Strike Up the Band (1940)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Busby Berkeley

Writers:

John Monks Jr. (screenplay) and
Fred F. Finklehoffe (screenplay)

Release Date:

27 September 1940 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

THEIR SUNNIEST, FUNNIEST, DOWN-TO-MIRTHIEST HIT! (original ad - all caps)

Plot:

Jimmy Connors and his girl-friend want to take part in Paul Whiteman's highschool's band contest, but they cannot afford the fare...

Plot Keywords:

Contest | County Fair | Radio Broadcasting | Operation | Broken Arm

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 2 nominations

Cast

Mickey Rooney	...	James 'Jimmy' Connors
Judy Garland	...	Mary Holden
Paul Whiteman and Orchestra	...	Group Performers
June Preisser	...	Barbara Frances Morgan
William Tracy	...	Philip 'Phil' Turner
Larry Nunn	...	Willie Brewster
Paul Whiteman	...	Paul Whiteman
Margaret Early	...	Annie
Ann Shoemaker	...	Mrs. Jessie Connors
Francis Pierlot	...	Mr. Judd
Virginia Brissac	...	Mrs. May Holden
George Lessey	...	Mr. Morgan
Enid Bennett	...	Mrs. Morgan
Howard C. Hickman	...	Doctor (as Howard Hickman)
Sarah Edwards	...	Miss Hodges, a Teacher

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:G | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:Approved (PCA #6367)

Company:

Loew's

Trivia:

The puppet orchestra made of fruit that comes to life playing instruments for Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland on a kitchen table, was the work of animator George Pal. He had just arrived in Hollywood from Europe via New York and this was among his first projects. Pal's work was relatively unknown by American audiences, thus he was uncredited. The idea for the sequence was that of another New York-to-Hollywood transfer: Vincente Minnelli.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Jimmy Conners claims to have gone to Chicago for the World Series three years before. The World Series is always played at the home stadiums of the competing teams and the 1937 series was between the New York Yankees and the New York Giants. The 1938 World Series was indeed between the Chicago Cubs and the New York Yankees, but that would have been only two years before the film was released.

Quotes:

Paul Whiteman: Take that boy on the street. Teach him to blow a horn and he'll never blow a safe.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Odd Couple: Strike Up the Band or Else (#5.6)" (1974)

Soundtrack:

Do the La Conga

Very Entertaining

I recently saw it and enjoyed it.Its very balanced out: no over-doing anything romantic kind of thing. The songs were great, just as they always are in old movies. I would probably give it a 8 out of 10 stars!!