Sun Valley Serenade
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Sun Valley Serenade was released in 1941. It stars Sonja Henie, John Payne and Milton Berle. It features The Glenn Miller Orchestra as well as dancing by The Nicholas Brothers. The movie was nominated for three 1941 Oscars: Cinematography, Scoring of a Musical Picture, and Best Song ("Chattanooga Choo Choo").
Of particular note is the "Chattanooga Choo Choo" song and dance scene by Dorothy Dandridge and The Nicholas Brothers. This scene begins in the practice studio with the Glenn Miller Orchestra practicing "Chattanooga Choo Choo." The scene includes two chorus of the song sung by Tex Beneke in a musical exchange with the The Modernaires. In a scene transition that incorporates no introduction or integration with the practice studio or other actors, Dandridge and The Nicholas Brothers begin singing and dancing in a train station set. The spectacular song and dance scene was apparently filmed so it could be easily cut out by movie houses choosing not to show African-American performers, as was the practice in the south during that period.
"Sun Valley Serenade" is the first of the only two movies featuring The Glenn Miller Orchestra (the other is "Orchestra Wives" in 1942). Besides "Chattanooga Choo Choo," other Glenn Miller tunes in the film are "It Happened in Sun Valley," "I Know Why," and "In the Mood".
The film is shown several times a day at the Sun Valley Opera House, and continuously on the Sun Valley Resort TV station.
Cast listing
| Actor/Actress | Role |
|---|---|
| Sonja Henie | Karen Benson |
| John Payne | Ted Scott |
| Glenn Miller | Phil Corey |
| Milton Berle | Jerome K. 'Nifty' Allen |
| Lynn Bari | Vivian Dawn |
| Joan Davis | Miss Carstairs |
| Dorothy Dandridge | Specialty Act |
| The Nicholas Brothers | Themselves |
| Glenn Miller Orchestra | Themselves |
| The Modernaires | Themselves |
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