New Orleans (1947) | 
| Director: Arthur Lubin
Actors: Arturo De Cordova, Dorothy Patrick, Marjorie Lord, Irene Rich, John Alexander
Studio: Kino Video
Buy New: $49.93
New (2) Used (4) Collectible (1) from $14.47
Rating:  6 reviews
Sales Rank: 36749
Format: Black & White, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: VHS Tape
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 90 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.3 x 4.2 x 1.1
ISBN: 6305820775
UPC: 738329034337
EAN: 9786305820772
ASIN: 6305820775
Theatrical Release Date: April 18, 1947
Release Date: January 22, 2002
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
This little-seen, 1947 drama is a treat for jazz fans, thanks to an otherwise creaky, if nobly intentioned story built around the music's Crescent City genesis that provides an ample excuse to turn the camera on authentic jazz greats. Nick Duquesne (Arturo De Cordova) is a Bourbon Street charmer whose gambling club provides the mythic stomping grounds for none other than Louis Armstrong, whose vocalizing sweetheart Endie, played by none other than Billie Holiday, proves no slouch herself. A newly arrived debutante, Miralee (Dorothy Patrick), arrives in New Orleans and falls first for the music and then for the roguish but ultimately gallant Nick. The movie follows knee-jerk plot machinations revolving around her family's efforts to excise Nick from her life, her own dream of mingling jazz and classical music, and the gambler's transformation into a jazz promoter. The script works in the squalor and much of the geography of Storyville and the French Quarter, even providing a contrasting look at the genteel parlor music being played in "respectable" casinos, and the casting telegraphs the production's reverence for jazz. Satchmo's other musical partners are equally serendipitous, including Kid Ory, Barney Bigard, Bud Scott, Zutty Singleton, Meade "Lux" Lewis, and Red Callender. A brief arc late in the film adds Woody Herman and his orchestra. When the musicians are featured, New Orleans is a frequent delight, with Armstrong as magnetic as always, and Holiday endearing. As an actress, she's a terrific singer, and luckily Lady Day's dialogue is far briefer than her featured vocals. The DVD version boasts additional period shorts showcasing Armstrong (1932's "A Rhapsody in Black and Blue") and Holiday's "Symphony in Black" from 1935). --Sam Sutherland
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
 Great music and star-studded performance January 1, 2007
Classic Movie watcher
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
The movie showcased the ascent of New Orleans ragtime music versus the uptown music. Miralee Smith (Dorothy Patrick) was the young opera singer who, together with her conductor, was attracted to ragtime music, against the wish of her mother and many. Mrs. Smith, to keep her daughter away from ragtime music and its staunch supporter, Mr. Duquesne (Arturo de Cordova), made sure New Orleans had no place for either of them. And in Chicago Mr. Duquesne popularized the music as jazz.
The real draw, of course, lies in the jazz music as epitomized by Louis Armstrong and his Band, Woody Herman and his Orchestra, and the beautiful voice of Billie Holiday, plus the professional musicians playing the cornet, trombone, clarinet, double bass ... . Billie Holiday exuberates a cool confidence with her unique rich voice and her swaying along the melody. Her rendition of Ms New Orleans was impressive, but the most outstanding moment was when she sang fairwell to Storyville and later joined by the chorus of the black folks who were forced to leave New Orleans. Not to mention the solo played by Louis Armstrong and Woody Herman.
A jazz enthusiast must see September 30, 2005
Verna D. Hines (Detroit, MI)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I am so very glad I bought it, as a person who loves great music and provocative movies, with love as a theme, in all vernaculars (except hip-hop), and a jazz enthusiast at heart it's a love story dotted with great musical contributions from the authentic jazz greats, Louie Armstrong and Billie Holiday to name a few.
 Forget the story! January 24, 2005
nom-de-nick (United States)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
The film itself it trite and inconsequential. Buy this for the music alone. It's a delight to see Louis Armstrong in such a casual environment, with so many jazz legends, not to mention one of Billie Holiday's rare movie appearances. This DVD is honestly a treasure.
Great footage of many early jazz legends April 5, 2003
Stephen Cannon (Yokohama, Japan)
13 out of 13 found this review helpful
I have always found jazz performances much more captivating live rather than recorded, and although I can't travel back in time and see Louis Armstrong play during his prime, this video is the next best thing.The makers of New Orleans did not waste the talents of the musicians, and a good chunk of the movie is concert footage of many of the giants from the golden age of Jazz including Kid Ory, Woody Herman and Billie Holiday doing old standards such as Basin Street Blues and Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans. These performances truly convey the joy that enrapt the musicians as they played, and Armstrong in particular, is irresistably charming and funny as usual and appears for much of the film. Unfortunately, Holiday is possibly the most wooden actress I have ever seen, but since for most of her comparatively short screen time is spent singing, it isn't a problem. I strongly recommended this one to all fans of early jazz.
Silly plot, fantastic music August 4, 2001
M. McCabe
11 out of 12 found this review helpful
I bought this DVD blindly just because I'm such a fan of Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday and of New Orleans in general. The plot (what there is of it) is clich d and uninteresting, but the music is fantastic, and I ended up playing the musical pieces over and over. The entire movie is filmed on a Hollywood soundstage; if you're looking for shots of old New Orleans, look elsewhere.
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