I am starting this right off without much talk because it’s late and I need to write this up. Wandering through the Shelves has created the themes for each week and this one is all about the band. This is another fun one so here are my 3...
1. STRIKE UP THE BAND-1940
This is a very fun movie starring Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland who were quite the dynamos and were life long friends. They star as boyfriend and girlfriend team who love singing and putting on a show. She believes in her drumming ADD boyfriend who dreams of conducting his own dance band and meets his idol Paul Whitman . They need to make enough money to get to Chicago to win the contest but they just don’t have the money so they need to raise it somehow.
2. ABBA:THE MOVIE-1977
Anyone who knows me knows I love, love, love ABBA. I have all their albums and know almost all their songs. Funny moment..I pleaded with my mom to see ABBA in Toronto for their Voulez-Vous tour since my brother had already seen The Who, The Rolling Stones etc.... My mom refused and I asked why, "There will be drugs there." I looked at her blankly and said, "Mom, it's ABBA." I didn't go. I had no clue there was a movie about them until a few years ago and I watched it enjoying every moment. It’s pretty simple, a journalist is trying to get an interview with them while they travel around doing their gigs. It’s fun, engaging and you get to see all their terrible outfits...Voulez Vous outfits and all!
3. I WANNA HOLD YOUR HAND-1978
I saw this and thought it was so much fun to see. It really engages you and it made me realize, for the first time, how crazy it was for the Beatles. These teen girls and a couple of guys all want to get to see the Beatles in concert. They go through some antics with one ending up in their hotel room. It is very funny with all the gals taking centre stage. I recommend this movie highly.
So, which 3 would you choose?
Lots of good choices for this topic going back to the big band era up to today. This is a genre that I enjoy because of my own interest in show business and music.
ReplyDeleteHaven't seen your last pick, but sounds like a good one. The Abba movie is one that I have recorded from TCM, but have yet to watch. Guess I'll have to watch when my wife goes to her daughter's one weekend since she doesn't much like musical movies. I enjoy Abba's music so I'd say I'd like this film.
Strike Up the Band is an excellent film that really showcases the immense talents of Mickey Rooney--what a showman that guy was. Add to that the directorial skills of choreographer Busby Berkeley--one of my favorites of filmdom--and you get a lot of musical fun (despite the blackface sequence that might offend some in our day).
Some films that come to my mind are That Thing You Do(1996), The Benny Goodman Story(1956), or any other of the films about the Big Bands. Then there was that touching documentary Young at Heart(2007) about the old people who sang in the choral group--that one really tapped into something in me (maybe getting older? Yeah, probably).
Thinking hard on this one I could probably come up with a number of good films from every single decade. I know I've seen a lot of films of this nature.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
Just finished watching the Abba film. What a great movie! The music video and narrative sequences were very well done and the concert footage gave me a new appreciation for Abba.
DeleteI've always liked their music a great deal, but I don't recall ever seeing much in the way of concert footage. I was very impressed with their performance skills. And what great songs.
As I was watching the movie it occurred to me that the closest group to which I would compare them is the Mamas and Papas and in my opinion Abba beats M & P's by a Swedish mile.
Glad I watched the film. I'd mark that one as a classic for your genre or any film about a band on tour.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
I’m glad you like the ABBA movie which is excellent in my humble opinion. That’s so great that you watched it. Rooney was a powerhouse when he was a teen and could sing, dance plus play many instruments and we know what the great Judy could do. The film with the black face was not this one but Babes In Arms. The Benny Goodman Story was good and I almost went with The Glen Miller Story. I still have to see That Thing You Do.
DeleteHi, Birgit!
ReplyDeleteI've been watching for this all morning, dear friend. I imagine you are busy salivating your anniversary today and needed to push the post back a few hours.
Well, you know that movie musicals aren't my favorite thing, but I do like Mickey Rooney films. Moreover, like you, I am a big fan of ABBA, and I actually own ABBA: The Movie on DVD. It was fun to watch the frustrated journalist trying to keep up with the band. It was interesting to watch the press conference Q&As with the group. My favorite part was when a reporter asked Agnetha Faltskog how she felt knowing that her derriere was considered the very finest in all of pop music. It's so true. Aggie looked great coming or going. She's only a few months younger than Shady, and that should tell you how much time has passed since the glory days of ABBA.
Nancy Allen is also only a few months younger than Shady. As an actress Nancy had a hot streak going there for a while, but hasn't appeared in anything new in the last dozen years. I remember watching I Wanna Hold Your Hand many years ago. No theatrical film ever made can adequately capture the sheer excitement kids felt when The Beatles exploded across the civilized world.
I'm gonna pick the 2019 Mötley Crüe biopic The Dirt. It's brutally intense and therefore probably very accurate in its depiction of the edgy rock band.
Enjoy the rest of your week, dear friend BB!
I know I was late..I forgot to schedule the post to go out. I’m late a lot lately. If you like Mickey Rooney then you can not help but like this movie with the great Judy Garland. ABBA is an excellent band and I’m glad you saw this film and own a copy of it. I watched a documentary on them too with a lot of big names, like Bono talking about how great their work is. You would remember when the Beatles came to America and I doubt very few bands can come to how crazy the fans were for these guys.
