剧情简介,多用现在时态描述.

　　In1900,anorphanisabandonedinthefourstackerSSVirginian.HeisthenbroughtupbyDanny,acoal-manfromtheboilerroom,whodeterminestoraisetheboyashisownandnamestheboyas1900.Unfortunately,afewyearslater,Dannyiskilledinaworkplaceaccident,and1900isforcedtosurviveaboardtheVirginianasanorphan.Whengrowingup,1900showsoutoftheextraordinaryself-taughtpianotalent.HebefriendsMaxin1926,butneverleavesthevessel,evenwhenpresentedwiththeopportunitytofashionanewlifewithaprettyimmigrantgirl.Buthestayscurrentwithoutsidemusicaltrendsaspassengersexplaintohimanewmusictrendorstyle,andheimmediatelypicksitupandstartsplayingitforthem.

　　HisreputationasapianistissorenownedthatJellyRollMorton,ofNewOrleansjazzfame,onhearingof1900'sskillcomesaboardtochallengehimtoapianoduel.1900doesn'twinthedueluntilheplaysanoriginalpiecewhichimpreesthecrowdalot.

　　Havingheardof1900'sprowess,arecordproducerbringsaprimitiverecordingapparatusaboardandcutsademorecordofa1900originalcomposition.Therecordedmusiciscreatedby1900ashegazesatagirlwhohasjustboardedandwhohefindsattractive.When1900hearstherecording,hetakesthemaster,offendedattheprospectofanyonehearingthemusicwithouthishavingperformedit.Hethentriestogivethemastertothegirlwhoinspiredit,butendsupsmashingitwhenhefails.