The Glenn Miller Story

Infobox_Film
name = The Glenn Miller Story


caption = Promotional movie poster for the film
imdb_id = 0047030
producer = Aaron Rosenberg
director = Anthony Mann
writer = Valentine Davies
Oscar Brodney
starring = James Stewart
June Allyson
music = (various)
cinematography = William H. Daniels
editing = Russell F. Schoengarth
distributor = Universal International Pictures
released = December 10, 1953
runtime = 115 min.
language = English

"The Glenn Miller Story" is a 1953 American film directed by Anthony Mann and starring James Stewart in their first non-western collaboration.

Plot

The film follows big band leader Glenn Miller (1904-1944) (James Stewart) from his early days in the music business in 1929 through to his presumed 1944 death when the airplane he was flying in was lost over the English Channel during World War II. Prominent placement in the film is given to Miller's courtship and marriage to Helen Burger (June Allyson), and various cameos by actual musicians who were colleagues of Miller.

Several turning points in Miller's career are depicted with varying degrees of verisimilitude, including: the success of an early jazz band arrangement; his departure from the Broadway pit and sideman work to front a band of his own; the failure of his first band on the road; and the subsequent reforming of his successful big band and the establishment of the “Miller Sound” as typified by “Moonlight Serenade”. Also depicted is Miller’s international success touring his band in support of the Allies in World War II.

Reception

Upon release in 1953, "The Glenn Miller Story" was massively successful at the box office. In 1954, the film was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Screenplay (by Valentine Davies and Oscar Brodney) and Best Score (by Henry Mancini and Joseph Gershenson). The film won the Oscar for Best Music Recording, by Leslie I. Carey. Its soundtrack was equally successful, featuring a number of Glenn Miller's most popular recordings. This is the second of three movies that paired Jimmy Stewart and June Allyson, the others being The Stratton Story and Strategic Air Command.

Musician Cameos

Some of the legendary musicians who make cameo appearances in the film include: Louis Armstrong, Barney Bigard, Cozy Cole, Gene Krupa, Frances Langford, Marty Napoleon, Ben Pollack, Babe Russin, Arvell Shaw, The Modernaires, and James Young (IV).

Cast

*James Stewart : Glenn Miller
*June Allyson : Helen Burger Miller
*Harry Morgan : Chummy MacGregor
*Charles Drake : Don Haynes
*George Tobias : Si Schribman
*Barton MacLane : Gen. Henry H. Arnold, USAAF
*Marion Ross : Polly Haynes
*Nino Tempo : Wilber Schwartz

oundtrack listing

#"Moonlight Serenade"
#"Tuxedo Junction"
#"Little Brown Jug"
#"St. Louis Blues — March"
#"Basin Street Blues"
#"In the Mood"
#"String of Pearls"
#"PEnnsylvania 6-5000"
#"American Patrol"
#"Otchi-Tchor-Ni-Ya"

ee also

* Glenn Miller
* Glenn Miller Orchestra
* Swing music
* Bandleader
* Big band
* James Stewart
* June Allyson

External links

* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047030/ "The Glenn Miller Story" at the Internet Movie Database]
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047030/awards Awards won by "The Glenn Miller Story"]
* [http://randomshelf.blogspot.com/2006/03/in-mood Review of "The Glenn Miller Story" at The Shelf]
* [http://home.aol.com/MG4273/mann.htm The Films of Anthony Mann]