BABES IN ARMS
US, 1939, 96 minutes, Black and white.
Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, Charles Winninger, Douglas Macphail, Leni Lynn, June Preisser.
Directed and choreographed by Busby Berkeley.
Babes in Arms is loosely based on the Broadway success by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. However, many of their songs have been eliminated - and songs by the producer, Arthur Freed, like `Good Morning' and `Singing in the Rain' have been substituted. However, the title song remains, as well as `Where or When'.
Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland had appeared together in some of the Andy Hardy films. They were later to appear in Babes on Broadway and Strike Up The Band. They work very well together and show what talented youngsters they were. The story is the familiar decline of vaudeville, the youngsters putting on a show - and the show must go on.
Direction is by Busby Berkeley - though the choreography and the photography styles are mild in comparison with his Warner Bros features of the '30s, especially the Gold Diggers films.
1.Entertaining musical of the late '30s? Broadway style? Rodgers and Hart? Arthur Freed songs?
2.The decline of vaudeville - the vaudeville shows, the '20s, the movies, actors down and out, the Broadway stage and movies as the American art forms of the '30s and '40s?
3.Black and white photography, direction and choreography by Busby Berkeley? Musical numbers? Staging? Photographic styles? The talent of the stars?
4.The title, the focus on the youngsters, the title song, the strong presentation of it and the marching youngsters? The range of songs? The youngsters and the vaudeville life, the family background, the town, education, authorities concerned about them, the possibilities of schools and institutions? The youngsters standing on their own feet?
5.The Morans, on stage, the birth of Mickey? Growing up? Vaudeville in the '20s? In the '30s? The refusal to acknowledge the movies? The old people going on tour, the failure, wanting to go home? Disillusionment? Looking for other jobs? Clashes with the children?
6.Mickey and Pat, friends, lively, songs and dances? Mickey's sister? The boyfriend? Baby Rose and her theatrical career - and the spoof of such child stars? Her tantrums and posing? The threat to their education and independence? The social worker, Mickey punching the young man? In the court, the kindness of the judge? The decision to put on the show, rehearsals, Baby Rose, Mickey having to ask Pat the favour, Pat and her being upset, going to see her mother? The return, the show must go on? The happy taking away of Baby Rose by her ambitious father? Pat going on as heroine? Despair, the clash with his father? The Broadway note, the show on Broadway, the producer and his friendship with Moran, hiring him to teach the youngsters to sing and dance? The final show on Broadway and people's response?
7.The American Dream, entertainment, the traditions of vaudeville, the minstrel shows, Broadway musicals? The eternal hope? (And the echoes of patriotism for World War Two?)
