Babes in Arms
(1939)
93 mins | Musical comedy | 13 October 1939
Director:
Busby BerkeleyWriters:
Jack McGowan, Kay Van RiperProducer:
Arthur FreedCinematographer:
Ray JuneEditor:
Frank SullivanProduction Designer:
Cedric GibbonsProduction Company:
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Corp.In a montage in the first reel of the film, clips from the 1929 M-G-M musical Broadway Melody are shown. In these sequences, Robert Bradford dubs the singing voice of Charles E. King in the song "Broadway Melody," and Tex Brodus dubs the singing voice of Cliff Edwards in "Singing in the Rain." Scenes of Mickey Rooney as a young child, taken from earlier screen appearances, are included, indicating the passage of time from his babyhood to teenaged years. A pre-production news item in HR notes that Mervyn LeRoy was to replace Arthur Freed as solo producer and Freed was to be relegated to the role of associate producer. According to an early draft of SAB, Noel Langley and John Meehan were contributing writers, but the exact nature of their contribution is not known. This picture marked Busby Berkeley's debut as an M-G-M director. The film also marked actress June Preisser's screen debut. A news item in HR adds that M-G-M planned to groom actress Grace Hayes for Marie Dressler-type roles. Rooney was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Actor for his role in this film, but lost to Robert Donat for Goodbye Mr. Chips. Modern sources state that the ending of the film in which Rooney spoofs Franklin D. Roosevelt in the production number "God's Country" was removed in a 1948 reissue of the film and never restored. The viewed print, a current video release of the film, includes the spoof, however. In 1941, M-G-M produced the musical Babes on Broadway, which was also directed by Berkeley and starred Rooney and ...
In a montage in the first reel of the film, clips from the 1929 M-G-M musical Broadway Melody are shown. In these sequences, Robert Bradford dubs the singing voice of Charles E. King in the song "Broadway Melody," and Tex Brodus dubs the singing voice of Cliff Edwards in "Singing in the Rain." Scenes of Mickey Rooney as a young child, taken from earlier screen appearances, are included, indicating the passage of time from his babyhood to teenaged years. A pre-production news item in HR notes that Mervyn LeRoy was to replace Arthur Freed as solo producer and Freed was to be relegated to the role of associate producer. According to an early draft of SAB, Noel Langley and John Meehan were contributing writers, but the exact nature of their contribution is not known. This picture marked Busby Berkeley's debut as an M-G-M director. The film also marked actress June Preisser's screen debut. A news item in HR adds that M-G-M planned to groom actress Grace Hayes for Marie Dressler-type roles. Rooney was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Actor for his role in this film, but lost to Robert Donat for Goodbye Mr. Chips. Modern sources state that the ending of the film in which Rooney spoofs Franklin D. Roosevelt in the production number "God's Country" was removed in a 1948 reissue of the film and never restored. The viewed print, a current video release of the film, includes the spoof, however. In 1941, M-G-M produced the musical Babes on Broadway, which was also directed by Berkeley and starred Rooney and Garland.
When vaudeville is eclipsed by the motion picture, Mickey Moran's parents, vaudeville troupers Joe and Florrie Moran, find bookings scarce. However, Mickey, who was born backstage at New York's Palace Theatre, remains undaunted and determines to write a show to be presented by the kids of the old vaudevillians in his hometown of Seaport, Long Island. In order to reach his goal, Mickey has to contend with many adversities, among which are the threats of Martha Steele, the head of the welfare board, who wants to send the youngsters to work school; the temperamental ego of Baby Rosalie Essex, the child star who is bankrolling the show; and the jealousy of Patsy Barton, his girl friend, who sees a rival in Baby Rosalie. Mickey manages to overcome all these problems, but is unable to control the weather when a hurricane washes away the show in mid-performance. Just when things look their blackest and Mrs. Steele is about to swoop the children off to work school, Mickey receives word that Harry Maddox, a New York producer, has decided to stage the show on ...
When vaudeville is eclipsed by the motion picture, Mickey Moran's parents, vaudeville troupers Joe and Florrie Moran, find bookings scarce. However, Mickey, who was born backstage at New York's Palace Theatre, remains undaunted and determines to write a show to be presented by the kids of the old vaudevillians in his hometown of Seaport, Long Island. In order to reach his goal, Mickey has to contend with many adversities, among which are the threats of Martha Steele, the head of the welfare board, who wants to send the youngsters to work school; the temperamental ego of Baby Rosalie Essex, the child star who is bankrolling the show; and the jealousy of Patsy Barton, his girl friend, who sees a rival in Baby Rosalie. Mickey manages to overcome all these problems, but is unable to control the weather when a hurricane washes away the show in mid-performance. Just when things look their blackest and Mrs. Steele is about to swoop the children off to work school, Mickey receives word that Harry Maddox, a New York producer, has decided to stage the show on Broadway.
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