Babes in Arms (1939)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Busby Berkeley

Writers:

Jack McGowan (writer) and
Kay Van Riper (writer) ...
(more)

Release Date:

31 October 1939 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical

Tagline:

The big musical fun show!

Plot:

The struggle of two talented young artists, to make their own way in the show business.

Plot Keywords:

Singer | Rehearsal | Show Business | Jealousy | Composition

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Cast

Mickey Rooney	...	Mickey Moran
Judy Garland	...	Patsy Barton
Charles Winninger	...	Joe Moran
Guy Kibbee	...	Judge John Black
June Preisser	...	Rosalie Essex
Grace Hayes	...	Florrie Moran
Betty Jaynes	...	Molly Moran
Douglas McPhail	...	Don Brice
Rand Brooks	...	Jeff Steele
Leni Lynn	...	Dody Martin
Johnny Sheffield	...	Bobs (as John Sheffield)
Henry Hull	...	Maddox
Barnett Parker	...	William Bartlett
Ann Shoemaker	...	Mrs. Barton
Margaret Hamilton	...	Martha Steele
Joseph Crehan	...	Mr. Essex
George McKay	...	Brice
Henry Roquemore	...	Shaw
Lelah Tyler	...	Mrs. Brice
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Charles D. Brown	...	Larry Randall (uncredited)
Joe Caits	...	Vaudevillian Veteran (uncredited)
Frank Darien	...	Mr. Parks, Druggist (uncredited)
James Donlan	...	Fred (uncredited)
Inna Gest	...	Extra (uncredited)
Robert Emmett Keane	...	Booking Agent (uncredited)
Lon McCallister	...	Boy (uncredited)
Sidney Miller	...	Sid (uncredited)
Cyril Ring	...	Vaudevilian Celebrant (uncredited)
Charles Smith	...	Shy Youth (uncredited)
Leonard Sues	...	(uncredited)
Libby Taylor	...	Millicent, Rosalie's Maid (uncredited)
Mary Treen	...	Receptionist (uncredited)
Pat West	...	Vaudevillian Veteran (uncredited)
Robert Winkler	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Busby Berkeley

Writing credits
Jack McGowan		(writer) and
Kay Van Riper		(writer)
Lorenz Hart		play
Anita Loos		uncredited
Richard Rodgers		play (as Richard Rogers)
Annalee Whitmore		uncredited

Produced by
Arthur Freed	....	producer

Original Music by
George Bassman		(uncredited)
George Stoll		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Ray June

Film Editing by
Frank Sullivan

Art Direction by
Cedric Gibbons

Set Decoration by
Edwin B. Willis

Costume Design by
Dolly Tree

Art Department
Merrill Pye	....	associate art director

Sound Department
Douglas Shearer	....	recording director

Music Department
Leo Arnaud	....	orchestrator
George Bassman	....	orchestrator
Roger Edens	....	music adaptor
George Stoll	....	musical director
Murray Cutter	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Wally Heglin	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Paul Marquardt	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Arthur Schutt	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Distributors

• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (VHS)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (also video)
• Warner Home Video (USA) (VHS)

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:G | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

The Mickey Rooney-Judy Garland-Busby Berkeley full-throttle production number, "God's Country" (music by Harold Arlen, lyrics by E.Y. Harburg), had been introduced on Broadway by Jack Whiting and The Five Reillys in the 1937 musical, "Hooray for What!" MGM bought the screen rights to the show, which never was filmed.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Judy Garland & Betty Jaynes are singing their duet, there is part of one line where Judy's lips aren't moving but you can hear her singing. You can see her singing "We're really..." and then the view changes and there's a close-up of the two girls. As they sing the words "...just like...." Judy's lips aren't moving and she's just staring straight at the camera. Then she continues lip-syncing "...two peas in a pod..."

Quotes:

Michael C. 'Mickey' Moran: No, no, no, judge! You don't understand; she don't understand, either. Oh, she don't mean no harm to us, but... we're not her kind of people - or yours, either. We belong in show business. We gotta start young so we can get some steel in our backbone. Well, gee, we're developing. You couldn't teach us a trade: we've GOT one. And you couldn't do without it...

Movie Connections:

Features Riffraff (1936)

Soundtrack:

Ja Da

Mickey Rooney does it all!

Babes In Arms is one of my favorite movies of all time. I will never forget seeing this film. In fact, it was the first Mickey Rooney film I ever saw. Mickey Rooney shows off all of his talents here, proving why he was Hollywood's biggest star. Also, earning a much deserved Oscar nominations. Mickey and Judy always charm the pants off of me. Hollywood will never know two more talented teenagers. If you want a good laugh just watch Mickey's impersonations of Clark Gable and Lionel Barrymore. Very impressive stuff. Judy is simply gorgeous in this film as Mickey's girlfriend. The Rooney/Garland chemistry is unmatched to this day. For great music and fun, check out this classic musical.