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Summary: GlennMiller
Review: I agree that the music is the star here and I remember how thrilled I and other dancers here in Denver Co were when we were asked to dance in the scene where Glenn gives his wife the string of pearls, that scene was filmed in the beautiful Tocadero Ballroom in Denver Co and the band were members of the Lowry Air Force Band. The movie is a classic and I never get tired of watching it. I recommend watching this movie with someone you love It's exciting and romantic!
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Summary: Anthony Mann's The Glenn Miller Story
Review: I am the first to admit I know next to zilch about the era of swing and big bands, but Anthony Mann retells the life of Glenn Miller through some excellent tunes and great performances by James Stewart and June Allyson. It is just plain difficult not to like a film like this.James Stewart is great as the late bandleader. Miller is a broke musician, always pawning his trombone in order to make ends meet. He and his piano player buddy Chummy (Harry Morgan, then named "Henry") are always looking for the next gig that will make them famous. Miller is always politely playing the same old stuff, but he would rather do his own arrangements, following the music he hears in his head and never seems to capture onstage. Behind every great man is a great woman, and June Allyson is Helen, Miller's wife. Their initial encounters are funny, as the affair is one sided. They dated briefly, then parted for a few years, yet Miller still refers to Helen as his girl. After convincing her to marry him spontaneously, the young couple stay in New York City, with Miller playing in the safe shows there. With Helen's unwavering support, Miller eventually completes "Moonlight Serenade." Watch for a hilarious scene as the melancholy ballad is turned into (Stewart's line) "a hoochie coochie number." Miller starts his own band, but it breaks up after Helen miscarries. Meeting with a ballroom booking agent, the band gets back together, and Miller's sound finally takes off, resulting in huge record sales and unlimited musical success. Of course, things are going too perfectly... Miller is commissioned as an officer into World War II, and as most people know, was eventually labelled as missing when his plane did not complete a trip over the English Channel. Over the years, a report surfaced that his plane was accidentally destroyed when flying over a bomb dump. Glenn Miller was just 40 when he disappeared. As I wrote, I do not know much about this field of music, but here is a list of the "special guests" who perform in the film, even I recognized a few names: Frances Langford, Louis Armstrong, Ben Pollack, Gene Krupa, The Modernaires, The Archie Savage Dancers, Barney Bigard, James Young, Marty Napoleon, Arvell Shaw, Cozy Cole, and Babe Russin. Among the numbers featured are "Moonlight Serenade," "String of Pearls," "In the Mood," "Pennsylvania 6-5000," and "Chattanooga Choo Choo." All of these are done well, although I just have never been able to warm up to "Pennsylvania 6-5000." Director Mann balances the life events and the music well. Allyson is not as annoying here as she was in another Mann-Stewart collaboration- "Strategic Air Command." She holds her own against Stewart's Miller. Both are fine and work well together. Harry Morgan is relegated to the best friend role, but is given a funny car obsession and he is good. The Louis Armstrong number in the jazz club is a standout, no wonder the Beats went in for it, what with the spinning colored gel wheel and all. The Technicolor and sound are crystal clear. This was a big film aiming to please the audience, so there are a few scenes that seem to be added because this is a biopic. The Millers' lives seem too perfect, but this is a minor qualm. Allyson's tear stained face as she listens to Miller's final arrangement of her favorite song is fantastic. I always seem to get Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller mixed up, but not anymore. Anthony Mann has realized a story that may not have been too interesting on paper, but is greatly realized on the screen. I highly recommend it, both as a music film and a biographical film. This 1953 film is rated (G) and contains nothing offensive.
Rating:
Summary: Jimmy Stewart shines as bandleader Glenn Miller
Review: I do not think I have ever seen a musical biopic that is so perfectly divided in half as "The Glenn Miller Story." The first half tells of the struggling musician, memorably played by Jimmy Stewart, who spends as much time trying to develop his "sound" with pianist friend Chummy MacGregor (Harry Morgan), as he does wooing perky Helen Berger (June Allyson). Stewart and Allyson had teamed up previously in 1949's "The Stratton Story" and would again in 1955 with "Strategic Air Command." Their mutual soft-spokenness might have had something to do with how ideal the pairing proved to be in all of these films. When one of his musicians gets an accidental split lip during rehersal, Miller stumbles upon his sound and we get to the second half of the film, which is almost wall-to-wall music. Louie Armstrong and Gene Krupa what is pretty much the only big number in the first half with "Basin Street Blues" and Glenn Miller's hits take up the rest of the show with only slight nods towards his family life. The movie does a nice job of offering up these songs in various contexts: "Pennsylvania 6-5000" as a surprise for his wife at their 10th anniversary party, "St. Louis Blues" as a change of pace for Army marching music, and "In the Mood" during an air raid. Miller's tragic death is presented as a strange sort of footnote to World War II, setting up a touching final scene as his widow listens to the Armed Forces Radio broadcast of Miller's "final" show. I keep thinking Miller wrote all these songs, but, of course, he was an incredibly gifted arranger. His life comes across as squeaky clean in this film, but certainly the fact that someone as rich and famous as he was would join the Army to play music for the boys in uniform has more resonance today than it did a few months ago. If you are in the mood for a double-feature the other obvious choice is "The Benny Goodman Show," which is an even better musical bio-flick.
