User reviews

The plot is virtually the same as in all the other Garland/Rooney movies: Rooney is a ladies man (stop laughing!)and, to tame him, is sent to a dude ranch out west. There he meets mail carrier and (it seems) cook Judy Garland. She hates him, he loves her and after all the predictable complications occur they fall in love leading to the big, elaborate number.

The plot is predictable but the movie is still a lot fun. The script is sharp and quite funny; Garland and Rooney always played off good against each other; a very young Nancy Walker has a bit role and is hilarious whenever she's on screen and it moves fairly quick.

Also seeing Rooney and Garland so young and full of life is always great and the songs are good. There are no real bad ones but "Embracble You" and "I Got Rhythm" are standouts. And the final number is just incredible (although I question the cowboys shooting off round after round of ammunition).

A great little musical. Worth seeing.

Talent like that, when not together in the same film, make any of their work worth seeing. When together in the same film, the results are unmissable. While Mickey Rooney is a take/leave performer dependent on the material to me, Judy Garland and the Gershwin Brothers are lifelong favourites and Busby Berkeley has done some of the most jaw-dropping routines in musicals.

If one is a fan of at least one of these people, 'Girl Crazy' is a must watch. As far as Rooney and Garland pairings go, it's one of their better efforts and as a musical it's incredible. People may find faults with it as an overall film, but it succeeds mostly brilliantly for what it is and what it aimed to do.

'Girl Crazy' is not quite flawless, but the cons are far outweighed by the pros and the pros are enormous. The story is thin and silly with parts being wrapped up too easily and a few of Rooney's antics are somewhat overdone and hammy.

However, even when not in Technicolor (imagine how even better "I Got Rhythm" would have been), 'Girl Crazy' still looks lovely in crisp black and white and with elegant production design. It particularly shines in Garland's "But Not For Me" which sees her at perhaps her most luminous. George and Ira Gershwin's songs are simply magnificent, especially "I Got Rhythm" (one of their most famous, iconic even, songs for a reason), "Bidin' My Time" and "Embraceable You". A big honourable mention is "But Not For Me", of which there has never been a more touching rendition of.

The songs are further benefited from being staged in a great mix of liveliness and tenderness. The big finale for "I Got Rhythm" is a little overblown but extraordinary in energy, charm and spectacle, though also loved the sophistication for "Could You Use Me?". In general too, they are phenomenally performed, the prime examples being "But Not For Me" and the dynamite contribution from Tommy Dorsey.

Scripting is suitably witty and there is tremendous energy and charm throughout. Rooney is more restrained than usual yet still has his boundless energy, even better is luminous and affecting Garland in magisterial voice. Their chemistry is wonderful and gels very well indeed and more. Rags Ragland and Nancy Walker are standouts in support.

Overall, hugely entertaining and while not quite a masterpiece 'Girl Crazy's' a must watch. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Mickey Rooney has been disgracing papa Henry O'Neill by hanging out in night clubs instead of the Yale Quad, so he ships him out west where he encounters Judy Garland. There are some subplots, but it's mostly about Miss Garland singing Gershwin songs and Rooney mugging.

It's a transitional musical from the Freed unit. MGM had been doing musical extravaganzas in the 1930s, and operettas starring Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy. The Arthur Freed unit was evolving the musical into the new Broadway style, in which the songs advanced or expounded on the plot, instead of stopping the horse race while Jolson did bird imitations. This one has some big musical numbers involving the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, and it has some numbers that comment on the characters' states of mind like "Could You Use Me?", and the lovely "But Not For Me". It also has numbers more suited for a revue like "Biding My Time." So musically it's a mixed bag, except for the fact that it's all Gershwin tunes.

You can't fault any music by George Gershwin, but you can raise your eyebrows at some of the self-indulgent lyrics by Ira Gershwin, full of all-too-clever feminine rhymes instead of honest sentiment -- and some unfortunate arrangements, like an orchestral swing version of "Fascinating Rhythm" that reduces the rhythm to nothing under the Dorsey syrup.

Even so, the enormous energy and talent of Rooney and Garland carry this movie easily over the finish line, and if the production number of "I Got Rhythm" is directed by Busby Berkeley is over the top, the starring pair triumph over its rigorous and meaningless spectacle.

This Gershwin musical, first staged in 1930 (and filmed, not altogether successfully from a musical point of view, by RKO in 1932) gets another movie version, this time tailored for the talents of MGM's two top young stars, Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney.

