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James Stewart stars in this biopic of American bandleader Glenn Miller. A talented young trombonist, Miller (James Stewart) falls for Helen Burger (June Allyson) while studying at the University of Colorado. He gets his first big break after leaving college performing his own arrangement of 'Everybody Loves My Baby' at an audition, and builds himself a reputation working for bandleader Ben Pollack (playing himself). Marriage to Helen follows, and Miller finds success with his own 'sound' after a trumpet player splits his lip, forcing him to substitute a clarinet solo on 'Moonlight Serenade'. He goes on to become the leading jazz bandleader of his day, but tragedy looms with the outbreak of World War Two.

The Glenn Miller Story may be a whitewashed version of Miller's life, but it certainly is a pleasant example of the feel-good Hollywood biopic, with the usual conventions: early struggles, loyal wife, personal sacrifice and ultimate tragedy.

Many of Miller's erstwhile colleagues, including Louis Armstrong, Gene Krupa and Frances Langford, appear here as themselves.

Director: Anthony Mann
Cast: James Stewart, June Allyson, Harry Morgan, Charles Drake, George Tobias, Barton MacLane, Sig Ruman, Irving Bacon, James Bell, Kathleen Lockhart, Katherine Warren
Country: USA
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music, Musical, Romance

BD50 | 1080p AVC | 01:56:20, 01:52:25 | 44.9 Gb + 3% rec
Language: English
Subtitles: English

Extras:

• Audio Commentary with Film Historian Jim Hemphill - Hemphill is a humongous fan of Anthony Mann's work and puts him on a pedestal with Hollywood's greatest directors. He covers both Mann and Stewart's careers in great depth. In English, not subtitled.

• US Theatrical Trailer (2:35, 1080i) - an unrestored original trailer for The Glenn Miller Story that's presented in 1.33:1.

Shout has included both the 1954 theatrical cut (which runs 1:56:20) and the 1985 re-release (which runs 1:52:25) with the stereo track restored. Both cuts appear in the aspect ratio of 1.85:1. According to Tom Harrison, a writer for The Greenville (SC) News who interviewed Stewart, the actor served as a tech­nical consultant during the restoration process. Stewart assisted the edi­tors in reworking sequences and pruning excessive dialogue.