The Glenn Miller Story

Glenn Miller Story

Wonderful movie, full of inspiration and of course great music! Very touching story. The acting was top notch with the fantastic team of James Stewart and June Allyson who have appeared in two other movies together as husband and wife. I like everything Jimmy Stewart ever did, but this is one of my favorite movies of his. I've watched it again and again and never grow tired seeing it. It is entertaining, humorous at times, an interesting true story of a great man and famous musician,inspiring and so very moving.

Glenn Miller: The Man Who Took A Piece of Home Overseas

The entire movie is well crafted. Made in 1953, it's one of James Stewart's best. Of special interest to WW II buffs because of inserted newsreel troop movement and D-Day landing footage, the script is simply and intelligently written.
That means that there are no intrusive dates flashed on the screen, or unnecessary background music. If you're old enough to remember it, the clues are there to give you all you need to know about when a particular scene happened. No fan of Glenn Miller should be w/out this DVD. The ideas for "String of Pearls", "In the Mood", "Tuxedo Junction", and other examples of the "New Style" of music that Miller wrote and arranged that became popular because the kids liked to dance to it are a major part of the plot, of course, but as an example of The Greatest Generation, this film is (for me) a minimum three tissue great. Highlight is Glenn Miller's orchestra playing at a military hospital in England which is in the path of the German planes' "Buzz Bomb Alley" on the way to London. The band is playing "In the Mood" outdoors, and as the enemy planes get closer, the soldiers, nurses, and wounded men are all taking cover. Glenn Miller and the orchestra never miss a note, and, in a sort of defiant gesture, after the last bomb explodes, so does the brass section, right on beat!
It's a good story because it shows what that generation was like; they just got on with it, doing their job to keep up the morale of the US troops, most of whom were the kids who loved and danced to his music before the war. June Allison as his wife is good, keeping in mind the Hayes Act perimeters of connubial behavior of the time. Louis Armstrong and his band are a part of the early Harlem story, where Glenn's style in recognized and appreciated, and the US force (army, at least) is depicted as integrated. Henry Morgan(of M*A*S*H* fame) is Chummy, Glenn's piano man and best friend, but it's WW II USAF fighter pilot Brigadier Gen. James Stewart's picture. Local interest: Stewart's father owned a hardware store in Indiana, PA, where Jimmy grew up, and where he kept his Oscar for The Philadelphia Story. He, fortunately, returned from the European Theatre; Glenn Miller did not. Miller left for Paris the day before the orchestra just before Christmas on a military plane in foggy weather. The small plane and its occupants disappeared over the English Channel, never to be found.
One of the treasures of 1950's post-war Hollywood.

The golden age

I'm too young to recall Glenn Miller and the Big Band Era actually playing on the radio, but watching this film, and listening to the smooth, swinging jazz created by Glenn Miller and his orchestra, makes me wish I was older. Then I could have experienced it firsthand.

I remember Mom and Dad dancing, smiling as he swung her around our tiny living room, the big floor radio vibrating with warmth and beat. The music made them happy. I do recall their smiles and how odd it was to watch them have fun. Parents?

After seeing this movie, my wife and I bought the Artie Shaw story and have added XM's 40s station to our memory button. Try it -- you'll like it!

A reviewer

This is one of my all time favortie movies. It is a definate must see and must buy.

Fine Movie With Great Music

If you're a fan of big band, you must see this touching movie about one of the greatest band leaders of our time. The moving story filled with laughter and tears is brimming with some of the greatest songs of the big-band era--A String Of Pearls, Pennsylvania 6-5000, Moonlight Serenade, Chattanooga Choo Choo, In The Mood and a bunch more! A delightful treat for those who remember the big band days and an equal joy for those who've yet to experience the music that makes you wanna get out of your seat and onto your feet! Oh yeah, did I mention you get to see some great performances from jazz legend Louis Armstrong & drummer Gene Krupa? Don't miss it!

Amazing Film!

I absolutely love this film. Being the granddaughter of a big band accordion musician, I absolutely love the music. Jimmy Stewart and June Allyson are wonderful together in one of the most profitable musical biopics in film history. A wonderful addition to a film fan's collection. I am so happy to see this film finally on DVD to enjoy it!

One of Stewart's Greatest Roles!

This a great film! A must own for any Jimmy Stewart fan or just an ordinary classic movie fan! Jimmy Stewart does an outstanding job in his portrayal of Glenn Miller, the beloved band leader, who's tragic death crushed the world. June Allyson again for the second (of 3 times) plays Jimmy's wife, Helen, with grace and ease. They had great on screen chemistry! One of the highest grossing films of 1954 along with White Christmas and Rear Window.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.