Sun Valley Serenade
US (1941): Musical/Comedy/Romance/Sports
The first of only two screen appearances by Glenn Miller, this Technicolor musical provides a spectacular setting for the big-band swing. The Glenn Miller Orchestra gets a booking at the Sun Valley resort (recently opened, the resort became a trendy vacation spot for Hollywood types), where they're met by a Norwegian immigrant (Sonja Henie) sponsored by pianist John Payne. Her talents on ice come in handy when vocalist Lynn Bari exits in a jealous huff. Mostly a pleasant backdrop for terrific Miller tunes such as "Chattanooga Choo Choo" (with a dance routine by the Nicholas Brothers and vocals by Dorothy Dandridge), "It Happened in Sun Valley," and the inevitable "In the Mood." Milton Berle and Joan Davis supply the comic relief. Directed by H. Bruce "Lucky" Humberstone for Fox.
Glenn Miller's "Chattanooga Choo Choo," the Oscar-nominated song from the film, was the first record in 15 years to sell more than a million copies. To commemorate the achievement, RCA Victor presented Miller with the first solid gold record. (amctv.com)
3 nominations
· Cinematography (Black and White) 1941: Edward Cronjager
· Music Scoring Awards (Scoring of a Musical Picture) 1941: Emil Newman
· Music Best Song 1941: "Chattanooga Choo Choo" Harry Warren - Music, Mack Gordon - Lyric