The casts and production teams of these films were almost all black, and the music reflected current tastes in jazz and rhythm and blues.

Duke Davis (Cooper) is a stage-show promoter in love with Ethel Andrews (Horne), a popular singer in his company dubbed "the Bronze Venus".

Speciality acts appear throughout the film, including Willie Covan, the Basin Street Boys, Rubberneck Holmes, Cats and the Fiddle, the Marie Bryant Swing Band, and the Harlemania Orchestra.

[1] Ralph Cooper planned to star alongside Nina Mae McKinney as the female lead, but her delayed return from her appearances in Australia led to the role to be recast.

Horne as Ethel sings the Harvey Brooks & Ben Ellison composition "I Know You Remember",[4] with lyrics apropos of the film, "You and I have made a small beginning..." Horne also sings "Don't Let Our Love Song Turn Me Blue", with a lyric that foreshadows one of her future great roles: "True love will guide us through stormy weather"; and she reprises "I Know You Remember".