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Birth of the Blues

Play trailer Poster for Birth of the Blues 1941 1h 20m Musical Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 4 Reviews 53% 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).

Critics Reviews

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Otis Ferguson The New Republic 05/08/2024
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. Go to Full Review Steve Crum Video-Reviewmaster.com 11/03/2008
4/5
Dated, full of politically incorrect racial edges, but fun musically with Crosby starring. Go to Full Review Carol Cling Las Vegas Review-Journal 10/17/2003
3/5
John Beifuss Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN) 08/11/2003
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... Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Dale F Apr 15 Loved Bings great clarinet and singing. I thought it was really fun! See more Steve D 06/26/2023 Aged about as well as 80 year old milk. See more 05/13/2012 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." See more 04/01/2012 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. See more 02/12/2012 Inane story but great music and one of the few chances to see Mary Martin in a lead film role. See more 07/02/2009 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. See more Read all reviews
Birth of the Blues

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Victor Schertzinger

Director

Bing Crosby

Jeff Lambert

Mary Martin

Betty Lou Cobb

Brian Donlevy

Memphis

J. Carrol Naish

Blackie

Carolyn Lee

Aunt Phoebe Cobb
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Birth of the Blues

Birth of the Blues (1941) Birth of the Blues (1941) View more photos

Movie Info

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