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IMDbPro

Strike Up the Band

  • 19401940
  • PassedPassed
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
1.8K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
27,282
8,795
Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, and Paul Whiteman in Strike Up the Band (1940)
Official Trailer
Play trailer2:49
1 Video
20 Photos
ComedyMusicalRomance
A high school boy wants to become a professional musician, and his gal pal wants to become his best girl. They work together staging big band shows with fellow classmates in the hopes of hit... Read allA high school boy wants to become a professional musician, and his gal pal wants to become his best girl. They work together staging big band shows with fellow classmates in the hopes of hitting it big.A high school boy wants to become a professional musician, and his gal pal wants to become his best girl. They work together staging big band shows with fellow classmates in the hopes of hitting it big.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
1.8K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
27,282
8,795
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Busby Berkeley
    • Writers
      • John Monks Jr.(screen play)
      • Fred F. Finklehoffe(screen play)
      • Herbert Fields(uncredited)
    • Stars
      • Mickey Rooney
      • Judy Garland
      • Paul Whiteman and Orchestra
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Busby Berkeley
    • Writers
      • John Monks Jr.(screen play)
      • Fred F. Finklehoffe(screen play)
      • Herbert Fields(uncredited)
    • Stars
      • Mickey Rooney
      • Judy Garland
      • Paul Whiteman and Orchestra
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 31User reviews
    • 20Critic reviews
    • 59Metascore
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 1 win & 2 nominations total

    Videos1

    Strike Up the Band
    Trailer 2:49
    Strike Up the Band

    Photos20

    Judy Garland Strike Up The Band (1941)
    Judy Garland Film Set Strike Up The Band (1939) MGM
    Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, and Larry Nunn in Strike Up the Band (1940)
    Harry McCrillis in Strike Up the Band (1940)
    Mickey Rooney in Strike Up the Band (1940)
    Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, Margaret Early, and William Tracy in Strike Up the Band (1940)
    Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, Eddie Buzard, Don Castle, Mickey Martin, and Harry McCrillis in Strike Up the Band (1940)
    Judy Garland in Strike Up the Band (1940)
    Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney in Strike Up the Band (1940)
    Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney in Strike Up the Band (1940)
    Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, Sidney Miller, Larry Nunn, Dick Paxton, Leonard Sues, and William Tracy in Strike Up the Band (1940)
    Mickey Rooney and Paul Whiteman in Strike Up the Band (1940)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Mickey Rooney
    Mickey Rooney
    • Jimmy Connors
    Judy Garland
    Judy Garland
    • Mary Holden
    Paul Whiteman and Orchestra
    • Performers
    June Preisser
    June Preisser
    • Barbara Frances Morgan
    William Tracy
    William Tracy
    • Phillip Turner
    Larry Nunn
    Larry Nunn
    • Willie Brewster
    Paul Whiteman
    Paul Whiteman
    • Paul Whiteman
    Margaret Early
    Margaret Early
    • Annie
    Ann Shoemaker
    Ann Shoemaker
    • Mrs. Connors
    Francis Pierlot
    Francis Pierlot
    • Mr. Judd
    Virginia Brissac
    Virginia Brissac
    • Mrs. May Holden
    George Lessey
    George Lessey
    • Mr. Morgan
    Enid Bennett
    Enid Bennett
    • Mrs. Morgan
    Howard Hickman
    Howard Hickman
    • Doctor
    Sarah Edwards
    Sarah Edwards
    • Miss Hodges
    Milton Kibbee
    Milton Kibbee
    • Mr. Holden
    Helen Jerome Eddy
    Helen Jerome Eddy
    • Mrs. Brewster
    Jack Baxley
    • Ice Cream Concessionaire
    • (scenes deleted)
    • Director
      • Busby Berkeley
    • Writers
      • John Monks Jr.(screen play)
      • Fred F. Finklehoffe(screen play)
      • Herbert Fields(uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The original camera negative was destroyed in May 1978 during a nitrate film fire in the George Eastman House archives. The fire also destroyed 328 other films' original camera negatives.
    • Goofs
      When the June Preiser character's dad hires a train to get Mickey, Judy and their band to Chicago for the Paul Whiteman broadcast, it's supposedly a surprise. Yet in the train station send-off scene that follows, presumably later that same day, the caboose is festooned with a "Chicago Here We Come" banner and several people in the crowd are carrying professionally made picket signs. In 1940, it would be all but impossible to produce those signs on such short notice.
    • Quotes

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

    • Connections
      Edited into Hollywood: The Dream Factory (1972)
    • Soundtracks
      Strike up the Band
      (1927)
      Music by George Gershwin
      Lyrics by Ira Gershwin
      Played during the opening credits
      Sung by Judy Garland (uncredited), Mickey Rooney (uncredited), and chorus in the finale

    User reviews31

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    "Mary, we could put Riverwood High School on the map."
    Overlong but fun Mickey & Judy "let's put on a show" musical, directed by the great Busby Berkeley. Drummer Jimmy (Mickey Rooney) and would-be girlfriend Mary (Judy Garland) try to make their high school band a success. Along the way they deal with little personal dramas like Jimmy's mother wanting him to be a doctor, a new girl in town who captures Jimmy's eye, and one of the band members needing an emergency operation. The musical numbers are good, if not particularly memorable. Mickey & Judy are terrific, as always. It's probably pretty corny stuff for those who aren't fans but, if you enjoy these types of movies, I'm sure you'll have a good time with this one.
    helpful•5
    0
    • utgard14
    • Aug 5, 2014

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 27, 1940 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • La Konga
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles High School, 4650 West Olympic Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $838,661 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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