Birth of the Blues

Play trailer

Birth of the Blues

Released Nov 7, 1941

1h 20m

Musical

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

Tomatometer

4 Reviews

54%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

Jeff Lambert (Bing Crosby), who has grown up in New Orleans surrounded by black music, determines to start a band featuring white coronet player Memphis (Brian Donlevy). However, the Basin Street Hotshots are rejected from several venues for playing "black" jazz, until singer Betty Lou Cobb (Mary Martin) insists they be hired as her backup band. The band finds success until Jeff and Memphis fall out over Betty Lou, then get entangled with gangster Blackie (J. Carrol Naish).

Otis Ferguson

The New Republic

The Birth of the Blues was a good idea for a picture story, but since it was to be about music it had to be treated as a musical, and apparently when you start a musical production you throw story values out the window in the first place.

May 8, 2024

Full Review

Steve Crum

Video-Reviewmaster.com

Dated, full of politically incorrect racial edges, but fun musically with Crosby starring.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 3, 2008

Full Review

Carol Cling

Las Vegas Review-Journal

Rated: 3/5

Oct 17, 2003

Full Review

John Beifuss

Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)

A remarkable Bing Crosby vehicle that pays heartfelt homage to the creators and innovators of jazz... It seems almost like the first rock 'n roll movie...

Aug 11, 2003

Full Review

Read all reviews

Steve D

Aged about as well as 80 year old milk.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

06/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Another band-trying-to-make-good plotline comes alive when Crosby and Martin sing; highlights are "Wait 'Til the Sun Shines, Nellie" and "The Waiter and the Porter and the Upstairs Maid."

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Being a jazz and blues fan, I found the music to be great. Movie is not a history of the blues but a simple story with a simple yet nice tribute at the end. Based on movies made during this time period.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Inane story but great music and one of the few chances to see Mary Martin in a lead film role.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

pretty enjoyable film and an unfortunately forgotten treasure in the Bing Crosby library. well-written in typical 30s and 40s musical comedy style. entertaining characters, fun story, and some great early jazz/blues music.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

pretty enjoyable film and an unfortunately forgotten treasure in the Bing Crosby library. well-written in typical 30s and 40s musical comedy style. entertaining characters, fun story, and some great early jazz/blues music.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/23/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Victor Schertzinger

Director

Bing Crosby

Jeff Lambert

Mary Martin

Betty Lou Cobb

Brian Donlevy

Memphis

J. Carrol Naish

Blackie

Carolyn Lee

Aunt Phoebe Cobb

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

View more photos

Synopsis

Jeff Lambert (Bing Crosby), who has grown up in New Orleans surrounded by black music, determines to start a band featuring white coronet player Memphis (Brian Donlevy). However, the Basin Street Hotshots are rejected from several venues for playing "black" jazz, until singer Betty Lou Cobb (Mary Martin) insists they be hired as her backup band. The band finds success until Jeff and Memphis fall out over Betty Lou, then get entangled with gangster Blackie (J. Carrol Naish).

Director: Victor Schertzinger
Producer: Monta Bell
Screenwriter: Harry Tugend, Walter DeLeon
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures
Genre: Musical
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 7, 1941, Original
Runtime: 1h 20m