In Orchestra Wives, beautiful but naive Connie meets her idol, trumpeter Bill Abbot, while his band’s on tour. After marriage, though, she finds out how catty the other wives can be. And how a previous tour nearly ended several marriages.
Bill Abbott: Now listen cutie-pie. I’m a big, bad trumpet player, and never in my life have I seen anything so gorgeous coming off a dance floor. I’ve seen thousands. I’ve kissed some of them, but not like I’m going to kiss you.
Product Description of Orchestra Wives
A new bride faces the strain of life on the road in this musical romance that features the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Miller is featured as band leader Gene Morrison, who embarks on a whirlwind national tour with his orchestra. While on the tour, trumpeter Bill Abbott (George Montgomery) impulsively marries one of his many ardent fans, a naive young women named Connie (Ann Rutherford). At first Connie is more than willing to put up with such problems as not spending time with her new husband and the malicious gossip of other wives. But when she comes to believe that Bill is still involved with an old flame, the ensuing quarrel threatens to end both the new marriage and the entire band.
Songs
- At Last, Music by Harry Warren
- Lyric by Mack Gordon
- Performed by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra
- Copyright 1942
- Sung by Ray Eberle and Lynn Bari (dubbed by Pat Friday)
- (I’ve Got a Gal in) Kalamazoo
- Music by Harry Warren
- Lyric by Mack Gordon
- Performed by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra
- Sung by Tex Beneke, Marion Hutton, and The Modernaires
- Then sung and danced by Fayard Nicholas and Harold Nicholas
- Copyright 1942
- People Like You and Me
- Music by Harry Warren
- Lyric by Mack Gordon
- Performed by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra
- Sung by Tex Beneke, Ray Eberle, Marion Hutton, and The Modernaires
- Copyright 1942
- Serenade in Blue
- Music by Harry Warren
- Lyric by Mack Gordon
- Performed by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra
- Sung by Lynn Bari (dubbed by Pat Friday)
- Copyright 1942
Cast of characters
- George Montgomery (Roxie Hart) … Bill Abbot
- Ann Rutherford (Whistling in the Dark) … Connie Ward
- Glenn Miller (The Big Broadcast of 1936) … Gene Morrison
- Glenn Miller and His Orchestra … Gene Morrison Orchestra
- Lynn Bari (Shock) … Jaynie Stevens
- Carole Landis (One Million B.C., My Gal Sal) … Natalie Mercer
- Cesar Romero (Week-end in Havana, Batman the Movie) … St. John ‘Sinjin’ Smith
- Virginia Gilmore … Elsie
- Mary Beth Hughes … Caroline Steele
- The Nicholas Brothers … Nicholas Brothers
- Tamara Geva … Mrs. Beck
- Frank Orth (The Lost Weekend) … Rex Willet
- Grant Mitchell (Blondie’s Holiday) … Dr. Ward
- Harry Morgan (M*A*S*H, The Apple Dumpling Gang) … Cully Anderson
- Jackie Gleason (The Honeymooners, Soldier in the Rain) … Ben Beck
- Edith Evanson (Twice Told Tales) … Hilda
- Alec Craig (Mutiny on the Bounty, Lassie Come Home) … Henry Fink