STRIKE UP THE BAND
US, 1940, 120 minutes, Black and white.
Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra, June Preisser, William Tracy, Larry Nunn.
Directed by Busby Berkeley.
Strike Up The Band was one of a popular spate of movies with Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland. They are seen as very talented teenagers. Other films include Babes in Arms, Babes on Broadway and later, Girl Crazy. The music is that of George Gershwin - with some from producer Arthur Freed.
The plots are essentially putting on a show. This time it is a high school band which has the opportunity to play for Paul Whiteman, appear in a competition and, of course, win it. Mickey Rooney is lively as the young man organising the band and conducting it. Judy Garland is lead singer. Paul Whiteman himself appears - and does some moralising, as does a lot of the screenplay (in the Hardy Family movies vein). There is a great deal of emphasis on parents and expectations, parents allowing their children to be themselves.
Direction is by Busby Berkeley - his chorographical style is evident at many times, but especially in the grand finale.
1. Entertaining musical and youth film of the early '40s?
2. MGM production values, black and white photography, the stars, the director - and his visual style? Choreography?
3. The title, the Gershwin musical number? The focus on the big bands of the period?
4. Jimmy, in the band, his friends, attraction towards Mary? His dead father's expectation that he be a doctor, the strictness of his mother? His eventual talking things over with his mother, declaring his desire to be a musician, music as a possible healing, his mother's pride in him? Persuading the headmaster to allow them to have a dance band? His friends? Practices, the dances, success? The possibility of the competition? Graduation, the concert? Willie and his sore arm, the need for an operation, giving the money? Barbara Francis and her arrival, flirtation? Mr Morgan, coming to the rescue with the train? The serious discussions with Paul Whiteman, the opportunity of a job - talking it over with his mother and not running out on the band? The loan from Paul Whiteman? Going to Chicago, success and the grand finale?
5. Mary, good relationship with her mother, her singing, helping Jimmy? The love affair song? Feeling slighted by his exuberance with the band? Friendship with Willie? The operation, going to Chicago, success?
6. The youngsters, personality types, modern of the period? Dances, musical styles? The band practices, success?
7. The adults: the sympathetic principal who allowed the band to go on, the sympathetic parents, the portrait of Jimmy's mother, the Morgans? His thanks to them all at the end?
8. Paul Whiteman, the big bands, competitions, radio - and his wise advice?
9. The musical numbers, singing, dancing, staging - in the Busby Berkeley style?
