{"id":19677,"date":"2011-09-18T02:33:36","date_gmt":"2011-09-18T09:33:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=19677"},"modified":"2021-02-01T15:13:08","modified_gmt":"2021-02-01T22:13:08","slug":"babes-in-arms-1939","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=19677","title":{"rendered":"Babes in Arms (1939)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Listen, you kids: I think our time has come!&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Babes-in-Arms-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Babes-in-Arms-Poster-198x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"198\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-19678\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Babes-in-Arms-Poster-198x300.jpg 198w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Babes-in-Arms-Poster-84x128.jpg 84w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Babes-in-Arms-Poster.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 198px) 100vw, 198px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nThe son (Mickey Rooney) of aging vaudevillians (Charles Winninger and Grace Hayes) is determined to put on a show to raise money for his household, and his girlfriend (Judy Garland) is eager to help &#8212; but she soon feels insecure about the arrival of a former child actress (June Preisser) hoping to play the lead role.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-static\/genres.html#busbyberkeley\">Busby Berkeley Films<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-static\/genres.html#generationgap\">Generation Gap<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-static\/genres.html#judygarland\">Judy Garland Films<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-static\/genres.html#letsputon\">&#8220;Let&#8217;s Put On a Show&#8221;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-static\/genres.html#mickeyrooney\">Mickey Rooney Films<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-static\/genres.html#musicals\">Musicals<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\n<em>Babes in Arms<\/em> &#8212; the third on-screen pairing of Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland, a year after their memorable rapport in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=19576\"><em>Love Finds Andy Hardy<\/em> (1938)<\/a> &#8212; is notable for being an even higher money-maker than <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3361\"><em>The Wizard of Oz<\/em> (1939)<\/a>, released the same year and also co-starring typecast Margaret Hamilton, whose character is cleverly described here as someone who would &#8220;put butterflies to work making rubber tires&#8221; (!). <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Babes-in-Arms-Hamilton.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Babes-in-Arms-Hamilton-1024x774.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"484\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-67746\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Babes-in-Arms-Hamilton-1024x774.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Babes-in-Arms-Hamilton-300x227.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Babes-in-Arms-Hamilton-128x97.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Babes-in-Arms-Hamilton-768x581.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Babes-in-Arms-Hamilton-357x270.png 357w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Babes-in-Arms-Hamilton.png 1107w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>Babes&#8230;<\/em> &#8212; directed by Busby Berkeley &#8212; is likely the first film one thinks of when contemplating the &#8220;let&#8217;s put on a show!&#8221; genre, and this one pulls out all the stops, complete with an offensive black-face minstrel piece which will distress any modern viewers not hardened enough to simply regard it as an unfortunate product of its time. <\/p>\n<p>The storyline itself is surprisingly hard-hitting &#8212; most notably in its depiction of strained relations between Rooney and his father (Winninger), who at first is in massive denial about the imminent collapse of vaudeville&#8217;s reign, then bitterly angry about the role his son is trying to play in its revitalization; their father-son squalls together are far from representative of typical escapist fare. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Babes-in-Arms-Father-Son.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Babes-in-Arms-Father-Son-1024x771.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"482\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-67749\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Babes-in-Arms-Father-Son-1024x771.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Babes-in-Arms-Father-Son-300x226.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Babes-in-Arms-Father-Son-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Babes-in-Arms-Father-Son-768x579.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Babes-in-Arms-Father-Son-358x270.png 358w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Babes-in-Arms-Father-Son.png 1115w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>But, naturally, there&#8217;s plenty of levity throughout as well &#8212; primarily in the form of Preisser as an &#8220;aging&#8221; child-actress with tremendous gymnastic talents (check out those back flips!), plenty of money to fling around, and mooning eyes for Rooney:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Babes-in-Arms-Preisser2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Babes-in-Arms-Preisser2-1024x762.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"476\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-67747\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Babes-in-Arms-Preisser2-1024x762.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Babes-in-Arms-Preisser2-300x223.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Babes-in-Arms-Preisser2-128x95.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Babes-in-Arms-Preisser2-768x572.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Babes-in-Arms-Preisser2-363x270.png 363w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Babes-in-Arms-Preisser2.png 1111w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Her temporary threat to Rooney&#8217;s romance with Garland provides the bulk of the film&#8217;s narrative tension. The songs, sadly, are mostly forgettable, but listen for a fine rendition of Arthur Freed&#8217;s &#8220;Good Morning&#8221;. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Mickey Rooney as Mickey and Judy Garland as Patsy<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Babes-in-Arms-Garland.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Babes-in-Arms-Garland-1024x758.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"474\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-67748\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Babes-in-Arms-Garland-1024x758.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Babes-in-Arms-Garland-300x222.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Babes-in-Arms-Garland-128x95.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Babes-in-Arms-Garland-768x569.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Babes-in-Arms-Garland-365x270.png 365w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Babes-in-Arms-Garland.png 1114w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, simply for its erstwhile popularity. Listed as a film with Historical Importance in the back of Peary&#8217;s book. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Historically Relevant<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> (<span style=\"color:red;font-weight:bold;\">Listed in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-static\/1001Movies.htm\"><em>1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die<\/em><\/a><\/span>) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0031066\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1939\/10\/20\/archives\/the-screen-in-review-frank-capras-mr-smith-goes-to-washington-at.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/3094\/babes-in-arms#articles-reviews?articleId=29907\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chicagoreader.com\/chicago\/babes-in-arms\/Film?oid=1058208\">Chicago Reader Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Listen, you kids: I think our time has come!&#8221; Synopsis: The son (Mickey Rooney) of aging vaudevillians (Charles Winninger and Grace Hayes) is determined to put on a show to raise money for his household, and his girlfriend (Judy Garland) is eager to help &#8212; but she soon feels insecure about the arrival of a former child actress (June Preisser) hoping to play the lead role. Genres: Busby Berkeley Films Generation Gap Judy Garland Films &#8220;Let&#8217;s Put On a Show&#8221;&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=19677\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19677","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19677","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=19677"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19677\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67750,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19677\/revisions\/67750"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=19677"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=19677"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=19677"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}