Singin' and Dancing Back in Time.: GLENN MILLER STORY (1954)

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

GLENN MILLER STORY (1954)

This film is a Hollywood biography of Glenn Miller, a influential big band leader of the 1930s and early 1940s. Glenn Miller died serving his country in World War II. Classics such as "In the Mood," "String of Pearls" and "Little Brown Jug" are featured in the film. The movie is about life in the U.S. from 1929 to 1945. Wonderful cameo roles by Louis Armstrong and Gene Krupa, playing themselves.

Soundtracks:
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"Basin Street Blues"
(uncredited)
Written by Spencer Williams
Performed by Louis Armstrong and Gene Krupa

"Over the Rainbow"
(uncredited)
Music by Harold Arlen
Lyrics by E.Y. Harburg
Performed by the orchestra

"I Know Why (and So Do You)"
(uncredited)
Music by Harry Warren
Lyrics Mack Gordon
Performed by the band when trying out the new configuration
Also played during the newspaper/record montage

"String of Pearls"
(uncredited)
Music by Jerry Gray
Lyrics by Edgar De Lange
Performed by the orchestra at the Glen Island Casino

"Pennsylvania 6-5000"
(uncredited)
Music by Jerry Gray
Lyrics by Carl Sigman
Performed by the orchestra at the anniversary celebration

"Tuxedo Junction"
(uncredited)
Music by Erskine Hawkins, William Johnson and Julian Dash
Lyrics by Buddy Feyne
Performed by the orchestra at the recording session

"St. Louis Blues"
(uncredited)
Written by W.C. Handy
Arranged by Glenn Miller
Performed by the military band as "The St. Louis Blues March"

"In the Mood"
(uncredited)
Music by Joe Garland
Lyrics by Andy Razaf
Heard when Glenn is writing arrangements at the piano
Also performed by the orchestra at the ballroom
Also performed by the orchestra during the radio broadcast

"Chattanooga Choo Choo"
(uncredited)
Music by Harry Warren
Lyrics by Mack Gordon
Performed by Frances Langford, The Modernaires and the Band

"American Patrol"
(uncredited)
Music by F.W. Meacham
Performed by the orchestra during the battle footage montage

"Little Brown Jug"
(uncredited)
Written by Joseph Winner
Played and sung often throughout the picture

"Too Little Time"
(uncredited)
Written by Henry Mancini

"At Last"
(uncredited)
Music by Harry Warren
Played by the orchestra while Glenn and Helen are in the control booth

"Moonlight Serenade"
(uncredited)
Music by Glenn Miller
Lyrics by Mitchell Parish
Played during the opening credits
Also sung during a stage show
Played occasionally throughout the picture

"Good Night, Ladies"
(uncredited)
Traditional
Played by Pollack's band in New York

"Santa Lucia"
(uncredited)
Music by Teodoro Cottrau
Played on the violin as Glenn is walking out of the New York pawnshop

"Bridal Chorus"
(uncredited)
From "Lohengrin"
Music by Richard Wagner
Played during the wedding scene
Also sung in the hotel room
Also played at the anniversary celebration

"Bidin' My Time"
(uncredited)
Music by George Gershwin
Lyrics by Ira Gershwin
Sung by the performers in Girl Crazy

"Elmer's Tune"
(uncredited)
Music by Elmer Albrecht
Played when Glenn and Helen are pulling up to the Glen Island Casino

"Adios"
(uncredited)
Music by Enric Madriguera
Played when Down Beat magazine proclaims Glenn Miller "Tops for 3rd Year in Row"
Also played on the phonograph when Helen and Chummy are talking

"National Emblem"
(uncredited)
Music by Edwin Eugene Bagley
First tune played by the military band

"God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen"
(uncredited)
Traditional
Played during the Christmas scene

"Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly"
(uncredited)
Traditional
Played during the Christmas scene

Alton Glenn Miller (March 1, 1904 – missing December 15, 1944), American jazz musician, composer, and bandleader in the swing era. He was one of the best-selling recording artists from 1939 to 1943. Miller's most famous recordings include In the Mood, American Patrol, Chattanooga Choo Choo, Tuxedo Junction, Moonlight Serenade, Little Brown Jug and Pennsylvania 6-5000.

2 comments:

Paul 2December 29, 2009 at 12:04 PM
Dawn ,A good film directed by Anthony Mann, and the last time June and James worked together. Some fun facts. Music director Joseph Gershenson had Chummy Mac Gregor(Played by Henry Morgan in the film) and Don Haynes to serve as technical advisors,along with eight members of the original band to record exact duplications of some of the better known Miller songs. The "Little Brown Jug" was really a part of the Miller band "Charts" long before Christmas eve 1944. It was recorded as part of the famous Carnegie Hall Concert of 1937. A little dramatic license for the films end.
The film is out on DVD as part of a Universal Box set that also has Thunder Bay(another Anthony Mann Film) among others.
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DawnDecember 30, 2009 at 5:48 AM
Paul, The box set sounds like something I would like for my DVD collection. Thank you for the interesting trivia.
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