THE GLENN MILLER STORY (1954)

Did you know the 1941 Glenn Miller song "Chattanooga Choo Choo" was originally called "Chattanooga Fuck You"?

I know absolutely nothing about Glenn Miller and from watching this film...I still don't know much!  But I did really enjoy Jimmy Stewart's performance.  And since he was the main reason I watched the movie I walked away satisfied.

The film opens with a young man, Glenn, down on his luck. He's traveling around, playing in various bands, but they just don't have "the sound" that he likes. Things continue on this way for about an hour, until finally he gets his big break with a song he composed called "Paraplegic Pussy Pounder"...whoops!  Sorry that was Sexcrement, not Glenn Miller. Sorry. I meant to say "Moonlight Serenade". And, maybe I'm showing my ignorance here, but it sounded a whole lot like the stuff he was poo-pooing earlier. I guess it had a bigger sound and was more polished, but that was the only noticeable difference I heard.

I would complain about the story being too quick and lightweight, but I think the intention of the filmmakers was to make a movie about the music, not a movie about the man. And in that respect it did a good job. So good in fact that I've been listening to the Sirius "40's on 4" nonstop for like two days! I'm actually really digging this stuff. Which shouldn't come as too much of a surprise since I've always enjoyed the music Woody Allen uses in his films.

Back to the film...it's lightweight, but enjoyable and Jimmy does an excellent job, as always. I can't say the same about June Allyson. Whether you watch it or not really depends on your interest in the subject matter or, like me, your interest in James Stewart. That said (now that I've done some reading about Glenn online) I would actually enjoy seeing a more serious film about his life and mysterious death.

LOVE AND DEATH (1975)

When Napoleon invaded Russia in 1812 both of Woody Allen's brothers enlisted to help Mother Russia. Allen, being generally afraid of violence, didn't want to go, but his family forced him into it. During a great battle, Allen was hiding in a cannon and when it's fired and he ends up landing on some of the French officers. Now a war hero, Allen is free to pursue the love of his life: his cousin Diane Keaton, but unfortunately she's married to a herring merchant. Plenty of intriguing things transpire including a duel, philosophical double-talk, snow eating and an attempt to execute Napoleon.

LOVE AND DEATH is definitely not for everybody, but I love it. The script is delightfully clever, filled with tons of great one-liners and numerous references to classic Russian literature. Everything from "Crime and Punishment" to "Fathers and Sons" to "The Brothers Karamazov" and an especially funny take on the "mock execution" that Dostoyevsky endured in real life.  Then, of course, you have the Ingmar Bergman references that made me grin and swoon like a madman.

Of his pre-ANNIE HALL films, I think this one is the best. And, watching it again now for the first time in many years, it's stood up to the test of time quite well. Recommended.