Seven keep the music flowing every night as the house band at the 17 Club, a speakeasy in 1927 Kansas City where Prohibition stirs trouble as much as it stirs up the crowds. The band’s modest earnings draw the attention of Fran McCarg, a ruthless crime boss who wants a cut of their take. When Kelly and his musicians refuse to bend to this pressure, the conflict sets off a chain of bold moves and brutal pushbacks that threaten not only the band’s livelihood but their lives.
Full summary
The whole story of Pete Kelly’s Blues, scene by scene
Pete Kelly’s Blues Videos
The clip of Pete Kelly’s Blues.
How Well Do You Know Pete Kelly’s 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
Who plays the jazz cornetist Pete Kelly?
Seen Pete Kelly’s Blues?
Movies Like Pete Kelly’s Blues
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Blues in the Night, The Gene Krupa Story and St. Louis Blues.
Pete Kelly’s Blues FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, cast and post-credit scenes of Pete Kelly’s Blues, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Pete Kelly’s Blues?
Pete Kelly’s Blues runs 1 hour 35 minutes (95 minutes).
When was Pete Kelly’s Blues released?
Pete Kelly’s Blues was released on July 31, 1955.
Who is in the cast of Pete Kelly’s Blues?
Pete Kelly’s Blues stars Jack Webb as Pete Kelly, Edmond O'Brien as Fran McCarg and Janet Leigh as Ivy Conrad, among 30 credited actors.
Does Pete Kelly’s Blues have a post-credit scene?
No. Pete Kelly’s Blues has no extra scene during or after the credits.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
