The Glenn Miller Story, released in 1954 and directed by Anthony Mann, is mostly based on true events and stars James Stewart as Glenn Miller - the unemployed trombone player, June Allyson as Helen Berger - his supportive wife who kept encouraging him when everything seemed to go wrong, Harry Morgan as Chummy and Charles Drake as Don Haynes. The film is a biography of the bandleader Glenn Miller from his humble, early days to his untimely death in a plane crash in dense fog over the English Channel in 1944. The plane and his body were never recovered.
The film follows Glenn Miller's life story and is a wonderful musical biography faithfully reproducing his style and sound. It begins with his romance with Helen Burger who was his sweetheart in college, then moves on to their marriage and the formation of The Glenn Miller Band. It progresses through the discovery of the welcome Big Band Sound and the new Swing era.
The Glenn Miller Story is a must-see for all Glenn Miller fans and features such musical classics as Moonlight Serenade, String of Pearls, Pennsylvania 6-5000, In the Mood, Little Brown Jug, Chattamooga Choo Choo, American Patrol and Tuxedo Junction.
It was the success of Moonlight Serenade that brought the Glenn Miller Band to the world's attention. James Stewart played one of his best roles in this professionally-made tribute to a man who was a magnificent American musician and composer who changed the style of music for many. The Glenn Miller Story was made nine years after his death.
Film and Movie Information
The Glenn Miller Story was released by Universal in 1954 and was directed by Anthony Mann. The prncipal stars were James Stewart and June Allyson. The movie was filmed in Technicolor in Los Angeles, USA.
