

Score
Actual jazz giants performing, not actors pretending
Production
The 'All-American Dance Band' poll gimmick was real marketing
Acting
Todd Duncan breaking barriers as a serious Black opera-jazz artist

Director
William Dieterle
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The Saturday Evening Post poll was genuine — over 100,000 readers voted, and RKO actually cast the winners, making this possibly Hollywood's first crowdsourced film.
Todd Duncan, who plays Rex Tearbone, was the original Porgy in 'Porgy and Bess' and insisted his character not be a stereotype; he won that battle with producer William Dieterle.