Girl Crazy

I believe the pinnacle of the Mickey Rooney/Judy Garland collaboration at MGM was reached in 1943 with Girl Crazy. Musical films don't get any better than this. It was especially good since the first film version of Girl Crazy was a watered down thing done by RKO for the talents of Wheeler&Woolsey. As I wrote in my review of that film, if you're a Wheeler&Woolsey fan its all right, but if you like George Gershwin as I do, the film is a dud. That sure isn't the case here and though the plot was changed somewhat from the Broadway version it still involves a young eastern playboy who gets sent west to a small college to mend his ways in the great outdoors. I'm sure you've guessed that is the role Mickey Rooney plays. Judy is the granddaughter of the college dean Guy Kibbee and being the only young girl around she's got all the boys attention. That doesn't even change when Nancy Walker comes to town. The roles that Garland and Walker played were originated on Broadway by Ginger Rogers and Ethel Merman. Girl Crazy debuted in 1930 and ran for 272 performances which is a remarkable record for the Depression years. Of course having what might arguably be the best score that George and Ira Gershwin ever wrote is probably the reason. MGM wisely kept most of it intact and we get to hear Garland sing But Not For Me, Embraceable You, I've Got Rhythm, Biding My Time and a charming duet with Rooney in Could You Use Me. When Nancy Walker stepped into Ethel Merman's role Merman's songs in the original Broadway show were I've Got Rhythm and Sam n' Delilah. The former is given to Garland and the latter is only heard in the background. But with Garland singing all these Gershwin songs I venture to say that she never had as rich a score in any of her films before or since. Girl Crazy also features Tommy Dorsey who might have had at that time the number one swing band in the nation even without that singer from Hoboken who left him that year. Dorsey and his orchestra appear both in the early nightclub scene with Mickey Rooney and in the I've Got Rhythm finale which is choreographed by the inimitable Busby Berkeley. His work at MGM is not quite as spectacular as it was at Warner Brothers in the Thirties, but it's pretty good in this film. Judy, Mickey, George, Ira, Tommy, Busby, Nancy and a supporting cast that also includes Rags Ragland, Henry O'Neill, Gil Stratton, June Allyson, who could ask for anything more?

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.

This was the highest grossing movie in 1943 and nominated for an academy award . If you like old romantic /comedies , you're sure to like this film . It has 2 of my favorite stars Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney. The movie takes place on a western university . Throw in a spoiled city brat taking a shine to deans daughter and the university about to be closed ( due to lack of funds ) adds up to a funny and delightful movie. You get a little of everything in this movie - great songs , dancing , comedy , romance , cowboys/cowgirls - go out and rope in this movie and enjoy it tonight.

The plot's ridiculous. Garland and Rooney are young and magical. Seeing Tommy Dorsey's orchestra at work is wonderful. The movie's finale is a musical number, "I Got Rhythm", directed by Busby Berkeley. As with all the great Berkeley musical scenes, it's a unique vision. The camera moves and staging are masterful. Transcendent, even. I'd love to be a fly on the wall while this scene was being thought up and worked on. Something I haven't seen commented on: Rooney's radio impressions, given while he and Garland wait to see the governor. Kinda fun. Mickey channels his inner Robin Williams. Despite the plot absence, put this on your must-see list if you're serious about developing cinematic literacy.

source: Girl Crazy

Trailer—Girl Crazy

Girl Crazy

This is the only Judy Garland-Mickey Rooney musical I actually like. Their previous three had sappy plots and sometimes so-so songs, but this film rarely gets sentimental, and when it does it works. The music is the best of any of their movies, by far, and the presentation of it is fine, often more than that. It doesn't adhere to the play it's based on much, but so what; I don't know if the stage version would have translated well to film anyway. The two stars give their usual skillful performances, with unusually likeable characters and sprightly dialogue to base them on. And then there's those nice sunny REAL desert backgrounds - how often did musicals of that era get so far away from the studios? It isn't perfect - for one thing, am I the only one who finds Rags Ragland a bit annoying? - but it's still pretty inspired.

The plot's ridiculous. Garland and Rooney are young and magical. Seeing Tommy Dorsey's orchestra at work is wonderful. The movie's finale is a musical number, "I Got Rhythm", directed by Busby Berkeley. As with all the great Berkeley musical scenes, it's a unique vision. The camera moves and staging are masterful. Transcendent, even. I'd love to be a fly on the wall while this scene was being thought up and worked on. Something I haven't seen commented on: Rooney's radio impressions, given while he and Garland wait to see the governor. Kinda fun. Mickey channels his inner Robin Williams. Despite the plot absence, put this on your must-see list if you're serious about developing cinematic literacy.

This was the highest grossing movie in 1943 and nominated for an academy award . If you like old romantic /comedies , you're sure to like this film . It has 2 of my favorite stars Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney. The movie takes place on a western university . Throw in a spoiled city brat taking a shine to deans daughter and the university about to be closed ( due to lack of funds ) adds up to a funny and delightful movie. You get a little of everything in this movie - great songs , dancing , comedy , romance , cowboys/cowgirls - go out and rope in this movie and enjoy it tonight.