User Reviews

Of the four backyard musicals they shared, the other three being Babes in Arms (1939), Strike up the Band (1940), and Babes on Broadway (1941), this one was definitely the best. Why you may ask? Well, for several different reasons.

One: Mickey was more restrained. His acting always involved extreme mugging to the camera that quite frankly got on my nerves, especially in Babes on Broadway. But he's a little more reserved here. His announcer routine was still annoying and far too long, but it's the only glaring example.

Two: Judy Garland. Her voice and acting ability had reached a new level of maturity in this movie. I loved her sharp wit and clever facial expressions. And she was more beautiful than ever. The best I've ever seen her. You could tell her popularity was rising as she had more presence in this movie than in the other three, and more solo performances.

Three: The plot was better. The other three films had very similar plots, but this one actually took some more liberties and went in a different direction. Instead of putting on a show to form careers, they were trying to save a college. However, the plot is still pretty standard.

Four: The music. An almost entire Gershwin soundtrack, what more could you ask for? All of them were great, but "Embraceable You", my god. I've never heard a more perfect performance. It's most definitely my favorite Garland performance ever.

It's not perfect. There are many parts in the movie I feel are either rushed or not developed enough, and some of the comedy routines get tiring, but despite it's predictable plot, it's a pretty clever and enjoyable movie. And for Garland, she's definitely a Girl I go Crazy over whenever I see her perform.

A Mickey and Rooney and Judy Garland film is something that is hard to understand today. While I adore classic Hollywood films, there is a certain strangeness about their films together that just falls a bit flat. All the singing, cuteness and formula came off very well back during the late 30s and into the 40s but now it just seems dated. I am not putting the films down--just saying that although they were IMMENSELY popular then, today they are not exactly to most viewers' tastes.

This movie is distinguished by having music and lyrics by George and Ira Gershwin. George had unexpectedly died a few years earlier, and these songs were from the stage version of "Girl Crazy" from the 1930s. And while I have enjoyed their music, I wasn't thrilled with some of the musical numbers here--especially since Ira's lyrics were occasionally pretty limp. The worst I can think of is the song which features the immortal line 'I'll tie your shoesies'. In addition, even compared to the typical musical of the day, this one simply had too much music. Unless you adore musicals chock full of singing, this might not be your cup of tea. Plus, hearing June Allyson belting out the opening song was a bit tough on the ears.

One interesting point in this otherwise formulaic film is seeing Nancy Walker when she was young. As I grew up seeing her in commercials and on Rhoda, I just assumed she always was old! Here, she plays goofy comic relief.

The story begins with Rooney playing a spoiled young playboy. He's not exactly a bad guy--just a bit full of himself. Well, his rich father isn't thrilled to see this and decides to pull him out of Yale and move him to a small western college that is NOT co-ed. Not surprisingly, there is a girl there--the Dean's daughter (Garland) and like was so often the case in this sort of film, they hate each other when they meet. Will they manage to work through this? You betcha. The next hurdle, then, is the school's future. The state is thinking about closing it as enrollment is way down. Guess what Mickey and Judy decide to do..yup, put on a show (which, incidentally, they did in 1840249 other films)! So is this one worth seeing? Well, yes...but only if you haven't watched several other Garland/Rooney films or if you like their films so much that you want to see them all. As for me, a classic movie fiend who isn't enamored with their films together, this and "Babes in Arms" and a few others I've seen are enough for me for the time being. Otherwise, they all start to look pretty much alike.

In their last "Let's put on a show!" pairing, the team of Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney take on Gershwin once again, having "struck up the band" just a few years ago, even though that was the only Gershwin song remaining from a show that movie had nothing to do with. Now, they are out west; He's a spoiled rich kid sent to tame down his obsession with girls, and she's the local postal mistress. Real estate issues make the initial hostile meeting of the two put aside their differences and create a show to raise money, and with the help of Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra and some great songs, they are sure to succeed!

Rooney's looney, and loves for his girls to "treat him rough", but he doesn't expect Judy's tough country girl to want nothing to do with him, so he's got to change his act. She's the toast of the local cowboy set, and dances along side them to a gorgeous "Embraceable You", but is perplexed by her lack of romance, singing the heartbreaking "But Not For Me". At least this time, she's singing a standard rather than a song written for her where she puts herself down. No wonder Judy had so many insecurities, even though the camera proves otherwise in the fact that she was indeed much more beautiful than she thought herself to be.

Documented in the TV movie with Tammy Blanchard taking on Judy as a youngster, this is the film where hideous task master Busby Berkeley openly harassed her, driving her to drop from exhaustion. In spite of that, it doesn't show on screen, and Judy and Mickey are an energetic team, putting on the lavish finale of "Girl Crazy's" most famous song, "I Got Rhythm". While this isn't a full score of that 1930 Broadway hit, many of the songs are there. Rooney courts Judy with "Could You Use Me?", giving his high strung character some vulnerability and bringing him down a notch. Nancy Walker, June Allyson and Guy Kibbee offer some amusing supporting performances, with June messing up Rooney's full head of hair as she "treats him rough".

Maybe it's just so dated, but I was expecting to really enjoy this film...but I didn't. I found it "passable". Maybe it was that it takes place at an all-boy's college out in the desert. Maybe its that for most of the film there are only two females -- Judy Garland and Nancy Walker (with an early brief appearance by June Allyson...worth watching because her musical number seemed so "not-June"). It was well into the film before I found a musical number I really enjoyed -- Judy Garland singing "Embraceable You". The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra's arrangement of "Fascinating Rhythm" is extended and "socko"! And there is a rousing finale that really demonstrates the talent of Rooney and Garland. But beyond these few highlights, the plot's pretty thin, same old same old for Garland and Rooney...talented though they are.