| Let's Put On A Show: A Tribute
to Mickey Rooney
http://www.myspace.com/americancinematheque
An Aero Theatre Exclusive!
Few actors have as long and varied a Hollywood career as Mickey
Rooney, whose resume includes everything from family classics (THE BLACK STALLION,
NATIONAL VELVET) to hard-hitting adult dramas (REQUIEM FOR A HEAVYWEIGHT) and
outrageous comedies (IT'S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD). These and other
audience favorites will be presented as part of the American Cinematheque's salute to
Mickey Rooney, one of the most beloved movie stars in history. Rooney first became known
to the public while under contract at MGM, where he starred in the wildly successful ANDY
HARDY series as well as BOYS TOWN and BABES IN ARMS. As he matured as an
actor, Rooney grew into more substantial roles on television (THE COMEDIAN) and in films
that included musicals and gangster pictures as well as sober character studies. He
remains active to this day in hits such as A NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM. The Cinematheque
is thrilled to welcome Mickey Rooney to the Aero to discuss some of his finest work.
Wednesday, May 6 – 7:30 PM
Double Feature:
REQUIEM FOR A HEAVYWEIGHT,
1962, Sony Repertory, 95 min. Dir. Ralph Nelson. Anthony Quinn is a
fighter whose best days are behind him, and Mickey Rooney plays his sympathetic
trainer, in this classic piece of humanist filmmaking. Rod Serling’s script
powerfully depicts Quinn’s downfall as he descends into corruption at the behest of
unscrupulous manager Jackie Gleason. Trailer
KILLER MCCOY, 1947, Warner Bros.,
104 min. Dir. Roy Rowland. Mickey Rooney grows up as tough street kid Tommy
McCoy, who exits the vaudeville stage for a promising career in the boxing ring. After
many hurdles, armed with his secret "right" and towing his deadbeat actor dad (James
Dunn) along as his manager, McCoy starts fighting, first accepting a bankroll from a
gambler Brian Donlevy, only to threaten it all by falling for the kingpin’s
daughter (Ann Blyth). NOT ON DVD. Discussion in
between films with actor Mickey Rooney. Trailer
Thursday, May 7 – 7:30 PM
Double Feature:
LOVE FINDS ANDY HARDY, 1938,
Warner Bros., 91 min. Dir. George B. Seitz. Andy (Mickey Rooney)
juggles multiple girls in this entertaining entry in the series, which features Judy
Garland, Lana Turner and Cecilia Parker. Garland sings three songs in
this crowd-pleaser, which the National Film Registry added to its library of culturally
significant films in 2000. Trailer
THE HUMAN COMEDY, 1943, Warner Bros., 118 min.
Director Clarence Brown’s moving screen adaptation of William Saroyan’s
sentimental novel tells the story of a young man (Mickey Rooney) coming of
age during WWII. As Rooney’s responsibilities increase, Brown paints a vivid portrait
of small-town America, with support from Donna Reed, Van Johnson and even
(look close!) Robert Mitchum. Trailer
Friday, May 8 – 7:30 PM
Double Feature:
BABES IN ARMS, 1939, Warner Bros.,
93 min. Dir. Busby Berkeley. Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland
stage a fund-raising show with the help of ex-vaudevillians’ children in order to
save their parents from bankruptcy. This buoyant musical features typically sublime Busby
Berkeley camerawork and choreography. Trailer
GIRL CRAZY, 1943, Warner Bros., 99
min. Dirs. Norman Taurog and Busby Berkeley. Mickey Rooney and
Judy Garland’s final film together is possibly the best of their "Let’s
put on a show" musicals. Rich kid Rooney falls for Garland, the daughter of the dean
at his college, and the two express their love via classic Gershwin tunes and expert Busby
Berkeley dance numbers. Rooney is at his most energetic in this classic musical from the
Arthur Freed unit. Print courtesy of the Academy Film Archive. Trailer
Saturday, May 9 – 4:00 PM
Family Matinee!
THE BLACK STALLION, 1979, MGM
Repertory, 118 min. Dir. Carroll Ballard. A dramatic shipwreck strands a young boy
and a horse on a tropical island, where they become close friends before ending up in a
dramatic racing championship with the help of trainer Mickey Rooney. Carroll
Ballard’s visually stunning adaptation of Walter Farley’s novel provides magical
images and rich emotional textures for all ages. Discussion
following with actor Mickey Rooney and producer Fred Roos. Trailer
Sunday, May 10 – 7:30 PM
IT’S A MAD, MAD,
MAD, MAD WORLD, 1963, MGM Repertory, 162 min. Legendary producer/director Stanley
Kramer’s (GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER, JUDGMENT AT NUREMBERG) most beloved
film features one of the greatest lineups of comic talent ever assembled, including Milton
Berle, Sid Caesar, Edie Adams, Spencer Tracy, Buddy Hackett,
Ethel Merman, Mickey Rooney, Dick Shawn, Dorothy Provine, Phil
Silvers, Jonathan Winters, Don Knotts, Peter Falk, Terry-Thomas,
Carl Reiner, Jerry Lewis and many more, in the story of a group of average,
upstanding Americans who are given the key to locating $350,000 in stolen bank loot –
and resort to every form of lying, deceit and double-crossing in their manic cross-country
chase to retrieve it!! Trailer
blog |
