The Glenn Miller Story (1953)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Anthony Mann

Writers:

Valentine Davies (writer) and
Oscar Brodney (writer)

Release Date:

8 January 1954 (Japan)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Music | Romance

Tagline:

See it and Hear it as Never Before [1980 re-release]

Plot:

The biography of the Bandleader Glenn Miller from his beginnings to his death over the English Channel in December 1944...

Plot Keywords:

Bandleader | Plane | Husband Wife Relationship | Pawnshop | Dancing

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 5 nominations

Cast

James Stewart	...	Glenn Miller
June Allyson	...	Helen Berger Miller
Harry Morgan	...	Chummy MacGregor (as Henry Morgan)
Charles Drake	...	Don Haynes
George Tobias	...	Si Schribman
Barton MacLane	...	Gen. Hap Arnold, USAAF
Sig Ruman	...	W. Kranz (pawnshop owner)
Irving Bacon	...	Mr. Miller
James Bell	...	Mr. Burger
Kathleen Lockhart	...	Mrs. Miller
Katherine Warren	...	Mrs. Burger (as Katharine Warren)
Frances Langford	...	Herself
Louis Armstrong	...	Himself
Ben Pollack	...	Himself
Gene Krupa	...	Himself

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

3 Channel Stereo (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Iceland:L | West Germany:6 (f) | USA:Approved (PCA #16668) | South Korea:All | Australia:G (alternate rating) | Australia:PG | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

3rd Street Tunnel Stairway, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Trivia:

The last three strip Technicolor film released by an American studio in a dye imbibition print.

Goofs:

Continuity: In one scene when Glenn and Helen are discussing if he should quit his band job and continue his formal music studies, Glen begins the process of tying his necktie and is not wearing a jacket. The next time we see him - about 6 seconds later - his tie is done and he has on a suit jacket.

Quotes:

Helen Berger Miller: Honestly!

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Opera Ghost: A Phantom Unmasked (2000) (V)

Soundtrack:

Basin Street Blues

In the mood for big band

Two of my favorites are combined in this movie--Jimmy Stewart and the Glen Miller big band sound. The movie flows smoothly, showing with the right touches of humor and drama, the story of Glen Miller's humble beginnings of having to pawn his trombone in between jobs to his well-deserved fame and fortune.

Jimmy Stewart as Glen Miller and June Allyson as his wife were perfect chemistry. The additional real life talents of Louis Armstrong, and the other musicians lent the authenticity to make this a biopic authentic and one to watch with younger generations. Even my thirteen year old recognized the many songs played. Glen Miller's determination to get the right sound, and his dedication to his family was tremendous. The patriotism of Miller's time in the service is inspirational as well.

Chummy said it so well in the movie about if it was truly "the sound" then the Glen Miller band and its music would go on for years. It has and still does. And this movie is a reminder of what a Hollywood classic is all about.