Whenever we have a chance, we at GVN like to shine a spotlight on the classic cinema that shaped the way movies are made today. June 10, 2022 marks the centennial of the one and only Judy Garland, a singular performer whose presence is still keenly felt to this day. In honor of this milestone, throughout the month we are going to take the opportunity to explore beyond her most popular titles such as The Wizard of Oz and A Star Is Born and reflect back on some of our lesser-known favorites from the Warner Archive.
Judy Garland was still relatively early in her career when she starred in the cultural touchpoint that is The Wizard Of Oz in 1939 at the age of 16. Her follow-up film, Babes In Arms, would find Garland partnering with Mickey Rooney (National Velvet) for the first time in a musical and in a starring capacity, having previously appeared in supporting roles alongside him pre-Oz. Babes would be the first of four musical partnerships with Rooney, all directed by Busby Berkeley (Take Me Out To The Ball Game), that would prove to be the box office gold that MGM so desperately craved. Their second musical from this creative endeavor was 1940’s backyard extravaganza Strike Up The Band, curiously not connected to the 1927 Broadway play of the same name. This particular film is not as widely remembered, but it is a spry picture that is worthy of its time to shine.
The weakest aspect of this entry for the duo is the unspectacular script which provides just enough runway for these two to provide a bit of razzle dazzle. Rooney stars as Jimmy Connors, a student at Riverwood High School with an insatiable love for music. From the very opening moments, Jimmy is shown to be hyperactive and unwilling to play the gentle taps of the drums in his school’s orchestra. He wants to let loose and play in a real dance band, and he wants to recruit all of his musical friends to join him. One of the only people who believes in his dream is Mary Holden (Garland), Jimmy’s best friend who longs to be his girlfriend but struggles to compete in a face-off against music.
The movie is very cyclical in its plot development; Jimmy typically has a grand idea – first forming the dance orchestra and eventually on to performing in a competition out of state – before meeting some resistance from authority and eventually finding a way to execute his vision. Rooney nails this role, using his natural (or likely amphetamine-enhanced) charisma to keep up the energy in this overly long two-hour film. Yet, you would not really care about him if it was not for Garland’s Mary, a sweet girl who puts up with his nonsense for way longer than she should. It seems ridiculous to have the lovely Garland in an unrequited love situation with Rooney, but according to history this was mirrored off-screen so you have to just roll with such developments.
Where this film really soars is in the spectacle that you expect from a master such as Berkeley. This film delights in its “only in the movies” ethos where anything is possible if it will add a bit of grandeur. The most marvelous example of this is the “Nell from New Rochelle” show that the kids put on as a fundraising opportunity to pay for one of their trips. Witnessing the numerous set changes and impossible production design they utilize would make the kids in Euphoria green with envy. It is by far one of the most entertaining segments of the picture, and it is one that you will not soon forget. The musical numbers are also exhilarating, from the infectious “Do the La Conga” to the deeply emotional “Our Love Affair.” Garland’s voice is so angelic that it nearly brings a tear to your eye, and the orchestration is flawless.
So why isn’t this one not more notable in the career of Judy Garland? Well, the picture does a lot of things well, but it does not sustain for as long as it needs to. The two-hour runtime is a major detriment, as you begin to see the limitations of the plot much more clearly with each new manufactured impediment. Also, for as good as many of the songs are, you cannot help but feel that there needed to be at least two more showstoppers to counteract the more serviceable tunes. The film offers up a fun cameo by famed bandleader Paul Whiteman (King Of Jazz) with his orchestra, but that may not be as exciting to modern audiences. Even if it is not top-tier Judy Garland, she is a beguiling presence on screen who has not yet been through the worst of what Hollywood has in store for her. Strike Up The Band is a preservation of the Garland we wish we could have held onto for a little while longer.
Video Quality
Warner Archive presents Strike Up The Band for the first time on Blu-Ray with 1080p transfer sourced from a 4K scan of the best archival elements. If there is a truism to stick by in this world, it is that Warner Archive rarely misses when it comes to preservation. This black and white feature has lovely natural film grain throughout that provides a grand amount of detail to the image. Print damage is virtually nonexistent to these eyes from beginning to end. The picture has a stunning amount of depth to it including in the shadows where there is no evidence of any black crush. This disc also lacks anything in the way of digital anomalies such as sharpening or compression artifacts. It is always amazing to see a company continue to outshine themselves; this presentation is nothing short of flawless on all objective fronts.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray comes with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that cannot be beat. The track balances vocals with the accompanying orchestra and vibrant crowds with tremendous clarity. Dialogue comes through clearly even during the most subtle interpersonal moments. Music is one of the driving forces in the film, and we are happy to report that this track never falters when it comes to fidelity. There are moments where there is a whirlwind of activity where you might expect it to become a sonic mess, but it maintains its fidelity without fault. Warner Archive has provided a top-notch audio presentation that does not exhibit any glaring signs of age-related wear-and-tear. The disc also comes with optional English (SDH) subtitles.
Special Features
- Introduction By Mickey Rooney: A three-minute introduction from an elderly Mickey Rooney in which he reflects on the film in the context of his relationship with Judy Garland, the ensemble talent, the legacy of the film and more. This is a lovely addition.
- Wedding Bills: A ten-minute “Pete Smith Specialty” short which shows off the high cost of love.
- Cartoon – Romeo In Rhythm: An eight-minute cartoon is provided here which combines jazz and Romeo and Juliette. This is presented here in standard definition.
- Do The La Conga Stereo Number: An option to view the six-minute number in stereo.
- 10/28/1940 – Lux Radio Theater Broadcast: A 59-minute condensed audio rendition of this story with Rooney and Garland reprising their roles.
- Leo Is On The Air Radio Promo: A 14-minute audio piece which shines a spotlight on the film with snippets of songs and other bits to entice audiences to the theater.
- 7/2/1941 – Millions For Defense Radio Excerpt: A 15-minute piece which focuses heavily on the war effort with appearances from Rooney and Garland
- Theatrical Trailer: The three-minute trailer is provided here.
Final Thoughts
Strike Up The Band is a buoyant little musical that succeeds thanks to the ebullient nature of Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney. The story is a bit rote in terms of ambition, but it is solid enough to provide an avenue for spectacle and a pleasing soundtrack. It is always nice to reflect back upon the exciting beginning of Judy Garland’s ascendance. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray featuring a magnificent A/V presentation and a wonderful array of supplemental features. If you are a Garland fan, there is enough going on in this one that you will want to add to your collection. Recommended
Strike Up The Band can be purchased directly through the Warner Archive Amazon Store or various other online retailers.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.