Strike Up the Band is a 1940 American musical film produced by the Arthur Freed unit at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The film was directed by Busby Berkeley and stars Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland, in the second of a series of musicals they co-starred in, after Babes in Arms, all directed by Berkeley. The story written for the 1927 stage musical Strike Up the Band, and its successful 1930 Broadway revision, bear no resemblance to this film, aside from the title song.
Contents
Plot
Jimmy Connors, a student at Riverwood High School, is the drummer in the school brass band but dreams of playing in a dance orchestra. After school, Jimmy convinces his friend Mary Holden to be a vocalist. Late one night, Jimmy persuades Mr. Judd, the school principal, on the idea of forming a dance orchestra. Mr. Judd is reluctant due to the school being in debt, and unable to pay for the instruments. However, he allows Jimmy three weeks to organize the dance to raise money. The event is a success, and the school's debt for the instruments is paid off. Back at home, Jimmy has been reluctant to tell his mother his aspirations to be a dance conductor. Mrs. Connors, who had wanted Jimmy to be a doctor, allows her son to pursue his dream.
Afterwards, Jimmy learns that famed band leader Paul Whiteman (played by himself) is sponsoring a contest in Chicago for the best-performing high school musical group, and Jimmy decides that the band must compete. However, Mr. Judd declines the offer. Needing to raise $200 (equivalent to $3,941 in 2025) to pay the traveling expenses, Jimmy decides to put on a show. Meanwhile, Jimmy becomes friends with a new classmate, Barbara Frances Morgan, and decides to attend a local fair with her. He approaches Mary, working at the school library, since they had intended to go together, but she declines.
After the fair, Jimmy and Mary settle on performing Nell from New Rochelle at the Elks Club. The show is another success and raises almost enough money for the band to go to Chicago, though they are still short. After the show, Jimmy goes to Barbara's house and meets her parents. There, he learns that Mr. Morgan has hired Paul Whiteman to perform at Barbara's birthday party.
At the party, Mary notices Willie, a member of the band, is not feeling well. While Whiteman's orchestra is on break, Jimmy, Mary, and the school band perform an impromptu musical number, which impresses Paul that he offers Jimmy a job as an orchestra drummer in New York. Jimmy excitedly tells his mother, who reminds him of his obligation to his friends. Jimmy returns to Paul to decline the offer, which Paul understands. He then advances the fifty dollars to pay the remaining balance for the Chicago trip.
On the day of the trip, Jimmy and Mary learn that Willie has been hospitalized for a fractured arm, which is in immediate need for surgery. The band uses the money so that Jimmy can be flown to Chicago for the operation. Before long, Paul meets with Mr. Morgan, who gives the band a free ride to Chicago aboard his company train. The band competes in Chicago and wins the $500 prize. Jimmy gets the honor of leading all of the bands in a grand finale performance of the title song.
Animation
Also notable is the short "fruit orchestra" stop motion animated scene, in which a series of puppets with various fruits, nuts, and vegetables for heads appear to play orchestral music. The scene is based on a series of photographs by Henry Rox, published in LIFE magazine, US, December 11, 1939, “Speaking of Pictures ... These Musicians are made of fruit,” pp. 12–15. and was taken by Vincente Minnelli, animated by George Pal, and directed by Busby Berkeley.
Songs
In keeping with MGM's practice of the time, the film soundtrack was recorded in stereophonic sound but released with conventional monaural sound. At least some of the original stereo recording has survived and been included in some home video releases, including the Mickey Rooney – Judy Garland Collection.
"Strike up the Band" (1927) – music by George Gershwin, lyrics by Ira Gershwin
Played during the opening credits, sung by Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, and chorus in the final
"Our Love Affair" (1939) – music by Roger Edens, lyrics by Arthur Freed
Played during the opening and end credits
Played on piano by Mickey Rooney and sung by Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney with orchestral accompaniment
Reprised by the animated fruit orchestra
Reprised by the band at rehearsal and at the dance
Reprised by Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney in the finale
Played often as background music
"Do the La Conga" (1939) – music and lyrics by Roger Edens
Performed by Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, Sidney Miller
William Tracy and chorus at the dance
Reprised by the cast in the finale
"Nobody" (1939) – music and lyrics by Roger Edens
Reception
Box office
According to MGM records the film earned $2,265,000 in the US and Canada and $1,229,000 elsewhere resulting in a profit of $1,539,000.
Critical response
Daily Variety:
"While all the young principals do themselves proud, Garland particularly achieves rank as one of the screen's great personalities. Here she is for the first time in the full bloom and charm which is beyond childhood, as versatile in acting as she is excellent in song - a striking figure and a most oomphy one in the wild abandon of the La Conga."
Movie and Radio Guide, 1940:
"The La Conga danced by Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland in Strike Up the Band is nothing less than sensational. For that reason, Movie and Radio Guide hereby christens the number 'The Roogaronga.' This title is a combination of the first three letters of Mickey's and Judy's last names, to which has been added the identifying dance classification."
Variety, September 18, 1940:
"Strike Up the Band is Metro's successor to Babes in Arms with Mickey Rooney, assisted by major trouping on the part of Judy Garland ... Picture is overall smacko entertainment ... and Mickey Rooney teamed with Judy Garland is a wealth of effective entertainment."
Awards and honors
In 1941, the year after the film was released, the film was nominated for three Academy Awards. Douglas Shearer (M-G-M's Sound Director) won a Best Sound, Recording and Roger Edens and George Stoll were nominated for an Oscar in the category of Best Music, Original Song for the song "Our Love Affair". George Stoll and Roger Edens were also nominated for an Oscar in the category of Best Original Score.
The film is recognized by American Film Institute in these lists:
2006: AFI's Greatest Movie Musicals – Nominated
Home media
Strike Up the Band was initially released as home media on LaserDisc in 1985 by MGM/UA Home Video, on VHS in 1991 by MGM/UA Home Video, on DVD on September 25, 2007 by Warner Home Video as part of The Mickey Rooney & Judy Garland Collection, it was given an individual DVD release in 2018 and re-issued on Blu-Ray on June 23, 2020 by Warner Archive Collection.
In popular culture
Strike Up the Band is featured in:
That's Entertainment! (1974)
Musicals Great Musicals: The Arthur Freed Unit at MGM (1996) (TV)
Hollywoodism: Jews, Movies and the American Dream (1998) (TV)
The Sopranos 6th season episode "Cold Stones!".