Amazon.com: Bing Crosby founds the first white Dixieland band in Birth of the Blues, a tuneful turn-of-the-century tale--if highly suspect as musical history. Borrowing hot licks from black musicians (Eddie "Rochester" Anderson comments, "Our music sure has gone highbrow"), Bing and his players struggle to invade the straight-laced clubs, succeeding only after songbird Mary Martin joins the band. Martin, in one of her infrequent movie appearances, has fun with Der Bingle jazzing up "Wait Till the Sun Shines, Nellie," a highlight of this breezily enjoyable nonsense. --Robert Horton
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - classic Bing Crosby vehicle--even with a problem or two (three and one-half stars)
Birth Of The Blues is a musical vehicle for the great Bing Crosby. Sure, some of this plot may be rather fictionalized; but that's not what really matters. You watch this film for the song and dance numbers. ... Read More
Rating: - Fun fictionalization of the history of New Orleans jazz
Bing Crosby and Jack Teagarden lead the Basin Street Hot Shots, the (fictional) first all-white jazz band in New Orleans. Goofy and slow in parts, but god clean fun. Lots of weird racial stuff -- it's worth ... Read More
Rating: - MARY MARTIN AND DER BINGLE
The purpose of Paramount's BIRTH OF THE BLUES was to show the orgins of American jazz in New Orleans. It briefly introduced a black band patterned after the historic Razzy Dazzy Spasm Band that used to serenade ... Read More
