The Glen Miller Story (1954)
On the topic of movies about dead rock icons, they're not a new thing. The Glen Miller story is as poignant and interesting as all the others, Miller's just from a much forgotten era, that of pre-1950s. Still, a revolutionary from humble beginnings who rose from nowhere to become the sound of an era.
And you can tell he was much beloved as James Stewart expertly plays the itinerant Miller, you don't get much more top-drawer than that. Sort of the Tom Hanks of the post-war years.
There's much more than that here in terms of star power as well. Probably one of the film's best scenes is a full set by Louis Armstrong himself:
And more than that, the leading lady is superb, June Allyson, whom I'd never heard of before, but she was absolutely a scene stealer. More than that, she plays the exact kind of 'strong woman' so many modern writers just don't seem to be able to write. Like they say, behind every great man is an even greater woman!
On top of that there's a young Colonel Sherman T Potter of MASH fame, for those who loved that series and are curious to see him acting in his prime. He's Harry Morgan and he plays Miller's bestie, unironically called Chummy.
I will not lie, Glen Miller was well before my time. All of our times I should think, and I had no idea what to expect of this. All I knew was he was a band leader and I enjoyed some of his most popular hits. However, by the end of the film I was most certainly a fan created. It does a fantastic job of warming you to the legend, who, of course, of course, of course, was taken from us far too early in life.
There are flaws however, the most striking being that it spends far too much time in his early pre-fame years before we get rolling with his success, so much so that when he finally does become successful it all feels a bit rushed. So there are pacing issues where it can be too slow one minute and then too fast the next.
This is because the focus of the plot is mostly from the point of view of the fantastic relationship between miller and his wife, their ups and downs and unique bond which, together, created a phenomenon.
There are lots of great musical sets, some of which could well bring a tear to the eye, but it would have been nice to have more of that, but ain't that always the way with musician biopics!
7.75/10 and I feel mean giving it that as I really want to give it an 8 or more as it really succeeds in making you like and understand the guy.
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