Strike Up the Band (1940)
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- Passed
- 2h 0min
- Comedy, Musical
- 27 Sep 1940 (USA)
- Movie
A high-school boy wants to become a professional musician, and his gal pal wants to become his best girl. They work together staging big-band shows with fellow classmates in the hopes of hitting it big.
Director:
Stars:
Awards:
- Won 1 Oscar. Another 2 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Mickey Rooney | ... |
Jimmy Connors
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| Judy Garland | ... |
Mary Holden
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| Paul Whiteman | ... |
Paul Whiteman
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| June Preisser | ... |
Barbara Frances Morgan
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| William Tracy | ... |
Phillip Turner
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| Larry Nunn | ... |
Willie Brewster
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| Margaret Early | ... |
Annie
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| Ann Shoemaker | ... |
Mrs. Connors
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| Francis Pierlot | ... |
Mr. Judd
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| Virginia Brissac | ... |
Mrs. May Holden
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| George Lessey | ... |
Mr. Morgan
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| Enid Bennett | ... |
Mrs. Morgan
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| Howard Hickman | ... |
Doctor
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| Sarah Edwards | ... |
Miss Hodges
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| Milton Kibbee | ... |
Mr. Holden
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| Helen Jerome Eddy | ... |
Mrs. Brewster
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Paul Whiteman and Orchestra | ... |
Paul Whiteman and Orchestra
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Jack Baxley | ... |
Ice Cream Concessionaire (scenesDeleted)
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| Harlan Briggs | ... |
Doctor (scenesDeleted)
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| Harry Harvey | ... |
Shooting Gallery Concessionaire (scenesDeleted)
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| Earle Hodgins | ... |
Hammer Concessionaire (scenesDeleted)
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| Jack Kenney | ... |
Hot Dog Concessionaire (scenesDeleted)
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Harry Lash | ... |
Hot Dog Concessionaire (scenesDeleted)
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Jimmie Lucas | ... |
Barker (scenesDeleted)
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| Margaret McWade | ... |
Old Lady (scenesDeleted)
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| David Oliver | ... |
Ferris Wheel Barker (scenesDeleted)
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Ed Payson | ... |
Wrestler (scenesDeleted)
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| Margaret Seddon | ... |
Old Lady (scenesDeleted)
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| Phil Silvers | ... |
Pitch Man (scenesDeleted)
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Lowden Adams | ... |
Morgan's Butler (uncredited)
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| Jack Albertson | ... |
Barker (uncredited)
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Richard Allen | ... |
Policeman (uncredited)
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| Eleanor Bayley | ... |
Dancer (uncredited)
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Eddie Buzard | ... |
Young Man (uncredited)
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Elliot Carpenter | ... |
Henry - the Train Porter (uncredited)
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| Don Castle | ... |
Charlie (uncredited)
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Maxine Cook | ... |
Girl (uncredited)
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Vondell Darr | ... |
Indian Love Lyrics Student (uncredited)
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| Joe Devlin | ... |
3 Balls 10¢ Attendant (uncredited)
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Ray Dixon | ... |
Student (uncredited)
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Mary Jo Ellis | ... |
Student (uncredited)
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Sam Finn | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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Roland Got | ... |
Morgan's House Boy (uncredited)
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Lois James | ... |
Student (uncredited)
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| Louise La Planche | ... |
Student (uncredited)
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| Linda Leighton | ... |
Student (uncredited)
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| Lois Lindsay | ... |
Dancer (uncredited)
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| Margaret Marquis | ... |
'Antony and Cleopatra' Girl (uncredited)
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| Mickey Martin | ... |
Boy (uncredited)
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Harry McCrillis | ... |
Booper Martin - Tuba Player (uncredited)
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| Sidney Miller | ... |
Sid - a Student (uncredited)
