A melodramatic tale about a country boy, played by , son of , who brings his slide trombone to wicked New Orleans in 1913, falls in love with one of the women at the lavish sporting house where he is employed as a musician, and loses her through a cruel twist of fate. , whose book Storyville, New Orleans was published the same year as the film's release, is credited as historical consultant and played the role of Councilman Sidney Story.