DeleteGreat picks and we have a match!!
ReplyDeleteI just saw the ABBA movie last week for the first time!! TCM ran a whole series of concert films for what they termed their end of summer music festival and this was one. It wasn't my favorite, the Woodstock concert film was AMAZING, but I did enjoy it.
I Wanna Hold Your Hand has such a sweet spirit. Fun and goofy but good-hearted it's able to catch a sense of the pure fandom that was Beatlemania.
We match on Strike Up the Band. It is probably the prototypical one of their films together when people reference the Judy & Mickey putting a show on in the barn flick. Young Mickey always works my nerves after a while but Judy is wonderful.
Aside from our match I went with a star-studded affair and a Disney movie.
Alexander’s Ragtime Band (1938)-In San Francisco near the turn of the last century concert violinist Roger Grant (Tyrone Power) abandons classical music when he falls under the spell of jazz much to his family’s disapproval. Circumstances lead to him renaming himself Alexander and forming a ragtime band with buddy, pianist Charlie Dwyer (Don Ameche) and singer Stella Kirby (Alice Faye) who both men love. Two decades, and a flock of great Irving Berlin songs, pass as they reach the heights of success even as their love lives founder.
Strike Up the Band (1940)-Teenagers Jimmy Connors (Mickey Rooney) the drummer of the band he leads and his girlfriend, singer Mary Holden (Judy Garland) dream of winning a contest for school bands hosted by popular band leader Paul Whiteman. There’s just one hitch, the contest is in Chicago and for the band to take the train they need $200 (the equivalent to almost $3,800 today). They borrow the cash but when one of their number becomes seriously ill the money has to be used to help out. What to do now? Why put on a show of course!!! Mickey’s on the unctuous side but Judy is appealing and sings like a dream.
The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band (1968)-The Bower Family Band (including Buddy Ebsen, Lesley Ann Warren and Kurt Russell) are newly arrived in Dakota Territory just as statehood talk is at its peak and the 1888 battle between Benjamin Harrison and Grover Cleveland for the presidency is in full swing. The Bowers are Republicans as are most of the other residents of their new town but Grandpa Bower (Walter Brennan) is a staunch Democrat which causes no end of trouble for the clan. All the strife doesn’t keep them from breaking into elaborate musical numbers from time to time in this Disney flick. In the small role of the “Giggly Girl” Goldie Hawn makes her screen debut.
I wonder what Goldie thought of Kurt when she saw him if she even remembers him. I haven’t seen that last film but it sounds good and we often are in sync( except for LOTR...hahaha). Im So glad we match with Strike Up The Band which I though needed to be here. I seriously think Mickey Rooney must have been ADD or ADHD because he was so “on” that you wanted to shut him up at times. Do you know I have Ragtime Band but still have not watched it. I have to remedy that
DeleteFirst thing that came to mind - This is Spinal Tap! Awesome movie. This one goes to eleven...
ReplyDeleteI still have not seen this film.
Delete#1 is my all-time favorite movie, "A Hard Day's Night." It's a scripted movie, but it follows The Beatles through an imagined day, watching them prepare for a TV appearance while at the same time trying to control Paul's grandfather, who's a senior delinquent.
ReplyDelete#2 is "Mad Dogs An Englishmen." Follows Joe Cocker and his entourage as they travel and perform during the 1969 "Mad Dogs and Englishmen" tour. It should have been a disaster, because they had to be ready in a couple of days for a coast-to-coast tour, but it turned out well, largely due to Leon Russell pulling a rather spectacular band together at the last minute.
#3 is "This Is Spinal Tap." A "mockuentary" starring Rob Reiner, Michael McKean, and Christopher Guest that follows a heavy-metal band around on tour, where shows are canceled, members fight and walk out on the others, they end up playing for private parties, they get lost in the bowels of a theater while looking for the stage, and props fail, sometimes spectacularly...
I almost went with A Hard Day’s Night because it is an excellent film and I love the Daffy granddad. I still have to see Spinal Tap and I didn’t know about Mad Dogs so it would be neat to watch
DeleteSaw your first choice. First thought, The Glenn Miller Story and then This is Spinal Tap. I abhor ABBA!
ReplyDeleteI almost went with The Glenn Miller Story which was good. I still have to see Spinal Tap and as for ABBA....I can’t hear you.
DeleteI haven't seen these, but I did see Mamma Mia and loved it. Which is almost like seeing ABBA. Heh.
ReplyDeleteHahahaaa...yes...glad you love ABBA.
DeleteStrike Up The Band is on my Judy list to watch!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great one to watch. You will like this one and not Babes in Arms for the huge finale that is done in blackface.
DeleteI did not know ABBA had a movie, either. I'll have to locate it somehow.
ReplyDeleteThey do plus there is a documentary about them too.
