I was (as stereotypical as it sounds) completely nuts about Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz”. I was four years old when I first remember seeing her and it took me awhile to realize that Dorothy was an actress and that she went on and did other things as well. One of the first movies I saw post “Oz” was “Babes in Arms” one of the movies Garland did with Mickey Rooney. I remember being shocked to see Dorothy out of her pigtails and gingham dress and looking a bit more grownup and instead of crooning “Rainbow” she let out a swingy belt that floored me. And Rooney's enthusiasm was contagious. I was nuts about Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland. Judy and Mickey met when they were still Joe Yule Jr. and Frances Gumm. They rubbed elbows in vaudeville and became best buds while attending Miss Lawlors School in Hollywood. It was sort of like a High School For Performing Arts, a school designed for professional kids in the biz. Before they both knew it they were working together at MGM and both had changed their names. The first movie they did together was “Thoroughbreds Don't Cry” and it wasn't even a musical, although Garland did find time to sing, carrying around a ukelele and annoying Mickey and pal (played by Ronald Sinclair) with her jazzy take on “Got A Pair Of New Shoes.” The plot revolved around horse racing. Didn't really catch my attention.
Then came “Love Finds Andy Hardy” which was more of a showcase for Judy's singing. She is adorable in this movie and rather dramatic in her soliloquy, “Inbetween.”
But it wasn't until “Babes in Arms” that their infamous Barnyard Musicals began. These movies are terrific. Both shine like crazy in roles that allowed them to be themselves and to play off of each other and revel in each others extraordinary talent.
The same year they did “Babes In Arms” was the year Judy won her juvenile oscar for “Oz”. He presented it to her and I love the picture above that shows Judy beaming at the statue with Rooney supporting her.
(to be continued...)