Sound Off (1952) User Reviews

Singing In Cadence Count

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 24 December 2010]

The film Sound Off is titled that to take advantage of Vaughn Monroe's hit record of The Duckworth Chant aka Sound Off. It sold a ton of records back at the time and is the main musical feature of the film.

The other feature is Mickey Rooney's effervescent personality which is working on all cylinders in Sound Off. He plays a nightclub comedian who gets his greetings from the president and has to go in the army to the distress of his agent Sammy White who certainly isn't going to get much of a commission of 10% of Mickey's army pay.

The idea is hardly original in fact the same year Sound Off came out for Columbia, Mickey's old home studio of MGM put out Because You're Mine which featured Mario Lanza as an opera singing draftee.

There's a lieutenant/nurse played by Anne James who Mickey has to compete with Major John Archer for. And Gordon Jones plays Mickey's training sergeant who actually isn't such a bad guy, he just wants Mickey to just straighten out. In fact the best sequence in the film involves Mickey before he gets his draft notice using Jones as a foil in his nightclub act. Jones responds in a good fashion, but lets the Mick know there are no hard feelings if he just soldiers up.

Definitely a film for the Mick's still strong legion of fans.

Not quite in the tradition of "Buck Privates", "Caught in the Draft" and "Jumping Jacks"

[planktonrules · 3/10 · 18 February 2018]

During the late 1930s into the 1950s, there were a bunch of army comedies, as they made a lot of money and the public loved them. Abbott and Costello were in "Buck Privates", William Tracy made several Sgt. Doubleday comedies, Bob Hope was in "Caught in the Draft" and Martin and Lewis made "At War With the Army" and "Jumping Jacks". So, why not have Mickey Rooney make an army film as well? Well, I can give you quite a few reasons why he shouldn't have made "Sound Off"!

The film begins with Rooney essentially playing himself. His Michael Donnelly is a showman who adores the limelight and his nightclub act is going well. Out of the blue, however, he's drafted. But Donnelly never really fits in with the army and he's often in trouble. Will he, like the other films listed above, end with Donnelly somehow redeeming himself? I say who cares!

The biggest problem with the film is that unlike the stooges in these other films, Mickey Rooney's character is essentially a pushy jerk and not at all likable. He's selfish and seems to think the world revolves around him. So, whether he redeemed himself or not, I am sure many in the audience just didn't care.

There are a few other problems...problems that might not have mattered had Rooney been LESS...less loud, less confident and acting less like he's the greatest showman in the world. First, why would the army draft a man who is barely above 5 feet tall? His character didn't want to be in the army and his tiny frame should have guaranteed this. Yes, Rooney DID serve during WWII but he was a celebrity and WANTED to be in the war...and the War Department wanted him there for publicity reasons but Rooney STILL needed to pull strings to get into the war. Second, and perhaps I'm wrong about this, but a major part of the film is about enlisted man Donnelly chasing after a female officer. Well, I thought that there were non-fraternization rules that prevented this sort of thing. Let me know if I am wrong, but a Private trying to date a Lieutenant would have been in trouble. Third, there is just too much singing. Sure, some of the other army films above DID have singing...but not this much. It really seemed much more like a Rooney film instead of an army picture. Fourth, the film just isn't all that funny...mostly because Rooney's character is a jerk...100% jerk.

Overall, you can't help but do better by watching "Tanks a Million", "Caught in the Draft" or any of these other pictures.

"Babe in the Army"

[mark.waltz · 3/10 · 24 December 2010]

As nightclub entertainer Mike Donnelly, Mickey Rooney is simply a grown up version of his "Babes in Arms" character Mickey Moran, even with the obvious Irish background. After his act is seen, Rooney barely has a chance to sit down in his dressing room when he learns he's been drafted. As a recruit, Rooney makes Gomer Pyle look like G.I. Joe. In the physical, he's out-sized by everybody around him, makes jokes every step of the way, and finally finds a laugh from one member of the army when everybody else is stone-faced around him. Then, comes the agility course where his drill instructor (Gordon Jones) yells out his name every time Rooney screws up. Finally having had enough, Rooney tears apart a wood chip filled dummy with a bayonet, having seen the sergeant's face on the dummy. It's apparent he'll never make a good soldier, especially when he begins to chase a lieutenant nurse (pretty Anne James) who obviously outclasses him. There's only two options for a clown like Rooney, and it's up to John Archer's major to decide which one that will be.

