Mickey Rooney was an iconic American actor, who made his debut as a child artist in ‘Not to be Trusted’ (1926). He had small parts in ‘The Beast of the City’ (1932), ‘The Life of Jimmy Dolan’ (1933), and got his first major role in the ‘Mickey McGuire’ movie series (1927–1934).
The actor was then cast in the lead role of Andy Hardy in ‘A Family Affair’ (1937), which spanned to another series of movies, ending with ‘Andy Hardy Comes Home’ (1958). He received the ‘Juvenile Academy Award’ (1939), for his performance in ‘Boys Town’ (1938). In the coming years, Mickey Rooney won two ‘Academy Award’ nominations for ‘Babes in Arms’ (1939) and ‘The Human Comedy’ (1943).
However, from 1944 he served in the United States Army till the end of World War II. Upon his return, he struggled to get meaningful roles and made unsuccessful movies like ‘Words and Music’ (1948). He revived his career with ‘The Mickey Rooney Show’ (1954–1955) and ‘Playhouse 90’ (1957). Some of his best movies include, ‘The Bold and the Brave’ (1956), ‘Breakfast at Tiffany's’ (1961), ‘The Black Stallion’ (1979), ‘Bill’ (1981), and ‘Night at the Museum’ (2006).
During the 1920s, a spoilt young man onboard an ocean liner falls into the sea by accident due to a prank. Luckily, he is picked up by a fishing boat. Now, he has no option but to adapt to the ways of the fishermen, if he wants to survive.
The movie follows Holly Golightly who has a habit of staring at the windows of Tiffany & Co. and is looking for a wealthy man to marry. Things take a romantic turn when struggling writer Paul Varjak moves in next door. Holly eventually finds true love and happiness with Paul.
This action adventure comedy film revolves around a group of greedy people who hear about a hidden stash of loot. Soon they embark on an adventurous journey through the countryside in search of the buried treasure.
While traveling on a ship, a young boy is fascinated by a wild stallion on board. However, after being shipwrecked, he finds himself stranded on a deserted island along with the horse. He soon develops a bond with the animal, and begins to train him to race.
A former jockey, Mi Taylor mentors Velvet Brown, a young girl who wants her horse to win the England's Grand National race. Velvet gets her steed with her determination and encouragement of her family. However, on the big day, some last-minute issues arise with the jockey resulting in an unexpected rider to take over as a replacement.
A death row prisoner tells Father Edward Flanagan that he would not have lived a life of crime only if he had a single friend in life. Therefore, Father Edward Flanagan makes the decision to build a home for young boys. Things go smoothly until he meets a very complicated child.
Tex Richman, a materialistic oil tycoon, plans to take down the Muppet Theater to drill for oil. When ardent Muppet fan, Walter, his human-brother, Gary, and his girlfriend Mary learn about this, they search for the separated Muppets and help Kermit the Frog bring all Muppets together for ‘The Greatest Muppet Telethon Ever’ to raise $10 million required to save their theater.
Manhattan Melodrama is a romantic drama crime film which tells the story of a friendship between two orphans which survives even though they end up on opposite sides of the law, and also fall for the same woman.
Idealist Richard Miller, when chosen as the valedictorian of his high school, decides to express his anti-capitalist thoughts in his speech. But as his father gets the wind of it, he stops Richard in time. His girl, Muriel, is forbidden by her father from meeting him. Heartbroken, he ends up drinking in local bar. Will he find a reason to smile again?
Eddie Shannon is an honest auto mechanic, who dreams of racing in European car meets. One day, he meets Barbara Mathews and starts dating her. He does not know that he has actually been chosen by two bank robbers to act as a gateway driver after they carry out their heist and that Barbara is just a bait to lure him in the scheme.
Based on Mark Twain’s classic, the film follows Huckleberry Finn, a boisterous youngster who flees from his obnoxious father to travel down the Mississippi River on a raft. He is joined by Jim, a slave trying to run away from being sold. During the journey, they face troubles with devious people, and experience exciting escapades where the two save each other’s lives.
Based on the early life of inventor Thomas Edison, the movie follows young Tom as his mischiefs and chemical experiments brand him as a troublemaker. Eventually, Tom earns the respect of the townspeople after using science to save a train from plunging into a river and helping a surgeon operate on his mother.
Based on the play by William Shakespeare, A Midsummer’s Night Dream is a fantasy romantic comedy film in which the royal wedding plans of Theseus, the Duke of Athens and Hippolyta, overlaps with the antics of several mischievous fairies residing in the forest.
This 1940 romantic comedy film tells the story of Judge Andy Hardy who moves to New York with his family, where he is infatuated with a socialite named Daphne. Eventually, he finds the high-society life too expensive, and thinks that his life back home was better.
After high school, Andy Hardy is unsure if he wants to follow in his father’s footsteps of becoming a Judge. He travels to New York with his friend Betsy and lands a job. But he finds himself in trouble thanks to his naivety. Betsy finds out and informs his father Judge Hardy who comes to his rescue.
Judge Hardy, who wishes to be re-elected, faces opposition from town’s people as he takes objection to the construction of an aqueduct. On home-front, his elder daughter returns after separating from husband, and younger daughter, who is dating the aqueduct-project’s engineer, wants to know the reason for his objection to project. The town’s powerful people and local newspaper publisher, demand Hardy’s impeachment.
Claude is a well-mannered young boy, living in lower Manhattan, who tries to gain acceptance from his school’s batchmates. However, unlike him, his batchmates are not very well-mannered.
After moving to Chicago, an ambitious farmer manages to become a pioneer in the meat packing business, but as he continues to get richer, his success gets into his head.
