Wowza, wowza! Yesterday was Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland Day on TCM, in honor of Judy's 90th birthday, had she not cashed in at 47, and I got to see (again) their 1940 classic, Strike Up the Band!
In this great movie, Mickey is Jimmy Connors (not to be confused with the tennis player of a later era), a teenage drummer who wants to turn his fuddy-duddy high school marching band into a hip-hopping jazz band. With his enthusiastic banter, he convinces the principal to agree to the change (and nearly faints when the old guy shakes his hand in agreement) and then sets out to organize the Jimmy Connors Orchestra, complete with a girls glee club that not only sings but also does choreography...one little gal even does back somersaults and front flips while wearing an evening gown! How often do you see that???
Mickey/Jimmy directs his high school musicians (most of whom strangely resemble 40-year-old men) like a tornado on speed. He jumps around from section to section, whipping his bandleader's baton into a frenzy, perpetually smiling and occasionally winking at his audience. His lead vocalist and "pal," Judy is calmer and just sort of hangs around to sing, dance, and pout every once in awhile. This is Mickey's movie from start to finish, moving at warp speed.
As one of the adult co-stars philosophically says, "Give a boy and horn to blow and he'll never blow a bank."
The Flaming Bore calls this movie red hot! Mickey, you sizzle!
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