So after a bit of deliberations about what to focus on this month, the silly expression “March to a different drummer” came to mind. The whole quote as written by Henry David Thoreau was: “If a man loses pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured, or far away.”

 And from the drums to music in general.

To begin this collection, I thought it would be fun to reflect on a few different bio-pics of some of the kings of swing: Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Red Nichols.

To begin with Glenn, I have Alfred Hitchcock to thank. Let me backtrack a few steps – I am sure at one point some of us had that ‘one item’ we had to see, hear, read, whatever. I don’t know how it began, but the film Psycho was on my determination list. Of course my parents were wise to tell me ‘no’ and steer me toward other alternatives.

When the ‘Lost Hitchcock Films’ were found – and watched repeatedly on cable with one parent or the other – Hitchcock’s style engrossed me. James Stewart in The Man Who Knew Too Much, Vertigo and Rop enthralled me.

To date, I have seen all but four of Stewart’s films and it wouldn’t be easy to try to select ‘one favorite.’ The Glenn Miller Story was enjoyable, close to true and introduced me to a musician whose staying power is understandable. Never mind the fact that Stewart’s musical talents went as far as a small bit of singing and playing the accordion – he made me believe he could play the trombone. Another wonderful thing about this film was that it was the second time that Stewart and June Allyson played husband and wife. There are some acting pairs that bring that impossible element of believability to what they do.