The original story gets ditched and in place we get the usual 'kids putting on a show' stuff that Judy and Mickey did in all their collaborations during the 1930s/40s. The songs are done very well - Judy sings 'But Not For Me' and it is absolutely stunning, the way she is photographed during this sequence really complementing the beautiful melody of the song. 'Embraceable You', an unforgivable omission from the '32 version (it was filmed but then scrapped on the wisdom of David Selznick) is back. So Judy is great, while Mickey does the same bubbly act as always but he certainly had talent.

Perhaps one day we'll see a version which does justice to both the original plot as staged *and* the score. Neither the '32 or '43 versions quite got there - but both are worth your time, if only for quite different reasons.

Big city playboy (Mickey Rooney) is sent to a small all-male college in the Southwest by his father, who's hoping the girl crazy kid will focus on his studies. But all he does is flirt with the college dean's daughter (Judy Garland). Not much plot is needed in this one because the George Gershwin songs are terrific. "Embraceable You," "I Got Rhythm," and "Bidin' My Time" are among the tunes. Opening number "Treat Me Rough" with June Allyson starts things off with a kick. Busby Berkeley started out as director but problems with Judy led to him being canned. Norman Taurog directed most of the picture. A lot of fun with typical likable performances from Judy and Mickey. Plus good support from Guy Kibbee, Nancy Walker, and Rags Ragland. Definitely a must-see for fans of the stars.

Put aside any preconceptions about "Mickey and Judy" movies. In fact, put aside the film entirely. It's watchable, but who cares? The reason to see this film is for the fantastic arrangements of some of Gershwin's best songs.

Hugh Martin and Ralph Blaine, soon to be famous for their score for "Meet Me in St. Louis," gave the Gershwins' score (their best show), the five-star treatment with fantastic vocal arrangements - though I'm sure Roger Edens also had a hand in there.

What you get are versions that make these great songs sound even better. "Bidin' My Time," which can be a sleeper if done badly, turns into a rich counterpoint between Judy and a male quartet. "Embraceable You" is given an easy, lightly swinging full choral arrangement after Judy has her turn, and "I Got Rhythm" is taken over the top with Tommy Dorsey and the "Six Hits and A Miss" backing Judy perfectly.

But the piece de resistance is Dorsey's arrangement of "Fascinatin' Rhythm," presented first as a typical swing arrangement (and a great one at that), and then with Mickey playing (appearing to play, actually), a piano solo a la Gershwin's "Variations on I Got Rhythm," complete with hand-crossing and all George's piano tricks - fantastic! Add to this Judy's painfully tender version of "But Not For Me," June Allyson's debut performance of "Treat Me Rough," and you have one of the best film scores ever. ("Bronco Busters," unfortunately cut from the film, is available on CD - in stereo, as are all the tracks.)

If you are a Gershwin fan, this film is a treasure. Thank god they didn't throw out the best songs, as was done a few years earlier when Rodgers & Hart's equally impressive score for "Babes In Arms" was butchered for that film. I guess you had to be dead before your work was treated with respect in Hollywood!

Filled with Gershwin tunes like "Embraceable You" and "I've Got Rhythm", it stars Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney in one of their many enjoyable pairings. The cast also includes June Allyson (who sings at the beginning, then disappears), TV's Nancy Walker (a humorous role, naturally), Guy Kibbee as Garland's grandfather, and Tommy Dorsey (as himself). This is a fairly good musical with an uncommon setting, out West in the desert with cowboys, but no Indians (well, two, very briefly). Rags Ragland also appears as a significant character in the film; Garland sings him to tears with the melancholy "But Not For Me" near the movie's end.

Rooney is playboy who's embarrassed his well-known publisher father for the last time. Father (Henry O'Neill) sends Rooney to a men's college (run by Kibbee's character) in the middle of nowhere to straighten him out. There, he meets Garland, the only woman around these parts, right away. Predictable jokes are played on the "city boy" by the locals and, of course, eventually Rooney wins over Garland. The two then work to "save" the college, whose enrollment is down, with a Wild West Rodeo show and beauty contest. A love interest conflict, the Governor's daughter (Frances Rafferty), for Rooney is introduced to make things interesting until the film ends with the aforementioned show.

Irving Bacon appears, uncredited, as the Governor's assistant. Peter Lawford and Don Taylor appear, uncredited, as two of the students.

