In romantic comedy drama St Louis Blues Dorothy Lamour seems to wink at her public image as she packs her sarong and runs away from a New York manager who exploits her to a Missouri riverboat where Lloyd Nolan puts her in his new show. Nolan’s competitor (William Frawley) tries to stop the successful show by revealing that Lamour walked out on a contract. This is mostly an excuse to stage W. C. Handy’s title masterpiece and the many other songs.
In contrast to his work on what is essentially a musical comedy, director Raoul Walsh became best known for helming tough dramas such as The Roaring Twenties (1939) with James Cagney and the western They Died With Their Boots On (1941).
production details
USA | Paramount | 93 minutes | 1939
Director: Raoul Walsh
cast
Dorothy Lamour as Norma Malone
Jessie Ralph as Aunt Tibbie
Mary Parker as Punkins
Lloyd Nolan as Dave Geurney
Tito Guízar as Rafael San Ramos
Jerome Cowan as Ivan DeBrett
William Frawley as Major Martingale
Maxine Sullivan as Ida