Review of Babes on Broadway

Busby Berkley might have been a genius, but this movie is a good example of just how curious the USA was in 1941. Yeah, I'm white, but the black-face minstrel finale ruins this entire film for me. One of the best of the "backyard musicals" staring the energetic and hugely talented duo of Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland. Several fine musical numbers including the "Barnyard Hoe-Down". Then they go and ruin it all with an over-blown minstrel finale, beautifully filmed, but dated and very uncomfortable in this day and age. James Gleason and Donald Meek are wonderful as supporting character actors. The story is totally unbelievable, and, as always, they put on a show. The wartime nostalgia with kids from England and "fresh air camp" for city children is appropriate for the times, in 1941. Other than the "minstrels" I do not think there is anyone who is actually black in the entire movie! Almost as weird as the "white" minstrel show number ("Mandy") in "White Christmas"! Too bad. I really wanted to like this film. This film would have otherwise been rated an 8 or 9, as it is fun to watch right up to the ending. Not often shown uncut, except on TCM. Sometimes the minstrel number is cut or shortened for broadcast (on other channels), as often done for Holiday Inn's "Abraham" (with Bing Crosby in black-face!).