Rating:
Summary: Jimmy Stewart shines as bandleader Glenn Miller
Review: I do not think I have ever seen a musical biopic that is so perfectly divided in half as "The Glenn Miller Story." The first half tells of the struggling musician, memorably played by Jimmy Stewart, who spends as much time trying to develop his "sound" with pianist friend Chummy MacGregor (Harry Morgan), as he does wooing perky Helen Berger (June Allyson). Stewart and Allyson had teamed up previously in 1949's "The Stratton Story" and would again in 1955 with "Strategic Air Command." Their mutual soft-spokenness might have had something to do with how ideal the pairing proved to be in all of these films. When one of his musicians gets an accidental split lip during rehersal, Miller stumbles upon his sound and we get to the second half of the film, which is almost wall-to-wall music. Louie Armstrong and Gene Krupa what is pretty much the only big number in the first half with "Basin Street Blues" and Glenn Miller's hits take up the rest of the show with only slight nods towards his family life. The movie does a nice job of offering up these songs in various contexts: "Pennsylvania 6-5000" as a surprise for his wife at their 10th anniversary party, "St. Louis Blues" as a change of pace for Army marching music, and "In the Mood" during an air raid. Miller's tragic death is presented as a strange sort of footnote to World War II, setting up a touching final scene as his widow listens to the Armed Forces Radio broadcast of Miller's "final" show. I keep thinking Miller wrote all these songs, but, of course, he was an incredibly gifted arranger. His life comes across as squeaky clean in this film, but certainly the fact that someone as rich and famous as he was would join the Army to play music for the boys in uniform has more resonance today than it did a few months ago. If you are in the mood for a double-feature the other obvious choice is "The Benny Goodman Show," which is an even better musical bio-flick.
Rating:
Summary: The Old Stuff still gets you going!
Review: I first saw this movie with James Stewart about 2 years ago. Being a young man who only new Mr. Stewart from It's A Wonderful Life, I was absolutely engulfed in this movie about one of my favorite artists- Glenn Miller. If you love music, if you love the work of Stewart, and/or if you want some original entertainment, this is a movie that you should add to your collection.
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Summary: One of the best ever made by Stewart & Allyson
Review: I rated this movie-documentary a full 5-stars because it is one of the best movies ever to come out of Hollywood. Excellent portrayals by James Stewart, June Allyson, and Harry Morgan plus the host of musicians/singer Frances Langford & the Modernaires made this a movie never to be forgotten. I recommend it to everyone from ages 18-110.
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Summary: Big flaw in chapter 10
Review: I really love this movie and was looking forward to its release on DVD in widescreen. However, I was disappointed when at the start of chapter 10 the DVD started acting up--hesitating, stopping, breaking up, etc. I returned the DVD to the store and got a replacement and when I played it the same thing happened. This DVD should be recalled and chapter 10 should be redone.
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Summary: Great Educational Tool
Review: I'm an elementary general music teacher, and I can hardly wait to show my students the scene from a Harlem speak-easy to give them an idea of the way musicians get together to jam. I'll also show them a couple of scenes of Miller's band playing. There's just nothing else like this movie for giving both a musical and historical perspective -- jazz clubs, army bands, big band sounds, pit orchestra -- this movie has it all! And there's nothing like it for a quiet night of great entertainment at home! Love this movie!!!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Movie
Review: It amuses me how upset people get with some minor historical inaccuracies. As if the movies of today were completely true! This is a simple story of the music of one of the greatest swing arrangers of all times, a chance to get the music before the public at a time in which it was sorely missed. It is a fun experience, one to sit back and simply enjoy without the criticism. I too missed some of the regulars in the band, particularly the Modernaires, but so what? What was left was more than enough.
Rating:
Summary: Evocative and Amazing
Review: It happens every time. When you watch a film with James Stewart in it certain things happen. The film begins, we see Mr. Stewart appear in character, he is the same, tall ,lanky and charismatic. As the film proceeds on..slowly but surely, Mr Stewart becomes " That" character he is playing. Soon the viewer is hooked by the total talent of Jim Stewart , he invites us in to each character he is playing. He is Glenn Miller for us here in this film. If we didnt see Glenn Miller while he was around this is a good chance to see a close example.It does not matter how accurate the film is really.
Those who carp about accuracy should pick up a biography. Those who love the mystique will watch and enjoy the timeless Glenn Miller through James Stewart. I cant see Krupa or Satchmo in any biography , and for sure I cant hear them. In this film I can..with superb effect. A snapshot in time of our musical history. Finally, I was not around during during the Miller era however, after viewing this film .. " I was there" C Pope
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