Strike Up the Band (1940)

77% of users liked it
(903 ratings)

Hey, gang! Let's put on a swell show and call it Strike Up the Band! Yes, it's the irrepressible Mickey Rooney, teamed up again with Judy Garland to show the grownups how to do things right. This time, Rooney wants to organize a high-school band. He hopes to enter a competition being held in Chicago… More Hey, gang! Let's put on a swell show and call it Strike Up the Band! Yes, it's the irrepressible Mickey Rooney, teamed up again with Judy Garland to show the grownups how to do things right. This time, Rooney wants to organize a high-school band. He hopes to enter a competition being held in Chicago by the great orchestra leader Paul Whiteman; all he needs is two hundred dollars for train fare. To raise the money, Rooney, Garland and company stage a student "mellerdrammer" that in real life would have cost the equivalent of a third-world-nation annual budget. They get the dough, but soft-hearted Rooney turns over the money to the mother of student musician Larry Nunn, who is in desperate need of emergency surgery. It looks hopeless until, luck of luck, Paul Whiteman arrives in Rooney's town. The original George and Ira Gershwin Broadway musical Strike Up the Band was a satire of warfare, with America declaring war on Switzerland in order to corner the chocolate industry. You'll see none of that subversive stuff in this MGM musical; instead, we are treated to such highlights as a George Pal animated sequence involving dancing fruit. It ain't profound, but Strike Up the Band is sure entertaining. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 2 hr.
Directed By: Busby Berkeley
Written By: Herbert Fields
Genres: Musical & Performing Arts, Classics

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1940 Wide
On DVD: Sep 25, 2007

No Critic Reviews Found…

No Featured Audience Ratings Found…

Cast

            Mickey Rooney as Jimmy Connors

            Judy Garland as Mary Holden

            June Preisser as Barbara Frances Morgan

            William Tracy as Phillip Turner

            Ann Shoemaker as Mrs. Connors

            Larry Nunn as Willie Brewster

            Margaret Early as Annie

            Francis Pierlot as Mr. Judd

            Virginia Brissac as Mrs. May Holden

            George Lessey as Mr. Morgan

            Howard Hickman as The Doctor

            Sarah Edwards as Miss Hodges

            Milt Kibbee as Mr. Holden

            Helen Jerome Eddy as Mrs. Brewster

            Jack Albertson as Barker

            Richard Allen as Policeman

            Jack Baxley as Ice Cream Concessionaire

            Enid Bennett as Mrs. Morgan

            Harlan Briggs as Doctor

            Elliot Carpenter as Henry

            Don Castle as Charlie

            Vendell Darr as Student

            Joe Devlin as Attendant

            Mary Jo Ellis
            
            Roland Got as House Boy

            Harry Harvey as Shooting Gallery Concessionaire

            Earl Hodgins as Hammer Concessionaire

            Jack Kenney as Hot Dog Concessionaire

            Victor Laplace
            
            Margaret Marquis
            
            Mickey Martin
            
            Harry McCrillis as Booper Barton

            Margaret McWade as Old Lady

            Jack Mulhall
            
            Paul Whiteman & Orch. as Themselves

            Henry Roquemore as Man

            Virginia Sale as Music Teacher

            Margaret Seddon
            
            Phil Silvers as Pitchman

            Charles Smith as Boy

            Leonard Sues as Trumpet Player

            Billy Wayne as Clown

            Sidney Miller
            
            Douglas Wilson
            
            Linda Johnson
            
            Lowden Adams as Butler

            Jimmie Lucas
            
            Harry Lash
            
            Helen Seamon
            
See full cast

Now you can share movies with your friends on Facebook!

Discover movies your friends are watching
Keep track of what you want to see
Add your reviews to your Timeline

Get Started