Orchestra Wives

This film, the second to feature the Glenn Miller Orchestra, and probably best of the many films to include bandleaders in the cast, does exactly what it says on the tin – present a film about orchestra wives, those long-suffering mates of band musicians. What plot there is can be summed up in a couple of lines, concerning romances, new marriages, old flames, and rivalries.

The production works better than ‘Sun Valley Serenade', as that film largely had to support a plot for Sonja Henje. This time, there's more scope for other characters to make their impact, however brief. And yes, that is Cesar Romero playing piano for Miller. I'm not sure why, but there you go.

Miller himself was no actor, but it is of great interest to see him lead his band on screen (and also to put faces to singers Tex Beneke and Ray Eberle). The unique arrangements were perfect for screen soundtracks and there are several hit numbers featured throughout ‘Orchestra Wives'.

I love this movie! It has the great Glen Miller band and features Tex Beneke. It also has the fabulous Nicholas Brothers in a WONDERFUL finale! In addition, the costumes that the "wives" wear should be in a time capsule; they are really great and perfectly reflect the best fashions of the day. The plot is to be tolerated as it creates a framework for music, dance and beauty that lifts the soul!!! Thumbs up!! What a treat to see Jackie Gleason playing the bass. Also, Tex Beneke was a voice I had only heard on records. It is delightful to see him try his hand at acting. Ann Rutherford is so lovely, and I just find the whole film a fluffy treat. The music is just the best and I always delight in the Nicholas Brothers.

It's Glenn Miller and his orchestra all right, even though the producers called him Gene Morris or something like that, and there is lots of music played by them. This movie seems to be almost unknown, yet it should by on the top of the list of every Glenn Miller fan. The sound is not bad for a 1942 recording.

The story line ... is not worse than those of hundred other movies, past and present, without redeeming musical numbers. It's about the few wives or girl friends traveling with the band, who do not necessarily make the musicians' hardships on the road any easier. In the style of these older movies, things are happening at a good clip and are never too melodramatic.

Glenn Miller plays "Glenn Miller" pretty well in a low-key manner and looks quite realistic. How could they make such great music with the smoking and the bad food at odd hours?

In many ways a typical studio movie of its time: boy meets girl, boy falls for girl, trouble between boy and girl, etc. Resolutions to the dramatic twist are more comic than realistic, but that's standard fare for movies of that era and fans of this genre know what to expect.

The Glenn Miller orchestra with vocals by Marion Hutton, Tex Benecke, and the excellent production values inputed by the film's producers make this movie worth seeing. Also, print out the entire cast list from the IMDb and note all the stars worth identifying as the film progresses.

A must see/have for fans of Glenn Miller and the popular music of the WWII era. If you romanticize this era, as I do, you'll love the film.

Coming back to this after a long gap I was surprised how much I remembered of it and basically how good it was. The glue and the title refer to some of the band's spouses and their overall bitching and attempts to go better over the others. This film sums up womankind as seen by Golden Age Hollywood - after watching it I feel more in touch with my feminine side. Maybe not! But I wouldn't wanna play in the same band with Buddy either!

Ignoring the above, the key to enjoying this movie lies in the marvellous and plentiful music (although mimed to) by Glenn Miller & his Orch. Some glorious 40's standards are captured here, "At last" but especially the sublime "Kalamazoo" sung by Tex Beneke definitively, where the Nicholas Brothers wrap it up in their usual laid back and reflective style.

The atmosphere is great, not quite in the Andy Hardy vein for Ann Rutherford, but I take my impressions of what small town America might have been like in the 40's from this film (along with "Shadow of a doubt").

Glenn Miller certainly helped create a unique and unforgettable sound with his music and his band - but his acting left something to be desired!