Directed by Norman Taurog (Skippy (1931)), with a screenplay by Fred Finklehoffe (Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)).

I ignored this movie for years thinking it was just another over-exuberant essay in the over-abundant MGM collection of sappy adolescent musicals. I'm glad that listening to an English revival of the original musical finally motivated me to watch it, because some of the best musical numbers ever put on film are here. Busby Berkeley started as the director but was replaced for supposedly tyrannical behavior. His production numbers appear at the end and are quite amazing, choreographing "I've Got Rhythm" with guns and bullwhips. All the numbers on this movie are quite exceptional, in particular "Biding My Time" one of the Gershwin brothers' finest and most surprising tunes, but also "Treat Me Rough" and "Could You Use Me". And the arrangements are some of the best I've ever heard, anticipating the harmonies of the Hi-Los and the Four Freshmen by a decade and a half. Judy has never looked prettier nor sung as purely and Mickey pulls out all the stops without (well, almost) going over the top. He even plays a terrific piano solo, with Tommy Dorsey! I never get tired of watching this movie. It's an explosion of pure pleasure.

A Mickey Rooney/Judy Garland vehicle from 1943. Rooney, son of a millionaire, is a gadabout who hits the clubs, living it up till his dad can't take it anymore, sending him out West to an all boy academy but the moment he makes his way along to the school, he finds Garland by the side of the road trying to get her jalopy started. They don't hit it off right away (shock & surprise!) but as the regimen of the school starts to get to Rooney (mostly dressing up in cowboy garb & riding the range which he doesn't excel at) he claps his hands in defeat & writes his father to tell him so but then he finds out the college will be closing due a shortage of students so he proposes, w/Garland's ardent support (especially since the school dean is her grandfather) to make the college coed & to publicize the upcoming changes, have a beauty contest of sorts, crowning a belle who'll be representative of the establishment. What winds up the story is a mistaken gift of a locket which is initially promised to Garland but then is passed around like a collection plate & putting on the final show number which almost always takes place on a stage the school has no way of having. Ample tunes & dance sequences abound (Busby Berkeley did the choreography here w/Tommy Dorsey & his band, playing themselves, providing the background sounds) w/the 2 lovers assured to be together at the end & the school to live out many semesters to come. Also starring Nancy Walker (Mom of TV's Rhoda) as a friend of Garland's.

Fricke in his DVD comment says this is the best of the four produced by Arthur Freed of the Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland films. Which to my way of thinking--this was the least annoying of the four films.

Granted the Gershwin words and music is a draw; Tommy Dorsey's orchestra playing the tunes is a draw; Judy Garland's rendition of the tunes is a draw, and about as good a reason as any to see the movie.

The weakest link in the film was Mickey Rooney. Not to take away from his talent in dancing, in miming--he has got to be the most annoying actor in Hollywood. How he was ever rated as a top draw player is anyone's guess--apparently, he outdrew the likes of Clark Gable. But for my taste, he detracts from the films. And these films are so flimsy, so shallow, such an embarrassment--they need all the help they can get--and Mickey Rooney is of no help.

And yet, having written that, I can't imagine another actor working with Judy Garland. He is so annoying, and by contrast, she is excellent.

Even by the standards of films made in the 1930s--I can think of dozens that are better than this; Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers never descended into the bathos the Rooney Garland films seem to delight. The Rooney Garland films are not films that demand replaying--they tire with one viewing. While one never tires of anything Rogers & Hammerstein, never tires of "My Fair Lady", "The Music Man", "Gigi", Astaire & Rogers, "Three Penny Opera", even the Busby Berkeley films are never tiresome in the way these four Rooney Garland vehicles are tiresome.

And fortunately, Judy Garland was to go on and produce excellence as she grew older. The Gershwin tunes are the best they had produced; Judy Garland's rendition of the tunes was excellent; Tommy Dorsey was excellent. But all that excellence cannot make a flimsy and silly story into a great film, not even a mediocre film--just a tolerable film. And when one of the major actors is so annoying, nothing can overcome that level of annoyance.

Mickey Rooney is hilarious, Judy Garland charms your socks off with her incredible talent, Busby Berkely adds his genius, Norman Taurog is in top form, and Tommy Dorsey swings the joint with his big band in this exceptional MGM wartime Musical. Top it off with a superb Gershwin's score, Rags Ragland, Nancy Walker and June Allyson in solid supporting roles and you have one helluva entertaining songfest.

