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Orchestra Wives DVD Cover
Orchestra Wives
"It's Hep! It's Hot! It's Hilarious!"

-- Synopsis: comedy about life on the road of a traveling "Big Band Era" troupe and their spouses who travel with them. A naive, small-town girl (Rutherford) falls for a fast-talking, smooth-playing trumpeter (Montgomery) he promptly proposes after spending about fifteen minutes with her and then she joins the band on tour, where the female members of the troupe, wives and singers alike start gossiping and rumor-mongering about her and the trouble ensues, but of course, all ends happily. A Good movie that received 2 Best Song Academy Award Nominations.

* This is not a dance movie but does feature some great dancing. The Nicholas Brothers are the featured dancers and we can see why when they Tap in this film. There is a brief Jitterbug scene but this movie is still a must for Swing and Tap dance fans. Also of special interest is that in real life, Glenn Miller disappeared during a plane flight over the English Channel on 12/15/1944 making this his last of only two films.

 

Orchestra Wives 1 Orchestra Wives 2 Orchestra Wives - Nicholas Brothers Orchestra Wives - Outdoor Jitterbug scene
More Film Information below
Date: Studio: Director: Availability:
1942 20th Century Fox Archie Mayo
[DVD] [VHS]
Runtime: Country Made: Language: Color:
98 minutes USA English Black and White
Genre: Featured Dancer  Featured Dance Dance Rating  
Musical / Music
Nicholas Brothers Tap Excellent
 
Known Dancers Choreographers Actors / Actresses
Cesar Romero Alfred Newman (musical director) Alec Craig (Henry Fink)
Nicholas Brothers   Anne Rutherford (Connie Ward)
Tamara Geva   Carole Landis (Natalie)
    Cesar Romero (Sinjin) 
    Dale Evans (Girl at soda fountain)
    Edith Evanson (Hilda)
    Frank Orth (Rex Willet)
    George Montgomery (Bill Abbott)
    Glenn Miller (Gene Morrison)
    Grant Mitchell (Dr. Ward)
    Harry Morgan (Cully Anderson)
    Iris Adrian
    Jackie Gleason (Ben Beck: Bass Player)
    Lynn Bari (Jaynie)
    Mary Beth Hughes (Caroline)
    Tamara Geva(Mrs. Beck)
    Tex Beneke
    Virginia Gilmore (Elsie)
     
 
Dances performed in this film   Special Dance Interest
Jitterbug n/a n/a Jitterbug
Tap     Tap
       
       
 
Some Music Titles in Film Bands / Musicians / Singers Posters / Lobby Cards
At Last Glenn Miller Orchestra n/a
Bugle Call Rag Lynn Bari    
I've Got A Girl in Kalamazoo Marion Hutton    
Serenade in Blue Moe Purtill    
  Ray Eberle    
  Tex Beneke    
  The Modernaires    
       
       
 
Stage versions of the film Cast Recording(s) / Soundtracks Similar Films Sheet Music Covers
n/a $ Soundtrack (15 songs) Benny Goodman Story n/a
    Glenn Miller Story  
    $ Sun Valley Serenade  
    You Were Meant For Me (1948)  
 
Books Available on this film ...
Title Author Date Published Publisher
n/a n/a - -
 
Other...
 
November 3, 2005
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