utgard14 Big city playboy (Mickey Rooney) is sent to a small all-male college in the Southwest by his father, who's hoping the girl crazy kid will focus on his studies. But all he does is flirt with the college dean's daughter (Judy Garland). Not much plot is needed in this one because the George Gershwin songs are terrific. "Embraceable You," "I Got Rhythm," and "Bidin' My Time" are among the tunes. Opening number "Treat Me Rough" with June Allyson starts things off with a kick. Busby Berkeley started out as director but problems with Judy led to him being canned. Norman Taurog directed most of the picture. A lot of fun with typical likable performances from Judy and Mickey. Plus good support from Guy Kibbee, Nancy Walker, and Rags Ragland. Definitely a must-see for fans of the stars.

weezeralfalfa In more or less following the plot of the '30 Broadway show and '32 film, the plot of this 4th and last of the Mickey & Judy musical film series departs somewhat from the previous 3. Instead of being small town high schoolers trying to get started in a musical or theatrical career, Mickey is the spoiled playboy son of a wealthy NYC publisher, and Judy has a postmaster job at a tiny, very isolated, all men cow college(Cody), presumably in Wyoming, where Mickey is sent to get him away from the distractions(especially girls) of NYC, and build his character.Remember, this is 1943: the midst of WWII. Unlike the '41 "Babes on Broadway", there is no reference to the war. However, Mickey's situation at Cody College is somewhat like that of most servicemen. Like them, he is suddenly thrust into an unfamiliar social and physical environment where opportunities to romance single women are sparse, and he can't rely on his father to bail him out of trouble. Although he almost throws in the towel after his first few days, eventually, he takes on the seemingly impossible challenge of saving the college from being shut down for lack of enrollment, which is somewhat analogous to the role of servicemen in helping the US from being overwhelmed by the Nazis and Japan. He does this by promoting a Cody rodeo and 'rodeo queen' contest. Mickey proposes that this become an annual event. Presumably, in the future, the queen has to be a student at Cody, precipitating an influx of entrance applications from girls, assuming that the college will be declared co-ed in the future.... One possible indirect reference to the war is when M&J are trying to see the governor about their idea, but are told he won't likely have time for them. But, they are moved ahead of all others when the governor is told a Mr. Churchill(Winston?) is there to see him. Yes, corny! While they are waiting to see the governor, Mickey does his classic impression of sports announcers.The film begins with short Mickey in top hat and tails being driven around NYC by two beautiful women, eventually entering Teddy Mitchell's '100 beautiful girls' night club, featuring the Dorsey band. June Allyson does her initial film song on stage: "Treat Me Rough", later displaced by the girl chorus, who eventually pull Mickey to the stage and 'treat him rough', as he gets to sing some too. This is a fun production! ..Later, his father is upset at the newspaper accounts of this episode, and tells him he's being transferred from Yale to obscure Cody College. Mickey is next seen at the tiny Cody rail station, being told the population of Cody is 0, and the college is 8 miles down a dusty road, with no transport. Eventually, he finds Judy on this road trying to fix her car. She's mostly sarcastic at his interest and leaves him in the dust once her violently shaking rattle-trap car is running: quite an amusing scene. Once at the college, Mickey has a rough couple of days, as the students subject him to some initiation rituals and pranks. He's ready to go back to NYC, so Judy gives him a ride to the station, during which they argue, flirt and sing a bit: a good scene!The students put on a big birthday party for Judy, giving her a piano. She plays and sings the memorable "Embraceable You", the men eventually taking over the singing, followed by dancing. For a portion, it looks like Astaire and Rogers dancing. This is the second of 3 big musical productions. The last and much the most elaborate is the Busby Berkeley-directed manic "I Got Rhythm" extravaganza, again including the Dorsey band, with everyone dressed in western garb... In a very strange scene, after the birthday party, Judy strolls with her apparent boyfriend, who asks, in a very formal way, for an engagement. Then, he says he doesn't want to get romantic! After he leaves, Mickey unexpectedly shows up, and they talk about their relationship. After Judy learns that the college is slated to be closed, and after she loses the 'Queen of the Rodeo' contest, she changes from a confident into a weepy woman, who says she's moving east with her visiting cousin(Nancy Walker). But when she learns the college probably will be saved, she perks up, in time for the finale "I Got Rhythm".The governor's daughter(played by Frances Rafferty) serves the role played by June Priesser in "Babes in Arms" and "Strike up the Band", as the debutante that Mickey has to favor for a while over Judy, on the surface, in order to achieve his goal.How Tommy Dorsey came to take his band from NYC to a birthday ball and then rodeo event in this obscure corner of the US is not explored!In contrast to the previous M&J musicals, Mickey looks utterly ridiculous in many scenes: like a kid, getting pushed around by a group of much taller women on stage in NYC, then dressed up as a diminutive cowboy, or lugging his suitcases down a long dusty road in coat and tie. Makes him seem like a Charlie Chaplin-like character, contrasting with his supposed status as a lady's man. No doubt, that's partly why this is considered by many to be the best of the M&J musicals. I still have a slight preference for "Babes on Broadway".Incidentally, Cody WY does host a major annual rodeo event, although there is no college there.This was Judy's last B&W film. June and Nancy, with bit parts, had debuted for MGM earlier in '43 in the Technicolor "Best Foot Forward". Apparently, MGM was relying on star power to sell the present film.

