vraguso Reviews

The Miracle of Morgan's Creek (1943)

Character acting gone out of control

[8/10 · 25 March 2004]

There exists not a single film, that I know of, that this one can be compared to. It's a must see for anyone interested in films produced during WWII.

This was the first non-singing role for Betty Hutton and her comedic acting displayed a sophisticated sense of timing. Having said that the plot is high camp and the gags are dated (should I say corny?). Still, it's a very interesting film because it trades on familiar stereotypes that became common place during the "golden age of television". It is certainly fascinating that the only "adult" character is the "youngest", the 14 year-old daughter.

I must add that William Demarest offered a key performance here.

Orchestra Wives (1942)

Glenn Miller & Orchestra in romantic/comedy plot.

[11 April 2003]

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.