When this film debuted in 1953, it had a pretty large audience, as Miller's music was still popular on the radio. However, many years have passed and tastes have changed, so my reaction to the film is strongly impacted by my being a child of the 1960s. I am not a particular fan of big band music, though there are some Glenn Miller songs I like mildly. However, since the second half of the film is like a giant music video and features practically every hit Miller ever made (all played in their entirety),I got pretty bored. It's a real shame, as I liked the first half of the movie (less songs) and love Jimmy Stewart films. So what if the story isn't very close to the real life of Glenn Miller--it was fun and engaged me from the beginning. But,...there were just too many songs!! The bottom line is the production values were just fine but this film is really just for fans of big band or Jimmy Stewart--all others should probably try another film instead.

Not their best collaboration, my personal favourite is 'Winchester 73', but of the ones personally seen (not all but most) 'The Glenn Miller Story' is up there among their better ones. While there's more to see of their collaborations, none of the ones seen are less than good.

Biopics are very difficult to get right, especially ones of famous people in entertainment (i.e. film) and music (composing, singing, playing instruments). For example often coming to life when in action (whether acting, singing, composing or playing),but some suffer from the biographical elements not faring as good, with a tendency to play fast and loose with the facts. There are some great ones, some good ones, some uneven ones and some hugely problematic ones.

Luckily, 'The Glenn Miller Story' is one of the near-great ones. On a musical front it is nothing short of exceptional, no complaints there, but it was thoroughly enjoyable as a biopic too regardless of it not being a true account and very scratch surface because of not suffering from pacing or tone problems. Stewart is note-perfect in a role that plays to his strengths, despite him portraying a big band icon Stewart not only plays Miller with utter conviction but the performance also epitomises everything that Stewart himself is about and what made him such a great actor.

'The Glenn Miller Story', when it comes to Mann is very much removed from his darker and more psychological westerns that also star Stewart (the films that he's perhaps chiefly famous for),but there is not once a sense that he is beyond his comfort zone in an atypical genre for him, far from it. To me, actually, even with a lighter touch (much needed),without it ever feeling too much, it is one of Mann's stronger overall directorial efforts when it comes to his collaborations with Stewart.

As said to be expected, the music is exceptionally bewitching, with all the hits included and it was so wonderful to hear so many classics in one film. This said, 'The Glenn Miller Story' does have much more than a great performance and music. As well as June Allyson personifying charm and spunk, the supporting cast are just as good, with a superb Harry Morgan and cracking appearances from Louis Armstrong, Gene Krupa, The Modernaires and Frances Langford. The chemistry between Stewart and Allyson is irresistible, and 'The Glenn Miller Story' is handsomely mounted and beautifully filmed with lavish use of colour.

Script-wise, 'The Glenn Miller Story' a vast majority of the time succeeds, with a nice and well balanced dose of humour that makes one feel good and tender sentiment, while the story's warm heart and bags of charm more than makes up for any misgivings of it being inaccurate and only scratching the surface. Really liked the characters and felt myself caring for them.

My only complaints really are the rather too sudden ending that should have been more sombre and the central relationship being portrayed somewhat too perfectly and sugar coated, which does despite the irresistible chemistry mean that parts do fall into saccharine-overboard camp occasionally.

In conclusion, a near-great film and it is easy to see why of all Stewart and Mann's collaborations 'The Glenn Miller Story' is generally one of the more fondly remembered ones. 8/10 Bethany Cox

THE GLENN MILLER STORY is a biopic of the famous 1940s-era musician, here played by James Stewart in a story directed by Anthony Mann. The two made many such films during the 1950s, many of them westerns, and all of them are watchable, although some more than others. This one I was less interested in, purely because I didn't find the subject matter as interesting as other biopics.

Now, it's hard to fault THE GLENN MILLER STORY as a film in itself. It charts the usual rise to fame in a chronological order, and the attention to scene and detail is fine. The whole thing hangs together on the lynch pin of Stewart himself, who puts his all into the role and comes across completely convincing as a result. The music scenes are lively and entertaining, it's just that the non-music stuff drags and feels a little dated.