BIRTH OF THE BLUES

BIRTH OF THE BLUES

Bing Crosby, Mary Martin and Brian Donlevy

Birth of the Blues takes place in New Orleans in the 1910s. The film stars Crosby as clarinetist Jeff Lambert, who leaves the conventional orchestra to start a jazz band. The band includes Betty Lou Cobb (Mary Martin) and trumpeter Memphis (Brian Donlevy), inspired by Louis Armstrong. The African American rhythms heard frequently in Louisiana provide the inspiration. Together they become famous and achieve fortune, but internal jealousies and external gangster threats seriously compromise their success. An added complication is the presence of cute little orphan girl Phoebe (Carolyn Lee), Betty Lou's aunt, whom Jeff is obliged to hide from the child-welfare behemoths. Eddie "Rochester" Anderson is in his element as Jeff's long-suffering general factotum Louey, whose near-death experience towards the end of the story results in one of film's most powerful musical vignettes. The 14 songs heard in Birth of the Blues range from such classics as "St. Louis Blues" and "St. James Infirmary" to such newly-minted ditties as Johnny Mercer's "The Waiter, the Porter and the Upstairs Maid".

NOTE: THE DVD VERSION IS A DOUBLE FEATURE WITH THE FILM BLUE SKIES

Retail Price: $19.98

Online Sale Price: $18.98

Product Details: DVD, B&W, 1941

Product Code: 025192263422

This item usually ships within 5 to 7 business days.


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