This color musical was made in Hollywood at a time when military musicals were everywhere: "Anchors Aweigh", "On the Town" (the two best), "About Face!', "Three Sailors and a Girl", and later "All Ashore" (also with Rooney), "It's Always Fair Weather", and "So This is Paris". Most of them had a formula plot with mediocre numbers, and this is no exception. A couple of them are staged alright, but none with such unintentional camp as "Lady Love" which has to be seen to be believed for this Korean War era film. There's really nothing showy for anybody except for Rooney, although a sequence in what appears to be MacArthur Park in L.A. is a pretty funny chase sequence. There are reasons why MGM's Freed unit made the best musicals, and few others were of any threat to their lasting reputation. Rooney, having once been a part of that unit with his series of hits with Judy Garland, had a downward swing after the war ended which ultimately concluded his tenure with MGM. Now here, he tries to recapture his musical legacy, but falls short thanks to a genuinely unlikable character, a totally unrealistic view of life in basic training, and a leading lady who unfortunately gets to do nothing but look pretty. Whether or not Ms. James had any genuine talent won't be evidenced because she only did two films. If basic training was actually like it is portrayed here, this country would be in grave trouble!

Great and Funny acting by Mickey Rooney

[muffinheuer2003 · 10/10 · 4 August 2005]

I saw this movie a long long time ago and have been looking for a copy on VHS. I truly enjoyed this movie with Mickey Rooney. He sings and dances and it very funny in this film. Mickey Rooney was always a underrated actor but never has there been a more talented man in Hollywood. He has earned many deserved awards during his long and industrious career however. This movie is highly recommended if you can find it anywhere. And if anyone reads this comment and own this film would you please contact me? I would appreciate it! My email to contact if [e-mail]. Thanks for taking the time to read this. Also, check out Mickey's movies Boy's Town, Andy Hardy, Strike Up The Band, Drive a Crooked Road. He's Great!

Almost, but not quite

[lzf0 · 24 September 2008]

"Sound Off" was Richard Quine's third major feature effort and his first encounter as a director with Mickey Rooney. It was also his first writing partnership with Blake Edwards. What sounded like a sure fire idea, cocky entertainer Rooney being drafted, should have been uproariously funny. It's been done before by most of the classic film comedians, and Rooney's over the top activities are well suited to this premise. When Rooney is permitted to go wild and do his stuff, like in the non-Hardy pictures with Judy Garland, the MGM comedy "A Slight Case of Larceny", and even the cheap, but brilliant "How to Stuff a Wild Bikini", he is a top comic, deserving far more praise. However, Quine seems to restrain him here. In scenes where his superiors should have overstated their impatience with him, they treat him with some respect. These scenes are realistic and warm instead of being over exaggerated for comic effect. Quine is a very mannered director and his quirkiness makes films like "Operation Mad Ball" and "Bell, Book and Candle" special and funnier. That quirkiness seems to be missing from "Sound Off". It is there in his earlier Columbia short comedies, and his style, very much at odds with Jules White's mode of operation, makes these little comedies misfires. "Sound Off" is just a little too bland in style and performance. However, there is a good amount slapstick, which Rooney excels in, and it helps. Writer Blake Edwards has yet to find his unique comedy style, and this is to the advantage of the film at hand. All the actors seem to be a little too restrained. Even Rooney, a performer known for "chewing up the scenery" keeps it low key. This is unfortunate, since Rooney is special and unique when he can go crazy. The musical numbers are an added bonus to this film and Rooney performs them with confidence and style. The next Quine-Edwards-Rooney Columbia service comedy, "All Ashore", is superior to "Sound Off" in almost all departments. However, Rooney's personality is better served by "Sound Off".