What more can you ask for? If this one doesn't make you laugh and tap your toes nothing will. Sure it's fluff but oh what good fluff! Escapist fun in 1943 and just as good now. Judy and Mickey were always great together and made some decent musicals, but this is the best I've seen. A thorough delight from start to finish.

What talent Hollywood once had that is gone forever. There's more entertainment value in the first 25 minutes of this picture than in most current films I've seen lately combined.

See it. It's a gem.

Mickey Rooney (Danny) is a college playboy – God knows how – and is sent to a rural college by his dad where there are no women students enrolled. What a totally stupid college. Anyway, there is one woman there – Judy Garland (Ginger), daughter of Guy Kibbee (the Dean) and she is responsible for the mail that comes into and out of the town via the railway station in the middle of nowhere. Does Mickey Rooney continue his lucky run with the ladies? Guess who he sets his sights on?

This story of this film is irrelevant. Basically, Garland and Rooney meet up, sing songs, dance and put on a show. Apparently, this is viewed as the best of their collaborations so I'm glad I watched it. It saves me from what must be total dross in their other offerings. Both Garland and Rooney are larger than life personalities with one difference – Garland is likable whilst Rooney is detestable. I've even read that he plays down his usual energy-bomb character in this film. Good God! If this is him calmed down, I want no further interactions with this ghastly pipsqueak.

All the characters are awful – even Judy Garland is particularly unpleasant on first meeting Rooney and leaving him stranded. However, what we do get is the talent of Judy Garland and the music. She is, of course, a great singer and this makes the film almost passable. The best song is "Bidin' My Time" near the beginning of the film. Nothing else is particularly memorable on the song front but Garland delivers them well. By contrast, Rooney's shtick is unbearable and the scene where he just keeps mimicking radio commentaries is agonizing. Not funny. Ever.

A film with screen legends but you can skip it. Like I said – "Bidin' My Time" is the only reason to watch this film. Judy's performance during this is classic stuff.

The plot's ridiculous. Garland and Rooney are young and magical. Seeing Tommy Dorsey's orchestra at work is wonderful.

The movie's finale is a musical number, "I Got Rhythm", directed by Busby Berkeley. As with all the great Berkeley musical scenes, it's a unique vision. The camera moves and staging are masterful. Transcendent, even. I'd love to be a fly on the wall while this scene was being thought up and worked on.

Something I haven't seen commented on: Rooney's radio impressions, given while he and Garland wait to see the governor. Kinda fun. Mickey channels his inner Robin Williams.

Despite the plot absence, put this on your must-see list if you're serious about developing cinematic literacy.

Mickey Rooney could have been replaced with a mop and been just as entertaining. Not sure how he became a star. Judy was the drive in this flick and not the nome.

I believe the pinnacle of the Mickey Rooney/Judy Garland collaboration at MGM was reached in 1943 with Girl Crazy. Musical films don't get any better than this. It was especially good since the first film version of Girl Crazy was a watered down thing done by RKO for the talents of Wheeler&Woolsey. As I wrote in my review of that film, if you're a Wheeler&Woolsey fan its all right, but if you like George Gershwin as I do, the film is a dud.

That sure isn't the case here and though the plot was changed somewhat from the Broadway version it still involves a young eastern playboy who gets sent west to a small college to mend his ways in the great outdoors. I'm sure you've guessed that is the role Mickey Rooney plays.

Judy is the granddaughter of the college dean Guy Kibbee and being the only young girl around she's got all the boys attention. That doesn't even change when Nancy Walker comes to town. The roles that Garland and Walker played were originated on Broadway by Ginger Rogers and Ethel Merman.

Girl Crazy debuted in 1930 and ran for 272 performances which is a remarkable record for the Depression years. Of course having what might arguably be the best score that George and Ira Gershwin ever wrote is probably the reason. MGM wisely kept most of it intact and we get to hear Garland sing But Not For Me, Embraceable You, I've Got Rhythm, Biding My Time and a charming duet with Rooney in Could You Use Me.

When Nancy Walker stepped into Ethel Merman's role Merman's songs in the original Broadway show were I've Got Rhythm and Sam n' Delilah. The former is given to Garland and the latter is only heard in the background. But with Garland singing all these Gershwin songs I venture to say that she never had as rich a score in any of her films before or since.

