In the 2010s, Warner Home Video released a series of repackaged DVDs in themed boxed sets sold at budget prices. All of the films featured were the single disc only versions, meaning no extras from previous boxed sets or two-disc releases were included. The first set was the repackaging of The Mickey Rooney/Judy Garland Collection followed by a Judy Garland set and also the inclusion of Broadway Melody of 1938 in the (naturally) Eleanor Powell set.
Mickey Rooney & Judy Garland – Released on November 1, 2011
From Warner Home Video:
GIRL CRAZY (1943): With Judy makin’ Bidin’ My Time a cowboy hoedown, Mickey mimicking a boxing announcer in a knockout comedy bit and Tommy Dorsey providin’ Fascinatin’ Rhythm, this Gershwin tune fest is a swell bidin’ of everyone’s time, including a joyous Busby Berkeley-staged I Got Rhythm finale.
INCLUDES:
- Commentary by John Fricke
- Comedy Short Hollywood Daredevils
- Cartoon The Early Bird Dood It
- “I Got Rhythm” Stereo Remix Version
- Audio-Only Bonus: “Bronco Busters” Outtake
STRIKE UP THE BAND (1940): Mickey and Judy lead the effort to enter their school band in a swing-music contest hosted by Paul Whiteman. Judy solos Nobody, Rooney dances and drums with volcanic energy and director Busby Berkeley brings his famed angles, precision dance and cutting to “Do the La Conga” and the rousing title finale.
INCLUDES:
- Pete Smith Specialty Comedy Short Wedding Bills
- Cartoon Romeo in Rhythm
- “Do the La Conga” Stereo Remix Version
- Audio-Only Bonuses: “Leo Is on the Air” Radio Promo, “Millions for Defense” excerpt, 1940 Lux Radio Theater Broadcast
BABES IN ARMS (1939): With Rodgers and Hart songs and Busby Berkeley direction, this tale of kids rescuing their cash-strapped vaudevillian parents by putting on a show is Mickey and Judy’s first musical together, Arthur Freed’s first producer credit and Rooney’s first Oscar® nomination.
INCLUDES:
- Commentary by John Fricke
- Our Gang Short Duel Personalities
- Cartoon The Mad Maestro
- 1939 Newsreel
- Audio-Only Bonuses: “Leo Is on the Air” Radio Promo and three radio shows with Rooney and Garland
BABES ON BROADWAY (1941): This time the babes aid inner-city kids by puttin’ on a show. Mickey hoofs, clowns and shakes his fruit basket as Carmen Miranda. Judy sings and emotes (in French!) as Sarah Bernhardt. And both bring down the house with How About You, Hoe Down and a minstrel-show stopping finale.
INCLUDES:
- Pete Smith Specialty Comedy Short How to Hold Your Husband – Back
- Cartoon Dance of the Weed
- Audio-Only Bonuses: Two “Leo Is on the Air” Radio Promos, “Merton of the Movies” Radio Adaptation with Rooney and Garland and “Chin Up! Cheerio! Carry On!” Song Demo Performed by Burton Lane.
ALL MOVIES IN THE COLLECTION INCLUDE:
- Introduction by Mickey Rooney
- Theatrical Trailer
- Subtitles: English (Main Feature. Bonus Material/Trailer May Not Be Subtitled).
The series was originally released on September 27, 2007, in a deluxe boxed set with a collector’s book, photo cards, and a bonus disc highlighted by a “Judy Garland Songbook.”
On June 23, 2020, Strike Up The Band was gloriously remastered by the Warner Archive and released on Blu-ray. Girl Crazy followed on July 21. Both discs present the films for the first time in HD and they look and sound fantastic. They are definitely worth the upgrade!
On October 2, 2018, the Warner Archive re-released the series in single edition DVDs.
Judy Garland – March 12, 2013
This set features single-disc editions of: The Harvey Girls, For Me And My Gal, Summer Stock, and In the Good Old Summertime. What’s nice about this set is that even though the discs are considered to be “bare bones” they feature lots of fun extras, just as the original releases do. All four releases were single disc releases to begin with anyway, so one is not missing any extra disc.
Original DVDs:
On May 20, 2017, the set was duplicated with new packaging and sold as the Garland entry in the “Silver Screen Icons” series.
Eleanor Powell – December 1, 2015
This Eleanor Powell collection includes Judy’s star-making MGM feature debut in Broadway Melody of 1938. The film debuted on DVD as part of the boxed set “Classic Musicals from The Dream Factory, Vol. 3” released on April 8, 2008.
