Young Tom Edison {1940}

One of my favorite movies growing up was the Edison film series that came out in 1940. The first one was, Young Tom Edison starring Mickey Rooney as a young Tom Edison, Fay Bainter as Mrs. Nancy Edison, and Virginia Weidler as Tannie Edison (Tom's sister).

Most of the movie is based on true events, but they got the age and birth order of Tannie wrong. She is suposed to be Tom's older sister, like much older sister. :) But, we enjoy this small mistake in the movie.

The movie follows the life of Tom Edison. Well, at least the basic events. I must say though, that Tom Edison was much younger when his parents pulled him out of school and his mother started home-schooling him. Yes, Tom Edison was a home-school graduate. :) All in all, I love this movie!

If you have TCM it on this Thursday, December 23rd, 2010 at 2:00 PM.

Trivia - 

"Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on December 23, 1940 with Mickey Rooney and Virginia Weidler reprising their film roles. You can listen here (Right click link to download mp3).

Trailer -

http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/index/?cid=150543

~Ashley 

Thoroughbreds Don't Cry {1937}

Oh, how I love the pairing of Mickey Rooney & Judy Garland! ;-) But whats even better is that Ronald Sinclair (Five Little Peppers, The Christmas Carol, Desperate Journey) is in this movie too! The role Sinclair played was originally written for Freddie Bartholomew, and I can see that. And guess what? The actor who played the Grandfather in Little Lord Fauntleroy, C. Aubrey Smith, plays the Grandfather in this movie too. =)

Timmie Donovan, Mickey Rooney, playes a tough Jockey who can really win those races. (If you've seen Boys Town his character will remind you of Whitey Marsh.) That is until his father pretends to be sicks and tricks Mickey into throwing a race. His father will make you angry throughout the entire film. It also has the wonderful Judy Garland who plays Cricket West, a girl who lives at the jockey boarding house. And then Ronald Sinclair, the English boy who travels with his Grandfather over to America to race their horse in the races. 


This has to be one of my favorite Judy Garland & Mickey Rooney films that I have seen. As it is simply marvelous!!! :)

Trivia - 

MGM's top juvenile actor of 1937, Freddie Bartholomew, had been announced to play Roger Calverton, but Freddie's Aunt Cissy (who also was his adopted mother) withdrew him before production started because of a contract dispute. In later years, Judy Garland would quip that Freddie really opted out because his voice was changing. 

~Ashley

Strike Up the Band {1940}

Strike Up The Band {1940} is one delightful, charming, feel good movie. I saw it for the first time this past Friday with Gabrielle and Hanne-col - we loved it! In fact, it was our first Judy Garland & Mickey Rooney film we ever saw. For that matter, it was our first Judy Garland movie we ever saw. =) Needless to say, she is a darling.

Judy was lovely. Mickey was hilarious. They made us laugh and feel oh, so happy. It had great songs and some fun dance routines. Plus, Judy's wardrobe was one I wouldn't mind owning myself. Her wardrobe is great for some 1940s teenage sewing inspiration. ;-)

Some of my favorite songs from the movie were, Our Love Affair, Drummer Boy, and Nobody.

For more information about the film check out these links.

http://www.doctormacro.com/Movie%20Summaries/S/Strike%20Up%20the%20Band.htm

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033110/

~Ashley