GIRL CRAZY

US, 1943, 99 minutes, Black and White.
Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, Guy Kibbee, Gil Stratton, Robert E. Strickland, Rags Ragland, June Allyson, Nancy Walker, Tommy Dorsey and his band.
Directed by Norman Taurog.

Girl Crazy is one of several films starring Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney, a very popular teaming in the early '40s. Direction is by Norman Taurog, veteran director from the '30s who worked right into the '60s with many comedies, especially with Martin and Lewis and Elvis Presley. The films are very conventional, the rich boy out in the country, the attractive girl. There is clash of values, rivals in romance, a happy meeting of romantic attitudes and then putting on the big show. The films were popular for attitudes during World War Two and for entertainment first. As regards highlighting the golden years of Hollywood, they show many of the presuppositions about entertainment of the time.

There is the world of the affluent and the world of the poor. There are emphases on true love despite everything. The emphasis is on traditional values especially of hard work and of honest values. True love also has its way compared with formalities and prim and properness. The important thing is saving the day with the big show - which gives rise to many song and dance numbers. This film is distinguished by many Gershwin numbers including 'Embraceable You' and 'But Not For Me' sung very well by Judy Garland. In themselves these films are not particularly memorable but they take an important place in showing the M.G.M. film-making of the '30s and '40s, the star system, the particular talent of Rooney and Garland.