BABES ON BROADWAY

US, 1941, 119 minutes, Black and white.
Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland, Fay Bainter, Virginia Weedler, Ray Mc Donald, Richard Quine, Donald Meek, James Gleeson.
Directed by Busby Berkeley.

Babes on Broadway is a typical MGM musical of the early 40s. It is entertaining in its way – but interesting for an insight into the career of its stars and director. It is a Busby Berkeley musical. Working at Warner Bros in the 1930s, he devised choreography which was based on patterns and designs as well as the dancing and acrobatics. This is to be seen in such films as 42nd Street and Footlight Parade. He continued this kind of musical at MGM in the 40s. He was later to choreograph such films as Billy Rose’s Jumbo and the swimming sequences in Million Dollar Mermaid.

The film is a sequel to Babes in Arms and virtually repeats the ‘on with the show’ plot. Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland are seen to advantage. Ray McDonald? dances well and director Richard Quine has a song-and-dance role.

1. The popularity of MGM musicals in the 40s, their style, the show business plot, the atmosphere of the outbreak of World War Two?

2. The strength of the film as a star vehicle, the stars and their style, singing and dancing routines? Comedy and romance? The quality of Busby Berkeley’s choreography and directions? Black and white photography? The score? The Oscar-nominated song, ‘How About You’?

3. The familiarity of the basic plot, the way it was used, arousing audience interest, identification with the characters, feeling with them, the warmth of the characters and their energy to get the show going?

4. The focus on teenagers, their ambitions, especially the work in the theatre? Life in the American cities? Needs, funds, help? Working in restaurants, the Broadway dreams, dreams of success? The insertion of song-and-dance routines into this plot?

5. Background of World War Two, the highlights of the British children in America? Tommy Atkins’s song, visual presentation, morale-boosting?

6. The Broadway dreams, the young boy’s dancing? The drugstore? The producers going around to the restaurants as talent scouts? The crowds at the auditions, dreams? Lucky breaks and success? The hard breaks and failure, hard work?

7. The producer and his tough attitudes towards his shows and the cast? Jonesy and her visit to Mick’s, Tommy’s friendship with her, her support, persuading the producer for an audition? Her help throughout the film? The happy culmination?

8. Mickey Rooney’s style as Tommy, as part of the group, his own energy and push, nice guy image and his wanting to succeed? Friendship with Penny? Using situations, Penny’s anger with him, hard and soft? The show going on? The fire? Clashes with the producer? Mickey Rooney’s singing and dancing style?

9. Judy Garland as Penny, the nice girl from the country, her father, family background, honesty, liking for Tommy, involvement with him? With the British children? Her disillusionment with him, the show going on, happily reunited?

10. The sketch of the characters of the boys, Barbara Jo, Mrs Williams? Conventional types – with liveliness and warmth?

11. Songs, choreography, visual effects? An entertaining version of a perennial story about ‘the show must go on’?