Before you think Babes on Broadway is a sequel to Babes in Arms, know that it isn't. Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland star, and Busby Berkeley directs, but one hasn't anything to do with the other. Mickey is one of a trio in a small-time song and dance act, alongside Ray McDonald and Richard Quine, and they get discovered by famous Broadway producer Fay Bainter. Fay gets the idea of putting on a show with hopes that the crusty theater owner James Gleason will like it and help put it up on Broadway.
It's pretty silly, though not as silly as Babes in Arms, and masquerades as a movie when it's really a glorified talent show of children, with Richard Hall playing a piano concerto, Margaret O'Brien delivering, "Please don't send my brother to the chair!" after her mother hoists her on top of James Gleason's desk, and Ray McDonald tap dancing. It does know it's silly, and almost makes fun of itself. "Here we are, almost as if we planned it," Mickey and Judy grin awkwardly as they sit together at a piano bench before Judy breaks into "How About You?" As scene change music, the same Schubert theme used in The Wizard of Oz is played. Don't watch this movie as a how-to of getting your show on Broadway. Dress rehearsals are performed before fundraising and final cast lists. Costume changes take five seconds, and producers will actually drop everything and watch a bunch of kids sing lousy songs. Just like the unrelated 1939 flick, the movie ends with a gigantic production number in blackface, and you'll also see Mickey crossdressing and giving a Carmen Miranda impersonation. If you know anything about his personal life, you might remember the story that he met his future first wife Ava Gardner on the MGM lot while dressed in that particular costume.
Keep your eyes peeled for a young, pre-discovered Donna Reed. You'll recognize her; you'll see a beautiful young woman as Fay's secretary, and you'll think to yourself, "She looks like Donna Reed!" You'll also see Donald Meek as a backer on Mickey's side, Virginia Weidler, and Sidney Miller as part of the cast of the children's show.
The only part of the film that's not ridiculously silly or cringeworthy is when Judy Garland sings "Chin Up, Cheerio, Carry On," to a group of visiting English children. As the rousing song inspires the troops to our neighbors across the pond-this movie was released in December 1941-and to the Americans who were enlisting or getting ready to, the English children are shown with tears streaming down their faces. It was a chilling reminder that although the children were having fun singing and dancing, the adults had to fight an extremely scary war.
One fun part of the movie is seeing Mickey perform "Yankee Doodle Dandy" as George M. Cohan. James Cagney played the full biopic the following year, but since both had famously infectious and intense energy, it's cute. I hope Mickey wasn't disappointed he didn't get the bigger part in 1942. If you want to see that one minute without sitting through the other two hours, check out the clip on YouTube.
DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. This is a Busby Berkeley movie, and in the final production number there are a couple of spinning camera movements that will make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"
It's pretty silly, though not as silly as Babes in Arms, and masquerades as a movie when it's really a glorified talent show of children, with Richard Hall playing a piano concerto, Margaret O'Brien delivering, "Please don't send my brother to the chair!" after her mother hoists her on top of James Gleason's desk, and Ray McDonald tap dancing. It does know it's silly, and almost makes fun of itself. "Here we are, almost as if we planned it," Mickey and Judy grin awkwardly as they sit together at a piano bench before Judy breaks into "How About You?" As scene change music, the same Schubert theme used in The Wizard of Oz is played. Don't watch this movie as a how-to of getting your show on Broadway. Dress rehearsals are performed before fundraising and final cast lists. Costume changes take five seconds, and producers will actually drop everything and watch a bunch of kids sing lousy songs. Just like the unrelated 1939 flick, the movie ends with a gigantic production number in blackface, and you'll also see Mickey crossdressing and giving a Carmen Miranda impersonation. If you know anything about his personal life, you might remember the story that he met his future first wife Ava Gardner on the MGM lot while dressed in that particular costume.
Keep your eyes peeled for a young, pre-discovered Donna Reed. You'll recognize her; you'll see a beautiful young woman as Fay's secretary, and you'll think to yourself, "She looks like Donna Reed!" You'll also see Donald Meek as a backer on Mickey's side, Virginia Weidler, and Sidney Miller as part of the cast of the children's show.
The only part of the film that's not ridiculously silly or cringeworthy is when Judy Garland sings "Chin Up, Cheerio, Carry On," to a group of visiting English children. As the rousing song inspires the troops to our neighbors across the pond-this movie was released in December 1941-and to the Americans who were enlisting or getting ready to, the English children are shown with tears streaming down their faces. It was a chilling reminder that although the children were having fun singing and dancing, the adults had to fight an extremely scary war.
One fun part of the movie is seeing Mickey perform "Yankee Doodle Dandy" as George M. Cohan. James Cagney played the full biopic the following year, but since both had famously infectious and intense energy, it's cute. I hope Mickey wasn't disappointed he didn't get the bigger part in 1942. If you want to see that one minute without sitting through the other two hours, check out the clip on YouTube.
DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. This is a Busby Berkeley movie, and in the final production number there are a couple of spinning camera movements that will make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"