Glenn Miller (Jimmy Stewart), has one dream: to find that one sound and have a band of his own. He is always putting his trombone in a hock so that he can get the money to live. This is his life story, from the beginning of his life until the end where he tragically disappeared while flying to Paris, France for a Christmas show that he and his band were going to perform at; as well as about his one true love in his life, Hellen Miller (June Allyson), no one was a bigger supporter for Glenn than his wife.
This is a really good film for a movie if you’re into movies of classic swing music to bring you back to a time of big bands and dance music. The acting is performed very well; Jimmy Stewart does a fantastic job of playing the role of Glenn as this shy, average guy who wants success but also wants the girl he has always talked to, as well as getting to see his entire life. It’s a great story about how a person who came from nothing gets all that he has ever wanted, and does not do anything to mess any of it up. This movie (while overall not historically accurate) has historical elements to it that are accurate: for example, the rise of his band and the moment when his plane and him went missing. The only inaccuracy is that the time-line in between is not correct.
The directing is very well filmed, especially the scenes where the band is playing– they are masterfully choreographed– and Mann really captures the time period of the 30’s in a very elegant way. As well as the music in this film which is overall very fitting to the time period it’s in and also to make the movie. Though the falsehood of Jimmy Stewart originally playing the trombone is a cool rumor, it is not true. Stewart took lessons for the correct positioning, but it was dubbed over by a professional.
Overall it is 7.5. I give 1 gold bar for acting, 2 silver bars for directing, and 4.5 gold bars for music. I will see you the next time you want to come to the movies.