"Young Benny Goodman is taught clarinet by a music professor. He is advised to play whichever kind of music he likes best, but to make a living, Benny begins by joining the Ben Pollack traveling band."
Steve Allen
as Benny Goodman
Donna Reed
as Alice Hammond
Berta Gersten
as Mama Goodman
Barry Truex
as Benny Goodman (age 16)
Herbert Anderson
as John Hammond Jr.
Robert F. Simon
as Papa Dave Goodman
Hy Averback
as Willard Alexander - Benny's manager
Sammy Davis Sr.
as Fletcher Henderson
Dick Winslow
as Gil Rodin
Shepard Menken
as Harry Goodman
Jack Kruschen
as 'Murph' Podolsky - riverboat band Mgr.
Wilton Graff
as John Hammond Sr.
Fred Essler
as Prof Schoepp
David Kasday
as Benny Goodman (age 10 )
John Erman
as Harry Goodman (age 16 )
George Givot
as
Lionel Hampton
Gene Krupa
Teddy Wilson
Ben Pollack
Kid Ory
Urbie Green
Buck Clayton
Stan Getz
Harry James
Martha Tilton
Ziggy Elman
Valentine Davies
Director
Screenplay
Russell F. Schoengarth
Editor
Aaron Rosenberg
Producer
William H. Daniels
Director of Photography
Frank Gorback
Boom Operator
Nevada Penn
Wardrobe Master
Robert Laszlo
Props
Rydo Loshak
Wardrobe Assistant
Rollie Lane
Still Photographer