Strike Up the Band (1940)

Strike Up the Band
Directed by Busby Berkeley
Written by John Monks Jr. and Fred F. Finklehoffe
1940/USA
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
First viewing/Netflix rental

[box] Paul Whiteman: Take that boy on the street. Teach him to blow a horn and he’ll never blow a safe.[/box]

There is something comforting about the predictability of MGM’s teen pictures of this era. This one is a good example and features an extravagant setting of the Gershwins’ stirring title song.

Let’s put on a show!  Jimmy Connors (Mickey Rooney) is the drummer for his high school band.  He longs to break away from the marching band into swing music.  Mary Holden (Judy Garland) is his long-suffering “girl” and vocalist.  When Jimmy hears that big band leader Paul Whiteman is auditioning teen bands for his radio show, he is determined to make the trek to Chicago for the audition.  But how to raise the $200 need to travel there? You have guessed!  But dramatic turns of events also require minor miracles before the dream can come true.  With William Tracy (Pepi of The Shop Around the Corner) as one of the guys.

I actually preferred this to Babes in Arms.  I liked a lot of the musical numbers, especially the patriotic title tune and “Drummer Boy”.

Strike Up the Band won an Academy Award for Best Sound Recording.  Roger Edens and George Stoll were nominated for Best Original Song (“Our Love Affair”) and Best Score.

Trailer