"Dixieland cornetist Red Nichols runs into opposition to his sound, but breaks through to success. He marries a warm, patient woman and even finds time to raise a family. Then tragedy strikes when their daughter contracts polio."
Danny Kaye
as Red Nichols
Barbara Bel Geddes
as Wila Stutsman
Louis Armstrong
as Louis Armstrong
Harry Guardino
as Tony Valani
Bob Crosby
as Wil Paradise
Bobby Troup
as Artie Schutt
Susan Gordon
as Young Dorothy Nichols
Tuesday Weld
as Teenaged Dorothy Nichols
Ray Anthony
as Jimmy Dorsey
Shelly Manne
as Dave Tough
Ray Daley
as Glenn Miller
Valerie Allen
as Tommye Eden
Cindy Carol
as Girl at Birthday Party
Robert Banas
as Dancer at College Prom
Toby Michaels
Charles Herbert
as Patient
John Benson
as Musician
Earl Barton
as Choreographer
Herschel Graham
as Hotel Guest (uncredited)
Lynn Fields
as Girl at Birthday Party (uncredited)
Melville Shavelson
Director
John P. Fulton
Special Effects
Nellie Manley
Hair Supervisor
Red Nichols
Musician
Leith Stevens
Conductor
Farciot Edouart
Visual Effects
W. Wallace Kelley
Second Unit Director of Photography
Sylvia Fine
Songs
Hal C. Kern
Production Assistant
Screenplay
Charles Grenzbach
Sound Recordist
Wally Westmore
Makeup Supervisor
Daniel L. Fapp
Director of Photography
Original Music Composer
Richard Caffey
Assistant Director
John Wilkinson
Jack Rose
Grace Gregory
Set Decoration
Edith Head
Costume Design
Frank P. Keller
Editor
Choreographer
Tambi Larsen
Art Direction
Hal Pereira
Producer
Robert Smith
Story
Sam Comer