Rather childish storytelling, that trivializes the hardships of getting ones talent known - and of the associated problems of finding oneself – cannot completely adversely effect the quality of the music here. The worst aspect of this film is the awkward namedropping of famous song titles and even more famous jazz musicians into the script. When James Stewart – as Glenn Miller – tells June Allyson - as his soon-to-be wife - his telephone number, it just had to be 'Pennsylvania 6 5 thousand'!
Allyson and Stewart have a good, funny chemistry that is partly successful in dramatizing the sexual love that underpins both the music he creates (essentially for her) and the fact that he knows where he is going career wise. Allyson embodies the idea that behind every great man there is an even greater woman because she believes wholeheartedly in him. Moreover, the actresses lisp takes her off the pedestal usually reserved for Hollywood actresses with an imperfection that makes her seem all the more genuine, human and empathetic.
The tasteful style refuses to recognize real world issues; opting instead to present Glenn Miller as some kind of secular saint and apostle of the American Dream. An amusing fairy tale with no real political context; a bit like watching an Elvis Presley movie with good music.
Copyright © 2009 Frank TALKER. Permission granted to reproduce and distribute it in any format; provided that mention of the author’s Weblog (http://franktalker5.blogspot.com/) is included: E-mail notification requested. All other rights reserved.
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