There are no MGM styled production numbers in this 20th Century musical. But much better than that, you can see the legendary Glen Miller and his equally legendary orchestra and the Modernaires enchanting us in this l940 treat. the story is forgettable: the trials and tribulations of a bunch of wives whose husbands are all Big Band musicians. Lynn Bari plays the bitchy star singer who has the hots for Robert Montgomery and is determined to mess things up for his naive, dewy-eyed little wife, played in sad-eyed and weepy fashion by Ann Rutherford (Careen in "Gone With the Wind"). But just wait until the music starts and you'll be swinging your foot in rhythm or maybe even jumping to your feet and dancing along to "Kalamazoo", "At Last", "Serenade in Blue" and "People like You and Me." The personality who really jumps out is the blonde-haired, electrifying Marion Hutton who sings with the Modernaires. She looks very much like her more famous sister, Betty Hutton, but Marion steals all of her scenes. Just watch her belt out "People Like You and Me" and even better, "Kalamazoo." Yet, she and her handsome co-singer, Ray Eberle, are not even listed in the credits! Tex Benedet plays that sexy sax and harmonizes with the Modernaires. Bari performs a sultry "Serenade in Blue" and like her performance in "Sun Valley Serenade" lip syncs to another singer. Never mind. This is a fun, unforgettable experience to see why Glenn Miller and his Orchestra and singers were the hottest things in music during the late 30s and early 40s. He and his musicians vanished when their plane crossed the Atlantic during World War II.
Review of Orchestra Wives
