Babes in Arms

Vaudeville performers on Long Island decide to go on a revival tour, leaving their children behind to start a show of their own.

Judy Garland plays Patsy Barton, a talented singer and actress who helps Mickey Moran (Mickey Rooney), a sort of George M. Cohan jack of all trades. When Mickey finds himself without the proper backing for the show, he turns to child star "Baby Rosalie" who says if she gets the lead role she'll cover the finances.

Released on October 31, 1939, Babes in Arms was nominated for two Academy Awards for Mickey Rooney (best actor) and Roger Edens (best score) and boasts a cast character actors including Charles Winninger, Margaret Hamilton, Guy Kibbee, and Ann Shoemaker.

Garland Performances

Good Morning
Music by Nacio Herb Brown and lyrics by Arthur Freed
Judy Garland with Mickey Rooney

Opera Versus Jazz
Music and lyrics by Roger Edens
Judy Garland with Betty Janes

Figaro
Music and lyrics by Roger Edens
Judy Garland

Broadway Rhythm
Music by Nacio Herb Brown and lyrics by Arthur Freed
Judy Garland with Betty Janes

Babes in Arms
Music by Richard Rogers and lyrics by Lorenz hart
Judy Garland with Mickey Rooney, Douglas McPhail, Betty Jaynes and the MGM Studio Chorus

Where or When
Music by Richard Rogers and lyrics by Lorenz hart
Judy Garland with Douglas McPhail and Betty Jaynes

I Cried for You
Words and music by Arthur Freed, Gus Arnheim and Abe Lyman
Judy Garland

My Daddy Was a Minstral Man
Judy Garland

De Camptown Races/Old Folks at Home/Oh! Susannah
Music and lyrics by Stephen Foster
Judy Garland with Mickey Rooney and the Crinoline Choir

Mr. Bones and Mr. Tambo
Music and lyrics by Roger Edens
Judy Garland with Douglas McPhail and Mickey Rooney

I'm Just Wild About Harry
Music and lyrics by Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake
Judy Garland with Mickey Rooney, the Crinoline Choir and the MGM Studio Chorus

God's Country
Music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E. Y. Harburg
Judy Garland with Mickey Rooney, Douglas McPhail, Betty Jaynes and the MGM Studio Chorus

My Day
Music and lyrics by Roger Edens
Judy Garland with Mickey Rooney, Douglas McPhail, Betty Jaynes

God's Country Reprise
Music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E. Y. Harburg
Judy Garland with Mickey Rooney, Douglas McPhail, Betty Jaynes and the MGM Studio Chorus

Recordings

I'm Just Wild About Harry
Recording Date: July 29, 1939
Label: Brunswick

Figaro
The Judy Garland Souvenier Album
Recording Date: October 16, 1939
Label: Decca

Reviews

-- to be added --

Fast Facts

  • Babes and Arms started filming after The Wizard of Oz, but was released only two months after.
  • This was the first film Busby Berkeley directed with Judy Garland.

Lines to Remember

Patsy: Well, all geniuses have a hard time getting started. Sure, that's what makes them geniuses.

Mickey: Oh, I want success so.
Patsy: And you'll have it. Oh, I know you will, Mickey. Just think of when our names are up in electric lights--you the big composer and producer and me the singing star.

Mickey: Pat, sometimes do you feel older than your folks.
Patsy: Lots--especially when they talk about 40 weeks on the road.
Mickey: Yeah, making a comeback. Gee, it must be terrible to be a has been.
Patsy: Don't talk like that--scares me.

Mickey: Would you like my pin?
Patsy: It's your music class pin.
Mickey: Well, what do you want me to say?
Patsy: You know what I want you to say.
Mickey: Well, I won't.
Patsy: Alright, then don't.
Mickey: Oh, Pat--I do.
Patsy: You do what?
Mickey: I do--what you want me to say and I won't--very much.

Mickey: Our bank roll will only stand two cokes.
Patsy: I never drink anything but Cokes anyway.
Mickey: Two great big large wonderful expensive Cokes.
Patsy Let's pretend.
Patsy: Where are we?
Mickey: We're in the Stork Club in New York City.
Patsy: While I have on an ermine coat. Oh, Mickey I've just got to have an ermine coat.
Mickey: Oh, sure, sure and the Cokes are--this is champange.
Patsy: Oh, don't you just love champange.

Patsy: I know I'm no glamour girl like Baby--like her, but maybe some day you'll realize that glamour isn't the only thing in this world. If your show is a flop you'll find that you can't eat glamour for breakfast. Anyway, I might be pretty good looking myself when I grow out of this ugly duckling stage. And you're no Clark Gable yourself, but that's alright, you go your way and I'll go mine. Don't worry about me. I'll recover. Time is a great healer, but in the future if we should meet again at the opera or at a ball and I'm dazzling in my diamonds and pearls and ermine wraps and surrounded by Lords and Dukes and Princess--you'll probably be sorry. And you'll probably realize that life is just an idiot's delight. And I speed through the dark night into the obyss of oblivion, I can only say thanks. Thanks for the memory.

Patsy: Nelson Eddy--lots of others, we've got three of the four Marx Brothers.

Patsy: I may be a sap about the men I pick, but I'm no quitter!
(Submitted by Anna)

Patsy: Oh Mickey, you're, you're--
Mickey: Never mind, I know what I am... an Indian Giver!
(Submitted by Anna)

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