The Glenn Miller Story

The Glenn Miller Story
Promotional movie poster for the film
Directed by	Anthony Mann
Produced by	Aaron Rosenberg
Written by	Valentine Davies Oscar Brodney
Starring	James Stewart June Allyson
Music by	Glenn Miller Joseph Gershenson Henry Mancini
Cinematography	William H. Daniels
Edited by	Russell F. Schoengarth
Distributed by	Universal-International
Release date	10 February 1954 (NYC)
Running time	115 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$7 million

The Glenn Miller Story is a 1954 American film about the eponymous American band-leader, directed by Anthony Mann and starring James Stewart in their first non-western collaboration. Universal-International's first public announcements, early in 1953, employed the soon-discarded title, "Moonlight Serenade."

The film follows big band leader Glenn Miller (1904–1944) (James Stewart) from his early days in the music business in 1929 through to his 1944 death when the airplane he was flying in was lost over the English Channel during World War II. Prominent placement in the film is given to Miller's courtship and marriage to Helen Burger (June Allyson), and various cameos by actual musicians who were colleagues of Miller.

Several turning points in Miller's career are depicted with varying degrees of verisimilitude, including: the success of an early jazz band arrangement; his departure from the Broadway pit and sideman work to front a band of his own; the failure of his first band on the road; and the subsequent re-forming of his successful big band and the establishment of the “Miller Sound” as typified by “Moonlight Serenade”. Also depicted is Miller’s international success touring his band in support of the Allies in World War II.

There are several anachronisms in the picture. When the military band led by Miller is playing in front of General "Hap" Arnold, a B-29 bomber is in the background. The marching troops are desegregated, which didn't happen until 1948.