New Orleans

New Orleans is an entertaining but dated little film. Set in 1917 jazz and ragtime music are frowned upon by decent society. When a young classically trained singer falls for Nick Duquesne the self proclaimed "King of Basin Street" her mother and polite society will stop at nothing to close Basin Street and chase Nick out of town. Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday appear and in particular this is a must for Louis Armstrong fans. This film is in the style of 1950's and 60's rock and roll movies. Corny but entertaining.

Wonderful entertainment. If you love Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday you will enjoy this film. Satchmo on the horn with Billie Holiday singing with it. Two greats that we will never see again. This movie may be a bit outdated but that is part of it's charm. I just love even hearing Sathmo's voice when he is just talking let alone his magic horn. I recommend this movie for all old time jazz fans who want to see some of the greats on film even if they appear for only for a few minutes. Movies like this really make me think of our mortality. Everyone is gone but their spirit still lives on. That is my own personal feeling. After watching this movie I just want to listen to all the old jazz tunes played by the old timers. I would really not call this a great movie. It's just lots of fun.

Without Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday and their musical supporting cast, this would be a forgettable melodrama. To me the most interesting aspect of this movie is the contrast of cultures - the stuffy white world symbolized by classical/operatic music (some very excellent), the blues/jazz world of the downtrodden but resilient black population and the white "early adopters" of their music. The music is tremendous. Although this movie would never win an Academy Award except for music, the cast is overall excellent given their material. Anyone who loves Armstrong or Holiday should own this. I saw this on Turner classic movies and I'm going to buy it.

This was a Rare Event in Hollywood in 1947.

An Honest Presentation of "Race" Music, in this case "Jazz" Taking the Country by Storm and Causing a Caustic Culture-Clash Post WWI.

The White Musical "Establishment" Fought Hard to Keep this "Low-Brow" and Unwanted Form of Mostly Black Music from "Tainting" and Corrupting the Upstanding Youth and "Respectable" White People.

The Same Thing Happened in the Mid 1950's when the Blues and Country had a Baby and They Called it Rock n' Roll.

This Film Features the Only Film Appearance of Billie Holiday, Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong, Woody Herman, and a Number of Real-Life Black Musicians.

There's Plenty of Music.

Opera is Interspersed for Contrast with Dorthy Patrick Playing a Singer Seduced by the "Flip-Side".

The Story Surrounding the Music is Typical. Confrontations Between Powerful Mainstream Organizations and Street-Level Jive-Joints.

Some of it Involves the "Environment" where Crime and Decadence Flourishes and the Movie has a Scene that is "Norish" in its Stark Presentation of the "Streets"

The Film was Thought Lost, but has been Discovered and what a Treat it is.

Deserves More Respect for its Place in Hollywood History for Taking a Chance with a Straight-Forward Display of the Music and Culture.

A Hidden Gem.

Very uplifting. No need to worry about bad stuff happening, it's just an escape into the early days of blues and jazz. Great songs by Satchmo and Billie Holiday and a bunch more.