Taken in by the musical world as a young orphan, Rick Martin grows up with a desire to play pure jazz instead of the commercial gigs he lands, whilst also coping with the problems caused by his tempestuous marriage to an aloof heiress.

Kirk Douglas
as Rick Martin

Lauren Bacall
as Amy North

Doris Day
as Jo Jordan

Hoagy Carmichael
as Willie 'Smoke' Willoughby

Juano Hernández
as Art Hazzard

Jerome Cowan
as Phil Morrison

Mary Beth Hughes
as Marge Martin

Nestor Paiva
as Louis Galba

Orley Lindgren
as Young Rick

Walter Reed
as Jack Chandler
John Chard
This trumpet is part of me, the best part! Young Man With A Horn is inspired by the sad life of jazz musician Bix Beiderbecke, a sad life because Bix would succumb to alcoholism and pass away at the age of 28. Rick Martin (Kirk Douglas) is the fictional character of the piece, the film is told...