The Glenn Miller Story

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The Glenn Miller Story

Directed by	Anthony Mann
Produced by	Aaron Rosenberg
Written by	Valentine Davies Oscar Brodney
Starring	James Stewart June Allyson
Music by	(various)
Cinematography	William H. Daniels
Editing by	Russell F. Schoengarth
Distributed by	Universal International Pictures
Release date(s)	December 10, 1953
Running time	115 min.
Language	English
IMDb profile

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

1 Plot
2 Reception
3 Musician Cameos
4 Cast
5 Soundtrack listing
6 See also
7 External links

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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).