I guess I forgot that this may be the worst job of acting by Mickey Rooney, bar none.
The kid could act and he was amazing in everything from A Midsummer's Night Dream to The Black Stallion, held his own next to Judy Garland in musicals and carried the Hardy family on his back--but this must have been part of Mickey's dark years. All his characterization of Larry Hart consists of is chewing on a cigar and being short. Oh, yes, and staggering.
Of course, since Mick worked since infancy, and became the wee King of Hollywood breathing down Gable's neck for the crown, maybe the Mickster was just tired. I wouldn't blame him.
Do you think that's a sign of show biz greatness: surprisingly great work and spectacularly bad work?
In trying to take the approach of "aside from that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play?" I tried to enjoy the songs, which included a good June Allyson version of "Thou Swell," "There's a Small Hotel" sung by Betty Garrett, and a knockout version of "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue" with a very sinuous Gene Kelly and an okay--almost sexy--Vera-Ellen, though I kept wishing Cyd Charisse was dancing this role instead, (I never thought Vera had much personality, and looked a bit like a mosquito, or am I missing something?). I wish I'd caught the part of the movie that featured "Spring Is Here," though I thought I heard snatches of that haunting melody when Mick was feeling blue.
I guess the dance was the highlight for me, and I always liked Tom Drake, (I ♥ squares) even if he is playing a plaster saint instead of a gifted, competitive composer in this movie.
Wait. It gets worse. I've just seen Mickey for a few moments in Summer Holiday (1948)--which seems to be O'Neill's poignant "Ah, Wilderness" with crappy songs. He's supposed to be a teen, but looks about 42 as he harangued poor Marilyn Maxwell in a song that managed to be both sexist and soggily sentimental. Maybe he can be worse than he was in Words and Music.
On the up side, the print that TCM had of Words and Music was a beauty and much better than this clip of "Slaughter..." indicates.
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