Nova Orleans

A fellow-jazz-fan in the US recently sent me this on video. I enjoyed it immensely. I can't pretend it's a good film. The story and its treatment are reminiscent of the straight bits in Marx Brothers films (the ones that had straight bits, that is). But instead of Groucho and Harpo, Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday do their stuff, and bring the film to life.

Plus points for jazz fans are that several of the numbers are seen and heard complete, rather than faded out; both Billie and Louis were still near their best; the other musicians, including Kid Ory and Barney Bigard, get to solo, and you hear -- and see - an early version of the Armstrong All-Stars really swinging. There's also a rare sight of the great (and now disappeared) Lucky Thompson behind Louis in one sequence.

A personal note: one of my very first records (78 rpm, early 1950s) was Louis' "Where the Blues Was Born". I guess I had the studio, not the soundtrack version, but both are terrific. It was amazing to SEE that long-treasured performance.

"New Orleans" would not go down well with latter-day jazz musicians because Billie's shown as a maid, and Woody Herman (white) comes into the story for no earthly reason beyond the fact that he was a big name in 1947. But if you can see and hear past all that, the music makes it worthwhile.

OK, it's not a good film. But how many jazz films are? "Jammin' the Blues," "Pete Kelly's Blues," "Sven Klang's Combo," "Round Midnight," and that's it. Only three of those are feature-length, and two are European. For anyone who loves the music, "New Orleans" is well worth viewing.

Just the musicians alone make this a worthwhile movie...jazz musicians like Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Kid Ory, Barney Bigard, Meade 'Lux' Lewis, Woody Herman, Zutty Singleton, and others have close-ups, and a number of them have speaking parts. There are nine musical numbers featured in the movie also.

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.

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.