Girl Crazy also features Tommy Dorsey who might have had at that time the number one swing band in the nation even without that singer from Hoboken who left him that year. Dorsey and his orchestra appear both in the early nightclub scene with Mickey Rooney and in the I've Got Rhythm finale which is choreographed by the inimitable Busby Berkeley. His work at MGM is not quite as spectacular as it was at Warner Brothers in the Thirties, but it's pretty good in this film.

Judy, Mickey, George, Ira, Tommy, Busby, Nancy and a supporting cast that also includes Rags Ragland, Henry O'Neill, Gil Stratton, June Allyson, who could ask for anything more?

Danny Churchill (Mickey Rooney) is the life of the party. His publisher father is not happy with all the news coverage and sends him to a remote mining college. There is supposedly no girls around but he encounters Ginger Gray (Judy Garland) fixing her car in the middle of nowhere.

Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland may be the perfect Hollywood pairing. They would do only one more after this one. They have such easy chemistry. It's a match made in heaven. Their first meeting at the broken down car is the perfect encapsulation of that chemistry. She is adorable and he is energetic. The music is George Gershwin. In the real world, single gal Judy Garland by herself would not have a moment of peace, and she wouldn't have to lift a finger. It's a light comedy, light story, and light in general. It's a lot of songs and plenty of dance. That's what a wartime audience needed at that time.

Forget the plot, in my opinion, this is the best of the Garland/Rooney films.

Mickey is a delight especially in their duet Could You Use Me?

Even better is Judy who steals the show. Her songs from "Embraceable You", "But Not For Me", and "Bidin My Time" are spectacular.

She also looks absolutely beautiful throughout the movie.

The highlight of the film is Judy singing the outstanding "I Got Rhythm". The vocal strength shows why she was the best singer of her era!!

An absolutely must see film!!

Better hope the fast forward on your remote is in good working order 'cause you're sure as hell gonna need it if you expect to make it through this very irksome musical. Basically, except for Tommy D and his orchestra, you can skip the first forty five minutes since that is how long it takes for Judy Garland to sing a solo number, (pretty much the textbook definition of "inexcusable"). Then, after the wonderful. "Embraceable You" you can ff till you get to Tommy D and his band again doing a stirring rendition of "Fascinating Rhythm" that is only partially screwed up by Mickey Rooney's lame piano antics. Press down once more on the ol forefinger till you get to Judy at her most sublime singing the Gershwins at their most sublime "But Not For Me". Then it's a short stint on the remote until you come to the Busby Berkeley directed finale, "I Got Rhythm", which is tame by Busby standards but towers above the half dead directorial style of Norman Taurog. Give it a generous C plus for Judy and Buzz.

This isn't an Andy Hardy movie, but it might as well be. With a plot so thin you'll be hard-pressed to remember what it is mere minutes after the credits roll, it's a compilation of song and dance numbers to entertain audiences in the thick of WWII. Tommy Dorsey and his band are given a few songs, and Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland take center stage, performing "Fascinating Rhythm," "Embraceable You," and "I Got Rhythm." You'll get to see Judy showing off her dance skills and Mickey showing off his piano playing. You'll also see June Allyson belting out, "Treat Me Rough," and if you keep your ears peeled, you'll hear an out-of-place cultured British accent delivering one line. Look to the left of the screen; it's Peter Lawford!

If anyone's curious as to the plot, Mickey is a playboy who needs straightening. He gets sent to a farmer-hard-work school in the middle of nowhere so he won't be distracted by girls and nightclubs. As soon as he meets Judy Garland, he gets distracted. "Would you like to help me celebrate my golden wedding anniversary?" Mickey asks. "I'd love to, if you don't think your wife would mind," Judy quips back. The little duo doesn't get together right away, but they work together to save the school, run by Guy Kibbee, and build a friendship while their romance simmers. This one's really silly, so only the die-hard Mickey and Judy fans should rent it.

This was the highest grossing movie in 1943 and nominated for an academy award . If you like old romantic /comedies , you're sure to like this film . It has 2 of my favorite stars Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney. The movie takes place on a western university . Throw in a spoiled city brat taking a shine to deans daughter and the university about to be closed ( due to lack of funds ) adds up to a funny and delightful movie. You get a little of everything in this movie - great songs , dancing , comedy , romance , cowboys/cowgirls - go out and rope in this movie and enjoy it tonight.

Mickey is a hammy fool here...the story is incredibly lame...Judy looks uncomfortable....what can you say? Very poor production values, phony dialogue, contrived situations that might work well on Star Trek, but not worth your time, unless you need a good nap