The Glenn Miller Story (1954)

Biopic is an enormously difficult genre to do successfully. They're especially difficult to do if the subject was particularly beloved. Add to that the fact that Glenn Miller died tragically, and very recently. His family was still perfectly alive, as were, I assume, many members of his band. If anything interesting happened in Glenn Miller's life, you'd never know it from watching The Glenn Miller Story. It's an awfully bland little picture, with its only energy coming from always reliable Jimmy Stewart and Miller's own music. Oh, and a brief appearance by jazz legend Louis Armstrong (who actually looks kind of scary in close-up!). June Allyson, who plays Miller's wife, is embarrassing. She's very, very poor in the film. Not one other actor in the film registers. I say just go out and buy some Glenn Miller music (and mix in some Louis Armstrong!) instead of sitting through this one. 5/10.

Fmovies: A nice movie about a nice couple making nice music. I guess that pretty much sums up this film. Individually, I have praise for everyone but as a whole, to be honest, the film is just so-so. It's nice, but nothing special.

I found Miller's music somewhat slow and boring, which was a disappointment. Perhaps if I were older and more of a fan of Miller's sound, the movie would have been better. June Allyson was one of the queens of wholesome-looking actresses in her day, but I never cared for her voice. James Stewart and Harry Morgan are the males and play good guys, as well, with Stewart in the lead as Miller.

For the music fans, there are cameos by Louis Armstrong, Frances Langford, Gene Krupa and The Modernaires.

Were Jimmy Stewart and June Allyson made for the movie,or what?!

Great movie,lovely music!One of those movies that make you feel good all over,with a beautiful blend if wit,emotion and the Blues!What is even more impressive is the use of African American actors,considering the movie was made in 1954.The Jimmy and June combination evokes the chemistry of a Kate and Spencer movie.A true classic in every way,I'd watch it again in a heartbeat!

The Glenn Miller Story fmovies. This movie is a great movie about Glen Miller and his music. Jimmy Stewart does a superb playing the part of Glen Miller. June Allyson and Henry Morgan do great in this movie as well. You get to see and hear some great musicians like Louie Armstrong. You also get to hear lots of Glen Miller music like "Little Brown Jug," "Moonlight Serenade," "Pennsylvania 6-5000," "In the Mood," "String of Pearls." "America Patrol," and more. One of my favorite part in the movie is when Glen Miller and the band are in Enland playing "In the Mood" and a German V-1 buzz bomb flies by and explodes. Everone runs for cover except for the band, they continued to play.

This is a very tidy film, it's got intelligence, integrity, and above all else...it doesn't merely rely on great tunes to pass as a Glen Miller story. Perhaps guilty of not fully fleshing out Miller's workaholic pursuit of the life changing sound, it manages to portray very well the grind of being on the road, and essentially it doesn't soft soap the defining moment of Miller's career as the swing sound is literally stumbled upon by accident.

James Stewart plays it safe as houses as Miller, it's perfect casting when you think that Miller was such a big household name, something of an American treasure it would seem. Though it should be noted that historians say that the sweet Glen Miller portrayed by James Stewart is not quite in keeping with the real man's persona. Regardless of any character liberty taken, director Anthony Mann crafts a very watchable tale, Stewart and the ever watchable June Allyson as Helen Miller ensure it's a very professional piece, and I dare anyone to not start tapping their feet to those wonderful tunes, but I still think that we are waiting for the definitive Glen Miller picture, some 50 odd years later. As for the ending? Well if it's played out as fact then it's a wonderful finale, but if the makers shoehorned "Little Brown Jug" into the end purely for romanticism? Well that could be construed as dangerously sugar coating what should be a sombre ending to the story. 6.5/10

Glenn Miller's rise to fame and the tragedy that took him from us at the height of his career makes for a wonderfully entertaining film.

This film is rich because of the wonderful performances of James Stewart as the band leader and June Allyson, the latter was just made for the picture. She captures the depth of a devoted wife and we all can just cry with her when her happiness was ended so suddenly.

Naturally, the supporting cast of musicians and scenes with Frances Langford, Louis Armstrong and Gene Krupa are just wonderful.

We view Miller from humble beginnings to stardom, the old-fashioned Hollywood Way-he earned it by hard work and perseverance as he went through life looking for that sound.

My main flaw with this film. Just like Miller's life, it ended too suddenly. It could have gone on and on while we all danced the night away in tribute to this find musician.

Ever Harry Morgan's tear in the end tells you what this was all about.