Die Glenn Miller Story (1954)

Die Glenn Miller Story: Directed by Anthony Mann. With James Stewart, June Allyson, Harry Morgan, Charles Drake. Biography of bandleader Glenn Miller from his beginnings to his death over the English Channel in December 1944.

“Not their best collaboration, my personal favourite is u0026#39;Winchester 73u0026#39;, but of the ones personally seen (not all but most) u0026#39;The Glenn Miller Storyu0026#39; is up there among their better ones. While thereu0026#39;s more to see of their collaborations, none of the ones seen are less than good.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBiopics are very difficult to get right, especially ones of famous people in entertainment (i.e. film) and music (composing, singing, playing instruments). For example often coming to life when in action (whether acting, singing, composing or playing), but some suffer from the biographical elements not faring as good, with a tendency to play fast and loose with the facts. There are some great ones, some good ones, some uneven ones and some hugely problematic ones.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eLuckily, u0026#39;The Glenn Miller Storyu0026#39; is one of the near-great ones. On a musical front it is nothing short of exceptional, no complaints there, but it was thoroughly enjoyable as a biopic too regardless of it not being a true account and very scratch surface because of not suffering from pacing or tone problems. Stewart is note-perfect in a role that plays to his strengths, despite him portraying a big band icon Stewart not only plays Miller with utter conviction but the performance also epitomises everything that Stewart himself is about and what made him such a great actor.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu0026#39;The Glenn Miller Storyu0026#39;, when it comes to Mann is very much removed from his darker and more psychological westerns that also star Stewart (the films that heu0026#39;s perhaps chiefly famous for), but there is not once a sense that he is beyond his comfort zone in an atypical genre for him, far from it. To me, actually, even with a lighter touch (much needed), without it ever feeling too much, it is one of Mannu0026#39;s stronger overall directorial efforts when it comes to his collaborations with Stewart.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAs said to be expected, the music is exceptionally bewitching, with all the hits included and it was so wonderful to hear so many classics in one film. This said, u0026#39;The Glenn Miller Storyu0026#39; does have much more than a great performance and music. As well as June Allyson personifying charm and spunk, the supporting cast are just as good, with a superb Harry Morgan and cracking appearances from Louis Armstrong, Gene Krupa, The Modernaires and Frances Langford. The chemistry between Stewart and Allyson is irresistible, and u0026#39;The Glenn Miller Storyu0026#39; is handsomely mounted and beautifully filmed with lavish use of colour.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eScript-wise, u0026#39;The Glenn Miller Storyu0026#39; a vast majority of the time succeeds, with a nice and well balanced dose of humour that makes one feel good and tender sentiment, while the storyu0026#39;s warm heart and bags of charm more than makes up for any misgivings of it being inaccurate and only scratching the surface. Really liked the characters and felt myself caring for them.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eMy only complaints really are the rather too sudden ending that should have been more sombre and the central relationship being portrayed somewhat too perfectly and sugar coated, which does despite the irresistible chemistry mean that parts do fall into saccharine-overboard camp occasionally.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIn conclusion, a near-great film and it is easy to see why of all Stewart and Mannu0026#39;s collaborations u0026#39;The Glenn Miller Storyu0026#39; is generally one of the more fondly remembered ones. 8/10 Bethany Cox”