Babes in Arms (1939)

Synopsis: Based on the musical by Rodgers and Hart, this fond celebration of the theater stars Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland as two precocious youngsters who put on a show to raise money for their unemployed vaudevillian parents. Obstacles to their success include an untimely hurricane, Margaret... Based on the musical by Rodgers and Hart, this fond celebration of the theater stars Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland as two precocious youngsters who put on a show to raise money for their unemployed vaudevillian parents. Obstacles to their success include an untimely hurricane, Margaret Hamilton (who antagonized Judy that same year in THE WIZARD OF OZ), and their parent's own disillusions with show business. Fortunately, nothing can dampen the spirits of these kids, and their perseverance and sincerity ultimately pay off. The film's highlights include Rooney's hilarious impressions of some of the big MGM stars at the time, and Judy's songs, particularly "You are My Lucky Star." Lots of old stage acts are fondly revived, and there's a real sense of the effects of the Great Depression on these struggling entertainers, which lends the film depth. Compassionate, earnest, funny and of course, brilliantly choreographed, BABES IN ARMS was the first film director Busby Berkeley made for MGM, and it revealed a sweetly nostalgic side of the talented director. [More]