Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17634 in VHS
• Released on: 1992-04-01
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Formats: Black & White, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of tapes: 1
• Running time: 120 minutes

Customer Reviews

PLEASANT NOSTALGIA
This picture is about a group of High-School musicians who turn the school band into a swing orchestra aspiring to compete in a nation wide contest conducted by Paul Whiteman (who was once know as the King of Jazz). With BABES IN ARMS a major success, MGM quickly laid plans for a sequel using much the same talent. STRIKE UP THE BAND was the result. Jam-packed with youthful energy, the film once again proved Mickey Rooney to be a performer beyond comparison - singing, dancing, playing musical instruments, mugging - dominating every minute he's on the screen. Judy Garland is the perfect partner for him - demure and appealing in her acting, beautifully effective in her singing. The film contained a new song OUR LOVE AFFAIR which was to become one of Judy's standards. STRIKE UP THE BAND is a showcase for the effervescent Rooney and the dynamic Garland. The finale is built around the title song, a natural and logical piece for this picture, with the cast singing and marching through an elaborate Berkeley military routine.

Strike Up The Music!
Forget about Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy, the best movie team of the 1930s was Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney. The duo had such vitality and energy, that one can not help but feel energized when one of their movies come on. Even though the put on a show in a barn story has worn thin to new millenium audiences, the story and movie in general harks back to a much better time in history.

The music and dance numbers are great, staged by Busby Berkeley. The number "LaConga" is an over the top production number, showcasing the singing ability of 19 year old Judy Garland and the unending energy of 20 year old Mickey Rooney. The number "Drumming Man", which Gene Krupa made famous on records, was introduced here by Rooney. It looks as if Mickey is actually doing his own drum work. Rounding out the bill is the fabulous orchestra of Paul Whiteman, which was the starting band for Bing Crosby,the Dorsey Brothers, and many others.

The most touching moment is not the patriotic ending with the title song, but the unending love and devotion Mickey Rooney had for his mother. I watched the movie with my mother, and we were both touched. Yes, this movie may be sentimental, but there's nothing wrong with that. Do yourself a favor and watch this movie, it'll have you striking up the band...

Great mixture of music, romance, and high-school Hyjinks!
Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland are great together in this movie. Rooney plays Jimmy, a high-school-band drum player who dreams of starting a modern dance orchestra. Garland plays Mary, Jimmy's good friend who does the vocals for his band and happens to have a crush on him. When the dance orchestra dream comes true, Jimmy and his orchestra play at the dance...and are an immediate success! Things start to complicate for Mary and Jimmy as well as the rest of the band when the new girl, Barbara Francis, arives in town. She steals Jimmy's heart, leaving Mary jealous and a little lonely. Barbara also steals Jimmy away from one of his number one priorities-the band. Luckily, Mary has Jimmy's back and covers up for him. When Jimmy hears about a high school band competition in Chicago, he tries to think of a way to raise money to get the band there. One of the ways was performing a melodrama skit (which I thought was quite entertaining). The day the band boards for the train, something terrible happens to one of Jimmy and Mary's friends. He needs a crucial surgery that costs the same amount of money as the trip to Chicago. Will they use the money to help their friend? And will Jimmy and Mary end up as a couple? Find out when you watch "Strike Up The Band".