Stometer
Save your money for something good and enjoyable
Fluentiama
Perfect cast and a good story
Moustroll
Good movie but grossly overrated
thinker1691
Under Anthony Mann's direction, this film called " The Glenn Miller story " is as close to the heart as can be when retracing the life of the great American composer. From first to last, the story is well written and with the added talents as James Stewart who plays Glenn Miller, Harry Morgan as Chummy MacGregor and George Tobias, the true persona of the American Band Leader shines clear. Because they worked so well together, June Allyson once again portrays, Miller's wife Helen Berger Miller adding both her voice and sympathetic appeal. The movie tells the story from the beginning when Miller was nearly destitute, but forever struggling to find that 'Special Sound' until he eventually found when he formed his own band. Shadowing his life is that inescapable sound of Glenn Miller and his orchestra which accompanies the movie and one is hard pressed not to recall the highlighted tunes such as 'Moonlight Seranade' and 'In The Mood.' The overall effect of Miller's tunes are what gives this homage to his time and era, allowing audiences to remember the man and his music. Exceptional rendition of his life and times. Easilly recommended to all. ****
Harry Carasso
I saw this movie when it was issued in France and several times since, but I never enjoyed the sound of it so much. To my opinion, it's the best movie about jazz together with YOUNG MAN WITH A HORN, described in JAZZ MAGAZINE, 1957 About a decade ago, I learned the awful pretended story of Glenn Miller's death over the Channel. I discussed it with members of the band after a show in Paris; they dismissed it, of course, and I think it must me forgotten, leaving intact the souvenir felt yesterday all over the movie and its fantastic sound. I think I never watched the sequence with Louis Armstrong, Gene Krupa and Cozy Cole. Harry Carasso, Paris, France
rooprect
Of all the musical biopics I've seen, The Glenn Miller Story ranks pretty low. That's not to say it was bad; I'm just saying I've enjoyed the others much more. Films like "The Five Pennies" (about Red Nichols), "Til the Clouds Roll By" (Jerome Kern) or even the more recent 70s "Lady Sings the Blues" (Billie Holiday) were much more engaging and memorable to me because those films explored a dramatic conflict in the artist's life. I'm not talking about car chases & explosions; I just think a movie should focus on a particular difficulty that the protagonist must face: recurring obstacles, internal demons, or good old artistic pathos. Something to make it seem like there's a point to the struggle.The Glenn Miller Story had no such conflict. Aside from a few money problems early on (always solved by hocking his horn at a local pawn shop), everything seems to go peachy keen. The whole film is like a gentle sled ride down a bunny slope. This is odd because Glenn's true life story had plenty of drama that could have been brought to the screen. Instead these moments were glossed over--almost as if the filmmakers were purposely trying to avoid any tension or passion. The "conclusion" was handled so vaguely I had to run over to wikipedia to read what really happened.While I was at wikipedia, I learned a whole lot of other interesting things about Glenn Miller--none of which warranted more than a 30 second scene in the film. I'm talking about things like Glenn's "new sound" & how he struggled with it, his efforts to revolutionize the military's musical format & the tremendous resistance he encountered from officers & critics, and, as I mentioned, the VERY intriguing conclusion to his career & life. These major points were presented insufficiently in the film. It seemed like the filmmakers chose to focus more on the feel-good scenes like wedding parties, happy gigs and the happy couple cooing to each other (without ever showing how they fell in love in the first place). I was left in a state of disbelief.It's hard for me to flunk any Jimmy Stewart film, so I'll probably try giving it another viewing someday. Maybe it's a good flick for a warm summer day when you don't want too much drama. But for now, I prefer the other films I mentioned, particularly "The Five Pennies" which really gives you an appreciation for how hard musicians struggle to reach success--and Louis Armstrong vs. Danny Kaye in duelling trumpets is worth the price of admission!Another good biopic which convincingly shows an artist's struggle (though fictionalized) is "Young Man with a Horn" with Kirk Douglas and Lauren Bacall. If you really want a artistic pathos, of course go for AMADEUS!
PudgyPandaMan
I was born in the 60's. so Big Band Music was way before my time. So naturally, I wouldn't say I'm a big fan of the music, but of course have heard it from time to time. There are a few memorable pieces that you can't help but run across and that become somewhat "familiar". Well, I certainly didn't know enough to know the names of the songs or who performed them.Well, to my surprise as I am watching this movie, most of the ones I would recognize were all in this one little picture. So needless to say, this man's music has transcended it's appeal to those of that generation, when someone 60 years later, recognizes and appreciates the unique sound he put together.So, with that being said, I basically knew nothing about the man's life, and certainly could not have predicted the ending of the movie because of that. I know everyone who watched this movie when it came out would have known, and so I'm sure it was anti-climatic. But for me it was quite a shock and saddened me greatly.I was very touched by the beautiful love story between Miller and his wife. I think Stewart and Allyson played their roles superbly and had a wonderful and endearing chemistry between the two. I don't know if the details of their courtship were accurate, but it's amazing that she would just up and agree to meet and marry him after not seeing or hearing from him for 2 years. If it is true, it must mean that 2 people really know when they are right for each other and destined to be together.One scene I found amusing, is on their anniversary, Mrs. Miller is "out shopping". When she gets home, she surprises her husband by bringing home a baby! I know they couldn't have children of their own and already had adopted a boy. I just can't imagine someone doing this without there having to be lots of planning, both parties signing forms, etc.This is a great movie, for the characters, the superb acting, the great music, and the appearance of several other musical performers. I especially liked the club scene where Louis Armstrong performs (except for the changing colors spinning in across the camera lens - that was distracting).
