St. Louis Blues (1939 film)

St. Louis Blues (retitled as Best of the Blues)^[1] is a 1939 American musical film directed by Raoul Walsh and set on a Mississippi River showboat. Though the song "St. Louis Blues" is performed, the film's plot is not based on the song. Artists appearing in the film include jazz singer Maxine Sullivan and composer/singer/actor Hoagy Carmichael. The film stars Dorothy Lamour, Lloyd Nolan, Tito Guízar, Jerome Cowan and Mary Parker.

St. Louis Blues
Film poster
Directed by	Raoul Walsh
Produced by	Jeff Lazarus
Starring	Dorothy Lamour Lloyd Nolan
Cinematography	Theodor Sparkuhl
Edited by	William Shea
Music by	Score: Charles Bradshaw Songs: Frank Loesser (music and lyrics) Burton Lane (music)
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date	February 3, 1939 (1939-02-03)
Running time	92 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Lamour sings "I Go for That"^[2] by Matt Malneck, Jr. and Frank Loesser^[3] in the film, and it became a hit recording.

Plot

A Broadway performer befriends a showboat skipper and they stage a musical revue. Competition from a carnival owner soon becomes a threat to their dreams.

Cast

• Dorothy Lamour as Norma Malone
• Lloyd Nolan as Dave Geurney
• Tito Guízar as Rafael San Ramos
• Jerome Cowan as Ivan DeBrett
• Jessie Ralph as Aunt Tibbie
• William Frawley as Maj. Martingale
• Mary Parker as Punkins
• Maxine Sullivan as Ida
• Cliff Nazarro as Shorty
• Victor Kilian as Sheriff Burdick
• Walter Soderling as Mr. Hovey
• The King's Men as Themselves
• Virginia Howell as Mrs. Hovey
• Matty Malneck as Himself (Orchestra Leader)
• Emory Parnell as Policeman White

George Raft was offered the lead role, but he refused and was replaced by Nolan.^[4]