Orchestra Wives Reviews

Among the many cinematic looks behind the scenes in the 1940s, ORCHESTRA WIVES may be the finest example of the genre, due in great part to the presence of Glenn Miller (in his final appearance before his ill-fated flight over the English Channel). The plot concerns Connie (Ann Rutherford), the new wife of trumpeter Bill Abbott (George Montgomery). Connie accompanies Bill as he tours with Gene Morrison's (Miller) orchestra; meanwhile, the other wives cattily speculate as to how long the union can last, especially considering sensuous band singer Jaynie's (Lynn Bari, whose singing is dubbed by Pat Friday) fondness for other women's men. Sure enough, Jaynie sets her sights on Bill, and the sniping among the wives nearly breaks up the band, but all ends happily as the ensemble's dapper pianist (Cesar Romero) manages to keep both the newlyweds and the orchestra together. The picture swings with Miller music from start to finish, with songs provided by those aces of movie tunes, Harry Warren and Mack Gordon.