Strike Up the Band (1940): cast, story & where to watch
1940 · Film · ★ 6.2
Released in 1940, Strike Up the Band is a comedy, romance and music film directed by Busby Berkeley, running about 120 minutes. “The merriest pair on the screen!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Jimmy and Mary get a group of kids together to play in a school orchestra. A huge contest between schools is coming up and they have a hard time raising money to go to Chicago for the contest.
Who’s in it. Strike Up the Band stars Mickey Rooney as Jimmy Connors, Judy Garland as Mary Holden, June Preisser as Barbara Frances Morgan and William Tracy as Phillip Turner, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.2/10, Strike Up the Band has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on TCM and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Strike Up the Band page.
If you liked it. Fans of Strike Up the Band tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Strike Up the Band (1940)?
- In US, Strike Up the Band is available to stream on TCM, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Strike Up the Band worth watching?
- Strike Up the Band holds an audience score of 6.2 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy, romance and music. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Strike Up the Band?
- Strike Up the Band stars Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland, June Preisser, William Tracy and Larry Nunn.
- When was Strike Up the Band released?
- Strike Up the Band was released in 1940, with a runtime of about 120 minutes.