BABES ON BROADWAY

Babes on Broadway
MGM, 1941, B/W, 121 minutes, ***½
Released December, 1941

According to Variety in 1942, Babes on Broadway had it all... "youthful zest, heart-tug, infectious rhythm, constant amusement and excitement, stirring performances, substantial story interest, captivating music and lavish production."

The public agreed. In the first five days alone, nearly 133,000 people flocked to Radio City Music Hall to see Oscar winners Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney star as Broadway hopefuls struggling for their break on the Great White Way.

Babes on Broadway still has it all, with 16 song and dance numbers that run the gamut from "Yankee Doodle Dandy" to "Hoe Down" to the Oscar nominated "How About You." And Mickey's impression of Carmen Miranda is not to be missed!

Then, of course, there's Busby Berkeley, master of the high-energy dance number (and inventive camera direction to match). Together with Garland and Rooney, he gives us a unique and exciting version of old Broadway.

Babes on Broadway is the third of four Mickey / Judy "backyard musicals" directed by legendary Busby Berkeley. In this one, Mickey and Judy play two Broadway hopefuls who meet in a drugstore on Broadway. They fall in love, and together they put on a show to raise money to take a group of orphan kids to the country. Mickey and Judy sing and dance "How About You?" (nominated for Best Song Academy Award) and "Hoe Down." Judy sings "Chin Up! Cheerio! Carry On!" and "F.D.R. Jones." Mickey does a Carmen Miranda impression singing "Mama, Yo Quiero." Mickey and Judy do some really swell impressions of legendary vaudevillians in the "Ghost Theater" sequence.

Produced by: Arthur Freed
Directed by: Busby Berkeley
Screen Play by: Fred Finklehoffe and Elaine Ryan
Original Story by: Fred Finklehoffe
Songs by: E. Y. Harburg, Burton Lane, Ralph Freed, Roger Edens, Harold J. Rome
Musical Adaptation: Roger Edens
Musical Direction: Georgie Stoll
Vocals and Orchestrations: Leo Arnaud, George Bassman, Conrad Salinger
Art Director: Cedric Gibbons
Associate: Malcolm Brown
Set Decorations: Edwin B. Willis
Musical Presentation: Merrill Pye
Gowns by: Kalloch
Men's Wardrobe by: Gile Steele
Make-Up Created by: Jack Dawn
Recording Director: Douglas Shearer
Director of Photography: Lester White
Film Editor: Fredrick Y. Smith

Awards: Nominated for Best Song Academy Award ("How About You?")

Cast: Mickey Rooney [Tommy Williams], Judy Garland [Penny Morris], Fay Bainter [Miss Jonesy], Virginia Weidler [Barbara Jo], Ray McDonald [Ray Lambert], Richard Quine [Morton Hammond], Donald Meek [Mr. Stone], Alexander Woollcott [Himself], Luis Alberni [Nick], James Gleason [Thornton Reed], Emma Dunn [Mrs. Williams], Frederick Burton [Mr. Morris], Cliff Clark [Inspector Moriarity], William Post, Jr. [Announcer], Additional Cast: Anne Rooney [third girl, opposite Hammy, uncredited], Richard Hall [Little Boy Pianist], Donna Reed [debut, Jonesy's Secretary], Joe Yule [Mason, Reed's Aid], Margaret O'Brien [debut, Child Auditioner], Carl Stockdale [Man], Dick Baron [Butch], Will Lee [Waiter], Stop, Look and Listen Trio [Themselves], Tom Hanlon [Radio Man], Renee Austin [Elinor], Roger Steele [Boy], Bryant Washburn [Director], Charles Wagenheim [Composer], Arthur Hoyt [Little Man Customer], Jack Lipson [Fat Man Customer], Dorothy Morris [Pit Astor Girl], Maxine Flores [Pit Astor Girl], Sidney Miller [Pianist], King Baggott [Man in Audience], Barbara Bedford [Matron], Shimen Ruskin [Excited Russian], Jean Porter ["Hoe Down" Dancer], Leslie Brooks [Actress-Committee Extra], Roger Moore [Bit, unconfirmed], Ava Gardner [Bit, unconfirmed], Six Hits and a Miss [vocals]

Musical Program: [0:00] Babes on Broadway (sung by Chorus behind titles); [0:02] Anything Can Happen in New York (sung and danced by Mickey Rooney, Ray McDonald and Richard Quine); [0:23] How About You? (sung and danced by Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland); [0:32] Margaret O'Brien Audition (her first screen appearance); [0:44] Little boy playing piano (Richard Hall); [0:45] Hoe Down (sung and danced by Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, Ray McDonald, Virigina Weidler, Richard Quine, Anne Rooney, Six Hits and a Miss, The Five Musical Maids and the MGM Studio Chorus; solo dance by Ray McDonald); [1:00] Chin Up, Cheerio, Carry On (sung by Judy Garland, St. Luke's Episcopal Church Choristers and the MGM Studio Chorus); [1:18] Ghost Theater Sequence: "Cyrano de Bergerac" (performed by Mickey Rooney) / Mary's a Grand Old Name (performed by Judy Garland as Fay Templeton with off-screen Chorus) / She Is Ma Daisy (performed by Mickey Rooney as Sir Harry Lauder) / I've Got Rings on My Fingers (performed by Judy Garland as Blanche Ring with off-screen Chorus) / La Marseillaise (performed by Judy Garland as Sarah Bernhardt) / The Yankee Doodle Boy (performed by Mickey Rooney [as George M. Cohan] with Judy Garland and off-screen Chorus); [1:32] Bombshell from Brazil (sung by Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, Richard Quine, Ray McDonald, Virginia Weidler, Annie Rooney, Robert Bradford and Chorus); [1:33] Mama, Yo Quiero (performed by Mickey Rooney impersonating Carmen Miranda); [1:42] Finale: Blackout over Broadway (performed by Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, Ray McDonald, Virginia Weidler, Richard Quine and Annie Rooney; instrumental segment performed by Minstrel Chorus in traditional minstrel show style) / By the Light of the Silvery Moon (sung by The Uptowners, The Dick Davis Quartet and the MGM Studio Chorus, danced by Ray McDonald) / F. D. R. Jones (performed by Judy Garland) / Old Folks at Home (played by Mickey Rooney on banjo [on-screen], dubbed by Eddie Peabody) / Alabamy Bound (played by Mickey Rooney on banjo [on-screen], dubbed by Eddie Peabody) / Waiting for the Robert E. Lee (sung and danced by Virginia Weidler, Anne Rooney, Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, Richard Quine, Ray McDonald and Chorus) / Babes on Broadway (performed by Ray McDonald, Virginia Weidler, Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland, Richard Quine, Anne Rooney and Chorus)