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| Jack Mulhall | ... |
Man Phoning in Constest Winner (uncredited)
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Wallace Musselwhite | ... |
Student (uncredited)
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Sherrie Overton | ... |
'Romeo and Juliet' Girl (uncredited)
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Dick Paxton | ... |
Dick - Second Trumpet Player (uncredited)
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Henry Rackin | ... |
Student (uncredited)
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Naida Reynolds | ... |
Student (uncredited)
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| Henry Roquemore | ... |
Mr. Mollison (uncredited)
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| Virginia Sale | ... |
Music Teacher (uncredited)
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Helen Seamon | ... |
Student (uncredited)
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| Charles Smith | ... |
Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire' Boy (uncredited)
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Myron Speth | ... |
Student (uncredited)
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Leonard Sues | ... |
Leonard - Trumpet Player (uncredited)
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| Victoria Vinton | ... |
Student (uncredited)
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| Billy Wayne | ... |
Clown (uncredited)
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Douglas Wilson | ... |
Student (uncredited)
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| Joe Yule | ... |
Ticket Seller at Fair (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Busby Berkeley | ||
Written by
| John Monks Jr. | ... | (original screen play by) and |
| Fred F. Finklehoffe | ... | (original screen play by) (as Fred Finklehoffe) |
| Herbert Fields | ... | () (uncredited) |
| Kay Van Riper | ... | (contributor to treatment and dialogue) (uncredited) |
Produced by
| Arthur Freed | ... | producer (produced by) |
Music by
| Leo Arnaud | ... | (uncredited) |
| George Stoll | ... | (uncredited) |
Cinematography by
| Ray June | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Ben Lewis | ... | film editor |
Art Direction by
| Cedric Gibbons | ||
Set Decoration by
| Edwin B. Willis | ... | (set decorations) |
Makeup Department
| Jack Dawn | ... | makeup creator |
Production Management
| Charles Stallings | ... | unit manager (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| William Ryan | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| John S. Detlie | ... | associate art director |
| Henry Rox | ... | creator: fruit models |
Sound Department
| Douglas Shearer | ... | recording director |
Animation Department
| George Pal | ... | animator (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Gile Steele | ... | wardrobe: men |
| Dolly Tree | ... | wardrobe: women |
Music Department
| Leo Arnaud | ... | chorals / orchestrator |
| Roger Edens | ... | lyrics and music by |
| Merrill Pye | ... | musical presentation |
| Conrad Salinger | ... | chorals / orchestrator |
| George Stoll | ... | musical director (as Georgie Stoll) |
| George Bassman | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Vincente Minnelli | ... | idea: animated fruit orchestra (uncredited) |
| Robert Van Eps | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (controlled by Loew's Incorporated) (presents)
Distributors
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1940) (United States) (theatrical)
- Regal Films (1940) (Canada) (theatrical) (as Regal Films, Ltd.)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1940) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (1940) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer A/B (1941) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1946) (Norway) (theatrical)
- MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1991) (United States) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (2007) (United States) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Jimmy Connors and his girlfriend want to take part in Paul Whiteman's high school bands contest, but they cannot afford the fare. But per chance they meet Paul Whiteman in person and are able to convince him that their band is good enough, so he lends them the money. But then one of their friends becomes seriously ill and has to be carried to a hospital by plane, and they have to use Whiteman's money for this.
Written by Stephan Eichenberg |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | IT BEATS THE BAND! (original ad - all caps) See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $838,661 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | The original camera negative was destroyed in May 1978 during a nitrate film fire in the George Eastman House archives. The fire also destroyed 328 other films' original camera negatives. See more » |
| Goofs | As Jimmy sets up his fruit orchestra, the third pineapple (string bass) he places falls over. As he finishes conducting and the camera pulls back, we see the fallen pineapple standing up perfectly. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into Hollywood: The Dream Factory (1972). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Strike Up the Band See more » |
| Quotes |
Paul Whiteman:
Take that little fellow on the street. Teach him to blow a horn and he'll never blow a safe. See more » |