Strike Up the Band

Strike Up the Band


MGM, 1940, B/W, 120 minutes, ***½

Released September, 1940



Among cinema's many treasures, few are as delightfully entertaining as the musical pairings of Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney. Strike Up the Band is one of the brightest results of that talented collaboration.



Brimming with youthful high spirits, Mickey and Judy are effervescent as high school kids who are ready and eager to climb the long ladder of success. He's an energetic bandleader, she's his lovelorn singer. Together they sing and dance their way to the top, with a few bumps along the way! Of course the film abounds in musical riches from a rousing "Drummer Boy" performed by Mickey and Judy, to Judy's plaintive rendition of "(I Ain't Got) Nobody." There's an all-out musical tribute to that forties dance craze, the Conga ("Do the Conga!") and a stirring patriotic finale to the title song.



Directed with flair and zest by Busby Berkeley, Strike Up the Band once again proves that he is the definitive master of the Hollywood musical. Strike Up the Band - it's vintage Mickey and Judy at the irrepressible best.


Second of four "backyard" musicals starring Mickey and Judy, directed by Busby Berkeley. Highlights of this one include Mickey and Judy's Academy Award nominated "Our Love Affair," the production number, "Do the La Conga," Judy's "Nobody" and the play, "Nell of New Rochelle." Lots of fun from Hollywood's number one song and dance team!






Produced by: Arthur Freed

Directed by: Busby Berkeley

Original Screen Play by: John Monks, Jr. and Fred Finklehoffe

Lyrics and Music by: Roger Edens

Musical Director: Georgie Stoll

Additional Songs: "Strike Up the Band" Music by George Gershwin, Lyrics by Ira Gershwin; "Our Love Affair" (by) Arthur Freed and Roger Edens

Chorals and Orchestrations: Leo Arnaud, Conrad Salinger

Art Director: Cedric Gibbons

Associate: John S. Detlie

Set Decorations: Edwin B. Willis

Musical Presentation by: Merrill Pye

Women's Wardrobe by: Dolly Tree

Men's Wardrobe by: Gile Steele

Make-Up Created by: Jack Dawn

Fruit Models Created by: Henry Rox

Recording Director: Douglas Shearer

Director of Photography: Ray June

Film Editor: Ben Lewis



Awards: Academy Award for Best Sound Recording. Academy Award nominations for Best Score (George Stoll and Roger Edens) and Best Song ("Our Love Affair")



Cast: Mickey Rooney [Jimmy Connors], Judy Garland [Mary Holden], Paul Whiteman [Himself], June Preisser [Barbara Frances Morgan], William Tracy [Phillip Turner], Larry Nunn [Willie Brewster], Margaret Early [Annie], Ann Shoemaker [Mrs. Connors], Francis Pierlot [Mr. Judd], Virginia Brissac [Mrs. May Holden], George Lessey [Mr. Morgan], Enid Bennett [Mrs. Morgan], Howard Hickman [Doctor], Sarah Edwards [Miss Hodges], Milton Kibbee [Mr. Holden], Helen Jerome Eddy [Mrs. Brewster], Additional Cast: Joe Yule [Ticket Seller], Gene Kelly [cameo at fair], Six Hits and a Miss [vocals]



Musical Program: [0:00] Overture (played by Orchestra behind titles); [0:01] National Emblem (excerpt played by Riverwood High School Band); [0:12] Our Love Affair (sung and danced by Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland); [0:25] Do the La Conga (sung by Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, Six Hits and a Miss and the MGM Studio Chorus; danced by Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney and Company); [0:49] Nobody (sung by Judy Garland); [1:02] Nell of New Rochelle (play performed by Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland and Company); [1:28] Drummer Boy (sung by Judy Garland, Six Hits and a Miss and the MGM Studio Chorus with the MGM Studio Orchestra with Mickey Rooney on drums); [1:51] Finale: Strike Up the Band / Do the La Conga / Our Love Affair / Drummer Boy (performed by Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, Six Hits and a Miss and the MGM Studio Orchestra and Chorus)