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Birth of the Blues Overview:

Birth of the Blues (1941) was a - Film directed by Victor Schertzinger and produced by Monta Bell.

SYNOPSIS

Crosby and Martin star as two jazz artists in the swinging world of 1920s New Orleans. Crosby is a clarinet player who is out to start a band called the Basin Street Hot-Shots. When Martin joins as vocalist, romance ensues. The film pays homage to jazz greats such as Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong, and includes many musical numbers filled with cool clarinets and sizzling jam sessions such as, "Birth of the Blues," "Melancholy Baby," "St. Louis Blues," and "St. James Infirmary."

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

Academy Awards 1941 --- Ceremony Number 14 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best Music - ScoringRobert Emmett DolanNominated
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Birth of the Blues BlogHub Articles:

May 14, 1998…The Birth of the Blues

By Aurora on May 14, 2014 From Once Upon a Screen

Exactly 16 years ago today the world lost the greatest entertainer of all time.  Frank Sinatra passed into memory May 14, 1998 at 10:50 PM PST.  Here are my accounts…as they happened. 3:45 am est: May 15th  My friend Doug Cullen, who has since gone to heaven, called me to wake me up to give me ... Read full article

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Birth of the Blues Quotes:

No Quote for this film.
Birth of the Blues Facts
Loosely based on the story of the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, the New Orleans band that brought jazz and blues to national prominence in 1915-1917. Bing Crosby's character, Jeff Lambert, is based on clarinetist Alcide "Yellow" Nunez, the founder of the band. The cornetist, Memphis (Brian Donlevy), is based on the band's arrogant cornetist, Nick La Rocca. Trombonist Jack Teagarden, who appears in the film, was a member of the band for a time in the 1920's.
One of over 700 Paramount Productions, filmed between 1929 and 1949, which were sold to MCA/Universal in 1958 for television distribution, and have been owned and controlled by Universal ever since.
"The Screen Guild Theater" broadcast a 30 minute radio adaptation of the movie on September 13, 1943 with Bing Crosby reprising his film role.
"The Screen Guild Theater" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on January 18, 1951 with Bing Crosby again reprising his film role.
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