Strike Up the Band

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Strike Up the Band

1940

2h 0m

Musical

Comedy

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5 Reviews

79%

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500+ Ratings

Teenage drummer Jimmy Connors dreams of winning the contest for school bands hosted by popular band leader Paul Whiteman (himself). In order to enter, Jimmy and his pals, including charming vocalist Mary Holden, must accumulate $200 for the train ride to Chicago, where the contest will be held. Jimmy and his friends decide to put on an epic student play to raise the funds they need, but a sudden illness threatens to cost the band their chance.

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Apr 29, 2025

In many ways it’s quintessential Mickey and Judy musical with Rooney at his most energetic ...

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Jul 20, 2020

2.5/4

It's always a pleasure to hear Garland sing, and the fevered and frenzied Rooney is something to behold. But the story is awfully thin.

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Ellie Lucas

From the Front Row

Jul 15, 2020

3.5/4

Rooney and Garland are full of effervescent charm, and Berkeley delivers some of his strongest numbers of his MGM period.

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Aug 7, 2014

B

Despite the tiresome plot, it's highly entertaining because of the snappy young duo and their big band music.

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Jul 23, 2012

B

One of the most popular Mickey Rooney-Judy Garland teamings of lets put on a show, directed by Busby Berkeley

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Horror fan 4

@Horrorfan4life Jun 28, 2025

Judy and Mickey light up the screen again. With his drumming and her singing it's a winning combo. Tim Treakle

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Steve S

@RT32687682 May 10, 2022

Director Busby Berkeley brings his talent to this teenage musical. He was always good at bringing early musicals to life. Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland star as high school kids who want to bring their band to the big times. In order to get noticed they stage an ambitious school musical. Of course the high school production looks a lot more like a Broadway musical. Its hokey and corny, but I was impressed with the lavish musical numbers and energetic casting. Not my kind of movie, but decent for what it is,

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Jul 1, 2021

willie was really the best character. he deserved to get mary and beat up jimmy. tbh he deserved to be the main character. love, judygarlandfan3469

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william d

@acsdoug Mar 30, 2021

Great flick. For the first time MGM gave Berkeley, Rooney and Garland a budget worthy of their immense talent. The Conga number may be their finest work.

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ashley h

@ashleyhobgood87 Sep 6, 2018

Strike Up the Band is a decent film. It is about Jimmy Connors and his girlfriend want to take part in Paul Whiteman's high school's band contest. Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland give good performances. The screenplay is a little slow in places. Busby Berkeley did an alright job directing this movie. I liked this motion picture because of the humor and romance.

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s r

@ScottR Jun 13, 2017

A bit over the top, but a grand production. Props for highlighting New Rochelle.

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Busby Berkeley

Director

Mickey Rooney

James 'Jimmy' Connors

Judy Garland

Mary Holden

Paul Whiteman

Self

June Preisser

Barbara Frances Morgan

Fred F. Finklehoffe

Writer

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Synopsis

Teenage drummer Jimmy Connors dreams of winning the contest for school bands hosted by popular band leader Paul Whiteman (himself). In order to enter, Jimmy and his pals, including charming vocalist Mary Holden, must accumulate $200 for the train ride to Chicago, where the contest will be held. Jimmy and his friends decide to put on an epic student play to raise the funds they need, but a sudden illness threatens to cost the band their chance.

Director: Busby Berkeley
Producer: Arthur Freed
Screenwriter: Fred F. Finklehoffe, Herbert Fields
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Loew's Inc.
Production Co: Loew's Inc., Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Genre: Musical, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 27, 1940, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2012
Runtime: 2h 0m

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