Orchestra Wives (1942)

Note on DVD vs VHS audio

This film rates a 4/5 for the music. I own the DVD and VHS versions, and just want to confirm what some others have posted here:

DVD 'Mono' is 100% mono
DVD 'Stereo' is 100% fake stereo (and it sounds lousy)

VHS is mono in the dialogue and what appears to be the original stereo in the musical numbers plus some of the bridging dialogue

I can't speak for the Laserdisc, but the musical numbers on the VHS version sound MUCH better than either track on the DVD. If you like this movie's music enough to listen to it on its own, you owe it to yourself to find a copy. Quite an amazing blunder (cost decision?) that the original stereo is not on the DVD.

July 18, 2008

what a fun little film!

The appeal to purchase this unknown (to me) title was the real Glenn Miller and his band. And seeing him in this movie would have been enough. But the numbers are fun to watch and the music's a treat. The real-deal sax/singer, drummer, and others makes it more interesting.
Cesar Romero's playful banter with the honest butch George Montgomery (never seen him before) is a good time. George becoming all wrapped up in "Gorgeous" (Ann Rutherford) keeps the plot running on love. There's baby-faced Harry Morgan in one of his first films.
Glenn's a tad wooden as an actor, but seems to be playing himself for the most part- not an actor, but a showman with a fantastic band. No academy award material- it's just entertainment. Awesome entertainment if you appreciate this amazing music.
p.s. They just "throw in" the Nicholas brothers at the end. Those guys were incredible dancers. It's crazy how they make it look so easy. June 25, 2008

Obnoxious Anti-Pirating Ad Ruins This Release

Yes, Fox put it on this one too. If you have an all-region DVD player, you can get this from Amazon.co.uk without the ad. April 6, 2008

Glenn Miller music

What's to say about a film featuring the great Glenn Miller Orchestra? This movie is somewhat darker than the other Miller film, "Sun Valley Serenade", but the music is great. Interestingly enough, all the Miller songs are in stereo, while the rest of the film is mono. If you like this kind of music, and want to see a period in time when bands toured the country, this is as good as it gets! March 23, 2008

What? Mono & fake stereo sound?

I bought this recently as I've had the VHS tape for quite awhile. Well when I played my DVD it defaulted to mono so I went to the language menu & selected stereo. Instead of the stereo music I've heard many times on VHS I got some of the most awful fake stereo that goes through the whole movie. Why did Fox do this instead of using the stereo track from the VHS release? I feel like I've been cheated. Don't get me wrong the movie is great and would have been better with the stereo music tracks.

If you want stereo & happen to have a VHS player hunt up the tape on Amazon or Ebay. Otherwise buy this DVD and play the sound in mono. It's still good that way. February 12, 2008

More reviews at Amazon.com ...