Strike Up the Band

Director Busby Berkeley brings his talent to this teenage musical. He was always good at bringing early musicals to life. Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland star as high school kids who want to bring their band to the big times. In order to get noticed they stage an ambitious school musical. Of course the high school production looks a lot more like a Broadway musical. Its hokey and corny, but I was impressed with the lavish musical numbers and energetic casting. Not my kind of movie, but decent for what it is,

willie was really the best character. he deserved to get mary and beat up jimmy. tbh he deserved to be the main character. love, judygarlandfan3469

Great flick. For the first time MGM gave Berkeley, Rooney and Garland a budget worthy of their immense talent. The Conga number may be their finest work.

Strike Up the Band is a decent film. It is about Jimmy Connors and his girlfriend want to take part in Paul Whiteman's high school's band contest. Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland give good performances. The screenplay is a little slow in places. Busby Berkeley did an alright job directing this movie. I liked this motion picture because of the humor and romance.

A bit over the top, but a grand production. Props for highlighting New Rochelle.

How can you not fall in love with these two?!???!?! Such an amazing pair. One of the best of Hollywood in my opinion. There are never teams like this on the big screen anymore. Judy Garland sings so amazing (as always) in this. Mickey Rooney is so good and can hold his own across Garland. Yes it is a musical and yes its awesome! The music is great, the singing is cute and the dancing is fun. I loved every second. :)

The energy and talent of Judy Garland & Mickey Rooney, and some good production numbers ("Our Love Affair," "Do the La Conga," "Nobody") compensate for the overlength and schmaltz of this MGM musical.

Another cute romantic comedy starring the immortal duo of Garland and Rooney. This one has several great songs, a funny animated sequence involving instrumental fruits, and entertaining choreography. While the story is predictable at times, the end result is pleasing.

Wow wow wow... I didn't know Mickey Rooney could play the drums soooo well. Like he says, this movie was "swell"

The play in the movie was very boring and unnecessary - cut that and its great! Endinging made me cry - I'm such a sucker for it!