In the Golden Age of Hollywood, there was a comfort in the familiarity of on-screen pairings of certain performers. One of the most iconic duos of the time for classic film fans is that of Mickey Rooney (National Velvet) and Judy Garland (The Wizard Of Oz, The Harvey Girls). The two made nine films together as co-stars, four of which were highly popular and financially successful musicals. The final outing for this vibrant team took place in the 1943 adaptation Girl Crazy based on the stage musical of the same name by Guy Bolton and Jack McGowan. Most notably, the work featured music and lyrics by noted geniuses George and Ira Gershwin. The film was not without its production hiccups, originally commencing production with Busby Berkeley (Take Me Out To The Ball Game) in the director’s chair before he was ousted after filming the gigantic final number and replaced by Norman Taurog (Broadway Melody of 1940). Even with these bumps, the film proved to be a fun and exciting conclusion for Garland and Rooney sharing the screen and became one of the biggest box office hits of the year.
Rooney takes on the role of Dan Churchill, Jr., the spoiled scion of a business tycoon (Henry O’Neill) who has an extreme weakness for the ladies. His focus on having the time of his life and getting close to any member of the opposite sex has proved to be a distraction from his education at Yale University. The only reasonable solution according to his father is to withdraw him from the prestigious institution and ship him off to the all-male Cody College of Mines and Agriculture deep in the American West. While his father wants him as far away from the fairer sex as possible, fate has other plans upon his arrival as he runs into Ginger Gray (Judy Garland), the local postmistress and granddaughter of the dean of the college. There is some comedy derived from the fish-out-of-water Dan trying to rough it in the rough-and-tumble world of the West and those who inhabit it, but primarily this is a vehicle for an opposites-attract romance between the two leads.
As someone who has never found Rooney to be much of a believable romantic lead, there is not much in the way of passion between the two, but they have an easy familiarity with one another that proves to be a good substitute. Rooney puts forth an energetic, charming effort that provides a decent substitute for genuine romance. It is Garland, though, that makes every scene between the two crackle with an underlying energy. This period of time was arguably Garland at her most captivating, and she lights up the screen every time she appears. These two need a bigger obstacle to overcome than just initial reluctance, so the plot point is introduced that the college will have to close due to low enrollment unless something changes dramatically. As with most Mickey and Judy musicals, the pair have to rally for a cause that can only be solved by spectacle and music, and we would not have it any other way. A “Queen of the Rodeo” pageant to get beautiful girls to come to this all-male school which will in turn boost attendance? Sure, sounds like a plan to us!
Outside of the appeal of the stars, the appeal for this feature for most will be the musical numbers. Tommy Dorsey and his orchestra provide a bit of swing to the opening and closing numbers that keeps you moving with them. The tunes from George and Ira Gershwin do tend to stick in your head long after the movie has ended with “Could You Use Me?” and “Embraceable You” standing out as personal favorites. It is not just the vocal performances that make an impression, but the choreography by Jack Donahue and Charles Walters really brings in the spectacle. While the working environment may have not been healthy for everyone, there is no denying the final “I Got Rhythm” number from Busby Berkeley is one of the most magical of the entire experience. Girl Crazy is not the most complicated or evolved story, but it provides the spectacle and humor you would want from a Mickey and Judy musical.
Video Quality
Warner Archive presents Girl Crazy for the first time on Blu-Ray with 1080p transfer sourced from a 4K scan of the best surviving preservation elements. You can always count on Warner Archive to deliver impeccable work, and the image is nothing short of stunning for a film that is over seventy years old. The presentation has a pleasing amount of depth to it including in the shadows where there is no evidence of any black crush. This black and white feature has nice, natural film grain throughout that provides a great amount of detail to the image. Print damage is virtually nonexistent to these eyes throughout the duration of the movie. This disc also lacks anything in the realm of digital anomalies such as sharpening or compression artifacts. It is always amazing to see how film preservation can bring new life to a film, and Warner Archive has reached perfection with this release.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray comes with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that is simply wonderful. With music being one of the major forces in the film, it is worth reporting that the track nails these elements beautifully. There are moments where there is a whirlwind of activity pushing the track to its limits with all of the competing elements, but it maintains its fidelity without fault. The track balances vocals with the at-times rowdy audience and the accompanying music with magnificent clarity. Normal dialogue comes through clearly from beginning to end. Warner Archive has provided a knockout 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 four-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.
- Audio Commentary: Film Historian John Fricke delivers a very informative commentary track in which he delves into the history of the film, the talent involved with the picture, the differences between the stage version and the film, and much more that enriches your appreciation for the picture.
- Hollywood Daredevils: A nine-minute “Pete Smith Specialty” short which shows off some ridiculous vehicular stunts.
- Cartoon – The Early Bird Dood It!: A nine-minute Tex Avery cartoon is provided here. This is presented here in standard definition, but if you want to see it remastered in HD you should check out Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume Three.
- I Got Rhythm Stereo Number: An option to view the nearly eight-minute closing number in stereo.
- Bronco Busters Audio Outtake: A two-minute unused tune is provided here in audio form.
- Theatrical Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided here.
Final Thoughts
Girl Crazy is a charming little musical that flourishes thanks to the effervescent nature of Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney. The comedy can be a bit broad, but in the hands of these entertainers it mostly proves to be a delight. The film offers ample spectacle in terms of singing and dancing in a way that should please classic fans of the genre. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray featuring a magnificent A/V presentation and a wonderful array of supplemental features. Fans of Mickey and Judy will be dancing on air! Recommended
Girl Crazy 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.