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Strike Up The Band (1940)

Teens Jimmy Connors (Mickey Rooney) and Mary Holden (Judy Garland) lift their school’s spirits when they update its stodgy orchestra into a swing band, but can they raise enough cash for the kids to hit the road and compete in front of Paul Whiteman (as himself)? Second scintillating Garland-Rooney musical co-stars June Preisser, William Tracy, Larry Nunn; Busby Berkeley directs. Score includes "Our Love Affair," "Nobody," "Nell of New Rochelle," and the title tune. 120 min. BW/Rtg: NR

Girl Crazy (1943)

Carousing collegian Danny Churchill (Mickey Rooney) finds himself shipped by his wealthy and angry dad to a small mining school out West, away from the parties and the ladies. Will pert postmistress Ginger Gray (Judy Garland) offer a cure for his bad attitude? Second screen take on the Gershwin stage hit, and fourth and final Judy-Mickey headliner, co-stars Guy Kibbee, Nancy Walker, and (in her feature debut) June Allyson; score includes "Embraceable You," "Bidin’ My Time," "I Got Rhythm." 99 min. BW/Rtg: NR

Meet Me In St. Louis (1944)

Early-1900s St. Louis and its World’s Fair is the setting for this beloved M-G-M musical directed by Vincente Minnelli. Judy Garland is at her charming best as Esther Smith, a young woman whose romance with the boy next door (Tom Drake) is endangered when her father announces the family is moving to New York. Leon Ames, Mary Astor, Margaret O’Brien also star in this adaptation of Sally Benson’s short stories. Songs include "The Trolley Song," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," and the title tune. 113 min. C/Rtg: NR

In The Good Old Summertime (1949)

In early-20th-century Chicago, music store salesman Andrew Larkin (Van Johnson) got off on the wrong foot with new hire Veronica Fisher (Judy Garland)...and proceeded to remain there. The frosty co-workers, however, also have no idea that they’re one another’s anonymous lonely-hearts pen pal. Charming musical version of "The Shop Around the Corner" co-stars S.Z. Sakall, Spring Byington, and Buster Keaton; look for a young Liza Minnelli with her mother in the finale. Songs include "Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland," "I Don’t Care." 103 min. C/Rtg: NR

Summer Stock (1950)

"Get Happy" with this classic M-G-M musical starring Judy Garland as Jane Falbury, a farm owner who allows her aspiring actress sister's theatrical troupe to stage a musical in her barn in exchange for their helping hands. But when sis takes off for Broadway, Jane steps in and learns about showbiz from leading man Joe D. Ross (Gene Kelly). Songs include "You, Wonderful You" (featuring Kelly's legendary "newspaper dance") and "Heavenly Music." With Eddie Bracken, Phil Silvers. 109 min. C/Rtg: NR

A Star Is Born (1954)

Judy Garland turns in one of her finest performances in director George Cukor’s classic musical drama. The film chronicles the rise of an up-and-coming entertainer (Garland) whose path to stardom is sharply contrasted by the career decline of her husband (James Mason), a former matinee idol who’s descended into alcoholism. With Jack Carson, Charles Bickford. Songs include "Born in a Trunk," "The Man That Got Away," "Lose That Long Face." This is the restored 1983 re-release; 176 min. C/Rtg: PG