Birth of the Blues
“Strike Up The Band ! * Here comes happiness . . . in a merry medley of romance . . . and rhythm !”
Synopsis
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.
Top Cast
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Bing Crosby
Jeff Lambert
Mary Martin
Betty Lou Cobb
Brian Donlevy
Memphis
Carolyn Lee
Aunt Phoebe Cobb
Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson
Louey
J. Carrol Naish
Blackie
Warren Hymer
Limpy
Horace McMahon
Wolf
Ruby Elzy
Ruby
Jack Teagarden
Pepper
Danny Beck
Deek
Harry Barris
Suds
Perry Botkin Sr.
Leo
Minor Watson
Henri Lambert
Harry Rosenthal
Piano Player
Donald Kerr
Skeeter, Barbershop Musician
Barbara Pepper
Maizie
Cecil Kellaway
Granet
Release History & Theatrical Window
November 7, 1941
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Victor Schertzinger
- Screenplay & Story
- Harry Tugend, Walter DeLeon
- Original Score
- Robert Emmett Dolan
- Original Title
- Birth of the Blues
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 26m
- Production Studios
- Paramount Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Victor Schertzinger
Harry Tugend, Walter DeLeon
Robert Emmett Dolan
William C. Mellor
Paul Weatherwax
Monta Bell, Buddy G. DeSylva
Department Leadership Roster
Victor Schertzinger
Director
Walter DeLeon
Writer
Monta Bell
Producer
Buddy G. DeSylva
Producer
Paul Weatherwax
Editor
Edith Head
Costume Design
William C. Mellor
Director of Photography
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Birth of the Blues.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Birth of the Blues.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Birth of the Blues
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Birth of the Blues about?
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.
Who directed Birth of the Blues?
Birth of the Blues was directed by Victor Schertzinger.
Who stars in Birth of the Blues?
The principal cast of Birth of the Blues includes Bing Crosby, Mary Martin, Brian Donlevy, Carolyn Lee, Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson.
When was Birth of the Blues released and how long is it?
Birth of the Blues was released in 1941 with a total runtime of 1h 26m.
Who composed the musical score for Birth of the Blues?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Birth of the Blues was composed by Robert Emmett Dolan.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Birth of the Blues?
Birth of the Blues holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).