DeleteYour mother didn't take you to see ABBA? I'm sorry but you should've slapped her for that drug question. I'm a rocker who loves old-school hip-hop, punk rock, metal, and all sorts of crazy shit but I also love ABBA. I've seen that movie, I thought it was nice. I've also seen I Wanna Hold Your Hand and I'll say this. If you don't like the Beatles, then fuck you.
ReplyDeleteHahahaaa. I was too dumbstruck to have struck my mom and , if I did that, I would not be here today...hahahaaa. I so agree with you about The Beatles.
DeleteI've been meaning to see I Wanna Hold Your Hand, for awhile, but alas, I've not seen any of these.
ReplyDeleteI hope you see it...it is a fun movie.
DeleteHi Birgit - I haven't seen these ... so I'll keep an eye out - I saw Mamma Mia very recently - and enjoyed it as a fun relaxing watch. Take care - Hilary
ReplyDeleteMamma Mia is a fun movie
DeleteI think A Hard Day’s Night is brilliant. It must have seemed so innovative at the time. Brassed Off with Tara Fitzgerald and Ewan McGregor is a favourite. Still Crazy in which Bill Nighy seems to be trying out his character in Love Actually. No5 often I can come up with three off the top of my head!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right about Hard Day’s Night.. I haven’t seen your other 2 but I have marked them down and I love Bill Nighy.
DeleteI had no idea there was an ABBA movie! My mom passed on me her love for them so I will probably watch it.
ReplyDeleteIt’s a great , fun movie with tons of ABBA songs
DeleteI've seen the last two. Never even heard of the first that I recall. I think there was one that did the same as the beatles except with Kiss or ACDC. Tried to get tickets to get in. Can't remember what it was called at the moment.
ReplyDeleteI don’t know that movie you are thinking about. I will have to ask my brother.
DeleteI apologize for taking so long to visit. It was definitely beyond my control. I’m trying to catch up, but it’s harder than I actually imagined it would be, especially with my very slow internet.
ReplyDeleteNot only have I not seen any of these, I've never heard of any of them, either. But I would LOVE to see the ABBA movie. It sounds wonderful. And of course, I always love your synopses.
Sorry to hear all about your internet woes because that really sucks. You will love ABBA.
DeleteWell... I don't know if any musical will ever top The Blues Brothers for me, one of my all-time favourite movies in any genre. I even kind of like the much-maligned sequel.
ReplyDeleteSpinal Tap, A Hard Day's Night, and the Glenn Miller Story are three others that have already been widely mentioned here and deserving of attention.
Eddie and the Cruisers is another captivating movie devoted to a "fictional" band as portrayed by John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band. I got to see them live at a club in Buffalo many years ago. Two other films that come to mind are The Doors and Cadillac Records, though the latter features a number of different bands and performers. Much of it is devoted to Muddy Waters, though, so I think its worthy of mention.
You know I've never been an ABBA fan though I will admit I've always had a soft spot for their songs "Waterloo" and "SOS."
I still have to see Spinal Tap and Eddie and the Cruisers but glad you mentioned this as you are the first same with Cadillac Records which is an excellent and under-rated film. The Blues Brothers is a good movie and I think the second one is better than most give it credit for. It deserves a better reputation. I know you like those 2 songs from ABBA and I recall you thinking I would grow out of them when I got older.
DeleteHi Birgit, I'm not a musical fan I have to say, so seen none of the above, hope all is well with you, Kate x
ReplyDeleteThe ABBA film is more of a showcase of the band and I Wanna Hold Your Hand is a comedy. The first one is a musical so you might like to see the other 2 especially I Wanna Hold Your Hand.
DeleteI haven't seen any of these!
ReplyDeleteDamyanti at Daily (w)rite
Maybe one day....
DeleteCool this brings me back to three years ago when Catering decided to celebrate the retirement of a long serving employee - 40 years :D where I work so anyway, there I was sat listening to a tribute ABBA band in Ireland. Comfy and yes, we all had fun and a sweet time in the theater, in fact it was brillant compared to now with all this Covid Restrictions going on but I digress.
ReplyDeleteSo tribute ABBA sang out the tunes and I knocked back my coke. Seated in the middle there were times I couldn't hear all of the bands vocals and knowing the words made it frustrating, merde! On the whole I gave the tribute band 6/10 compared to the real ABBA in the movie.
I have seen a tribute band more than once at the casino in Niagara Falls and they were quite good and the costumes spot on. I don’t know their name but they are really quite good. If they do get back together and tour, I will be seeing them.
DeleteHope your day was pleasant, productive and pain free.
ReplyDeleteHaven't seen any of your picks.
ReplyDeletePop bands all have terrible outfits especially when its all coordinating costumes.
BIRGIT ~
ReplyDeleteI have been so busy that I missed this one, and I'm very sorry that I did.
Had I been here, I would have definitely mentioned 'THIS IS SPINAL TAP', as did a few other folks.
I'd have also listed The Band's 'THE LAST WALTZ' - a kind of documentary about their final concert on Thanksgiving night in 1976. Very interesting and entertaining movie with music stars and mega-stars!
And my third choice on the list would have been 'THE COMMITMENTS', had I been here to submit a list... which I wasn't, doggone it!
~ Stephen