VividSimon Simply Perfect

Sexyloutak Absolutely the worst movie.

Arianna Moses Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

Deanna There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

musicjune-957-115337 This movie is perfect. Busby Berkeley directs and it is his greatest effort among many great efforts. Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland are just superb and are helped by a sweet June Preisser. This movie is two hours long and there are 29 songs within. As usual in the musicals of this period the plot takes second place to the great music. Mickey is 20 years old and Judy is 19 and they are beautiful beyond words. The sweet June Preisser (wait till you see her dance) is 20 and they all come across like the greats that they are. If you love Hollywood musicals from the 1940 era this one is an absolute must have as well as a must see. Paul Whiteman is here with a nice contribution as he donates money to the youngsters to help them to put the band together. That was a nice touch and meant a lot to me. The girls, the gowns, the dancing and singing could not be better. A one of a kind classic.

utgard14 Overlong but fun Mickey & Judy "let's put on a show" musical, directed by the great Busby Berkeley. Drummer Jimmy (Mickey Rooney) and would-be girlfriend Mary (Judy Garland) try to make their high school band a success. Along the way they deal with little personal dramas like Jimmy's mother wanting him to be a doctor, a new girl in town who captures Jimmy's eye, and one of the band members needing an emergency operation. The musical numbers are good, if not particularly memorable. Mickey & Judy are terrific, as always. It's probably pretty corny stuff for those who aren't fans but, if you enjoy these types of movies, I'm sure you'll have a good time with this one.

TxMike Mickey Rooney is Jimmy Connors (not the tennis pro) in a role that seems very similar to his Andy Hardy characters. Here his dad, a doctor, died and he is left to be brought up by mom. As in most of these older family movies, parents look old enough to be their grandparents.Mom naturally wants Jimmy to follow in dad's footsteps and become a doctor, because that is what dad was hoping when he had a son. But Jimmy really likes music, he is a percussionist with his high school band but really wants to be the leader of a dance band. (Rooney was probably 19 during filming.)Judy Garland is Mary Holden, fellow high school senior and Jimmy's "best pal". But it is clear that Mary wants more, she wishes she and Jimmey were boyfriend and girlfriend. (Garland was probably 18 during filming.)In the high school band many are getting bored with playing marches and patriotic music, so Jimmy has the idea of forming a dance band, with Mary as their singer. They are a big hit at their first dance, but Jimmy has a bigger goal. Famous band-leader Paul Whiteman (playing himself) and his Orchestra are holding a contest to find the best high school dance band in the USA and Jimmy thinks his band can win. But they need to earn $200 to get a bus to take them to Chicago for the live radio broadcast, where audience members will call in and vote. Sounds a lot like American Idol, doesn't it? As in all these movies from this era, family values are prominent and there is a lesson to be learned. Here Jimmy must come to grips with balancing his ambition with his promises to his friends and fellow band members when he is offered an immediate job as a drummer with a new band.Good movie, and being a Busby Berkely movie, several very elaborate song and dance production numbers.

dougdoepke Admittedly, I'm not the best judge of musicals, but this one seems disappointing given the level of talent involved. Visually, Garland and Rooney make a cute couple-- a match clearly made in malt shop heaven. And, even though I was disappointed, I can understand Garland's enduring appeal. She's definitely an incandescent presence, and one that doesn't come from just acting the part. On the other hand, Rooney is energetic and I can see him organizing a high school band. However, that energy too often becomes manic—for example, check out his conducting the orchestra at movie's end for sheer pointless delirium. Too often, his in- your-face high spirits comes across as more obnoxious than entertaining.I guess my biggest disappointment is with the musical numbers. Berkeley's dancing phalanxes are eye-catching as usual, but there's not a single catchy tune to hang your hat on. The numbers are simply not up to Garland's level of show-stopping talent, whatever the reason. Then there's the overlong melodrama skit that unfortunately saps momentum by coming in the middle. On the other hand, the musical fruit sketch sounds silly but is really charming and well done. Also, professional musician Paul Whiteman turns out to be a pretty darn good actor. And for those interested in what those times were like, it's a chance to see what teens circa-1940 thought was "cool". Having your own dance band was clearly near the top. At the same time, the message seems to be that dance bands deserve respect, while playing in one is indeed a legitimate goal in life. Looks like controversies over music didn't start with rock-and-roll.