Girl Crazy
Directed by Norman Taurog and Busby Berkeley
Written by Fred F. Finklehoff from the musical play by Guy Bolton and Jack McGown
1943/USA
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
First viewing/Netflix rental
[box] Henry Lathrop: Well, after approaching the subject from every standpoint very objectively, I think it would be to our mutual advantage if we became engaged.[/box]
This plot has a lot in common with the other Mickey Rooney-Judy Garland vehicles but the Gershwin tunes put this near the top of those movies.
Danny Churchill (Rooney) is a student at Yale but he spends most of his time chasing girls and hitting nightspots. His newspaper editor father has had enough so he sends him to a small boys college out West. This might put a cramp in Danny’s style but on his way from the train station to town he meets cute with the local postmistress Ginger Gray (Garland) and is immediately smitten. Ginger is also the granddaughter of the owner and dean of the school (Guy Kibbee).
Ginger is not impressed with a tenderfoot like Danny. She is too busy being the darling of all the boys at the school. But Danny is nothing if not persistent. His idea to put on a show to save the college clinches the deal. With June Allyson doing a specialty number, Nancy Walker as Ginger’s cousin, and Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra.
With classics like “i Got Rhythm”, “Embraceable You”, “But Not for Me” and “Fascinatin’ Rhythm” performed by this cast, who needs a plot? The dancing is nice too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qujt9bsrDMI
Clip – Garland singing one of her most beautiful ballads