vincentlynch-moonoi Maybe it's just so dated, but I was expecting to really enjoy this film...but I didn't. I found it "passable". Maybe it was that it takes place at an all-boy's college out in the desert. Maybe its that for most of the film there are only two females -- Judy Garland and Nancy Walker (with an early brief appearance by June Allyson...worth watching because her musical number seemed so "not-June"). It was well into the film before I found a musical number I really enjoyed -- Judy Garland singing "Embraceable You". The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra's arrangement of "Fascinating Rhythm" is extended and "socko"! And there is a rousing finale that really demonstrates the talent of Rooney and Garland. But beyond these few highlights, the plot's pretty thin, same old same old for Garland and Rooney...talented though they are.

kidboots "Girl Crazy" was a Broadway hit in 1930. It had a superb Gershwin score that produced many standards. It also introduced two new stars - Ginger Rogers sang "But Not For Me" and "Embaceable You", and powerhouse singer Ethel Merman sang "I Got Rhythm". Unfortunately, the first film version was made in 1932, when people were staying away from musicals. The comedy of Wheeler and Woolsey, the stars, was built up at the exclusion of some of the songs.It was up to Busby Berkeley to put things right in this song filled 1943 version that used most of the Broadway score. Danny Churchill (Mickey Rooney) is a carefree playboy, whose headline making antics (he stops the show with June Allyson singing and dancing "Treat Me Rough") cause his father to send him to Cody College to toughen him up. On route he meets Ginger Gray, the postmistress - she is having car trouble. Judy Garland has never looked more radiant. Amazingly this was their 8th pairing and by far their best.Danny brings his "big city" ways to the ranch and puts most of the students off side. At an overnight mountain camp Ginger sings "Bidin' My Time" with a cowboy chorus. Danny decides to quit and wires his father he is coming home. On his way to the station, with Ginger driving he tries to romance her with the delightful "Could You Use Me" - she can't . She then sings a retaliation chorus. It is very entertaining.Danny rethinks his decision and returns for Ginger's birthday. Ginger, looking adorable sings "Embraceable You" while being wheeled around on a baby piano. Dean Armour (Guy Kibbee) gets word that the college is closing due to a fall in enrollments. Ginger and Danny decide to put on a Wild West show to get the school publicity. While trying to see the Governor, to get permission to put on the show, Mickey Rooney goes into a comic routine involving a tennis match, a boxing match and an electric leg (it must have been a riot in 1943!!!).While in town at Marjorie Tait's (Frances Rafferty) birthday party Danny promises most of the girls there that they will be crowned "Queen of the Rodeo" - he also does a wonderful turn at the piano with Tommy Dorsey's Orchestra for a rendition of "Fascinatin' Rhythmn". The contest is between Ginger Gray and Marjorie Tait (the Governor's daughter) who, surprise surprise!!! wins. Ginger is devastated, especially when she sees Marjorie wearing a pendant that she had given Danny for good luck. Ginger sings the plaintive "But Not For Me". They make up for the finale with a rousing routine for "I Got Rhythmn". It is nothing like the Busby Berkeley staged dances for "42nd Street", "Dames" and "Footlight Parade" but as a showcase for the talents of Garland and Rooney it is pretty spectacular.Judy certainly keeps up with Mickey and her acting style had matured heaps since their first pairing. It is wonderful to watch this movie and see her at her peak before her sad life caught up with her.Highly Recommended.