Set during the Korean War, The Bridges at Toko-Ri is a war drama film which revolves around a Navy fighter pilot who has been assigned for a dangerous bombing mission over North Korea. However, he has mixed feelings towards this mission, as he is suffering from battle fatigue, and longs to return to civilian life and live with Nancy, his wife.
Love Finds Andy Hardy is a romantic comedy film which tells the story of Andy Hardy, the teen son of Judge James K Hardy, who gets entangled with three different girls at the same time.
Father Flanagan is the head of Boys Town home for troubled children. When his young protégé Whitey Marsh goes to Marysport reform school, the brutal truth of Marysport is revealed, where boys are physically abused. Father Flanagan exposes the school and saves the boys.
The Courtship of Andy Hardy is a comedy film which tells the story of a teenage boy, who starts liking a girl, whose parents’ divorce are being handled by his father Judge Hardy.
Rising light-weight boxer Tommy McCoy decides to quit when his opponent dies in the ring. However, Tommy’s father has wasted Tommy’s money and has collected large debt to Jim Caighn. So Tommy has to continue boxing for Caighn’s rigged matches. When Tommy falls for Caighn’s daughter, Sheila, Caighn’s rivals kidnap her and order Tommy to take a dive in his big fight.
Post-WWII, in an American medical base in France, Private Hogan falls for dietetic nurse, Lt. Betty Bixby. As their ranks disallow them to socialize, Hogan plans a secret ball for soldiers and nurses. But it is not easy to elude the stern watch of the stickler-for-rules Capt. Lock while making the clandestine arrangements. Will he succeed in winning over the pretty Betty?
The Comic is a 1969 comedy film revolving around a silent film comedian, whose talent is overshadowed by his ego. He cheats on his wife, bullies his friends, and makes a brief comeback on TV.
Larry Daley is divorced and unsuccessful. He is hired to work as a night watchman at a museum where, much to his astonishment, he finds that the exhibits to come to life every night and create a ruckus. It is up to Larry now to control the exhibits, prevent a theft attempt by three old guards and eventually gain respect in his son’s eye.
The fictionalized retelling of the creative partnership of legends, lyricist Lorenz Hart and composer Richard Rodgers, narrates their struggles to find success. It also provides a view to Larry’s personal demons, his death, and the heartbroken Dick regretting the loss of his friend when success eventually comes knocking.
Musical on-stage star, Mona Leslie. marries Bob Harrison Jr., the president of S.A.M.L. or the Society for the Admiration of Mona Leslie, and gets embroiled in scandal after Bob’s suicide. Mona’s friend Ned Riley who is in love with her stands by her through everything.
A rich railroad tycoon is bored with his marriage, since his wife is too busy with parties and has no time for him. Therefore, he starts seeing a showgirl instead. However, the girl’s boyfriend finds out and uses this opportunity to blackmail him.
A cocky young jockey gets mixed up with a few crooked gamblers. Things take a turn when he befriends an English lad with a fast horse, and the niece of an eccentric woman who runs a boarding house for jockeys.
Baby Face Nelson is a crime film which tells the story of Lester Gillis, aka Baby Face Nelson, who joins a Chicago mob, run by Rocca, to commit robberies. Meanwhile, Gillis is also being hunted by the FBI.
The film is the final installment of a trilogy based on Night at the Museum. The story focuses on Larry Daley, a night guard at American Museum of Natural History, where all the artifacts come to life at night and describes his travel to London in the company of Teddy Roosevelt, Sacagewea, Jedediah, Octavius, Dexter, Attila the Hun in order to save the tablet of Ahkmenrah from losing its magic.
Private Eddie Marsh has recently joined the army but possesses an entertainer’s spirit. On his way to arranging a grand show for his fellow soldiers, he falls in love with Colonel Bill Jones’ daughter Kathryn. Now he must put on the greatest show to impress the Colonel and get his blessings.
Fisherman Dutch marries cannery worker Hattie, and quits his job to become the union leader; but a failed union strike leaves him jobless. Ashamed of his poverty, his pride makes him abandon Hattie, who then joins cannery boss Nick. As her love for Dutch never dies, she steals for him and gets a prison-term. Dutch, a changed person, waits for her return.
A nice but dim-witted blacksmith Charley’s mail-order bride goes missing. When he decides to leave, the townsmen are worried as he is the only blacksmith around, and therefore they pay a local salon girl to pose as the missing bride. Things get complicated when Charley begins to fall in love with her.
During the period of Italian Renaissance, the devil sends two envoys in order to prevent the marriage of a papal aristocrat and the daughter of Lorenzo the Magnificent, which is meant to be a peace treaty.
Rodeo Dough is a western short film which tells the story of two women Marry and Sally, who work as waitresses and are not too bright. They are both looking forward to go home to Kokomo, Indiana, but things don’t go so easy for them.
In order to avoid marrying a mobster’s daughter, who is not very good-looking, two brothers pose as women.
Pop Clark, the owner of St. Louis Cardinals baseball team, is in danger of losing his team unless they win the pennant. He hires pitcher Larry Kelly, who falls for Pop’s daughter, team-manager Frances. But deaths of Cardinals’ star players on and off field make Larry a suspect, though Larry himself escapes attempts on his life. Now, he must prove his game, and also find the murderer.
Off-Limits is an action thriller film which tells the story of two military detectives who arrive in Saigon, Vietnam in 1968, to investigate the murder of a prostitute.
Based upon Norse mythology, this fantasy adventure comedy film tells the story of Erik, who starts to dislike rape and pillage, after the death of an innocent woman. Erik soon learns from a woman named Freya that a wolf named Fenrir has swallowed the sun, he decides to set things right.
Live, Love and Learn is a love story between a heiress and an artist who struggles to make ends meet. They manage to live a peaceful life and strive for an idyllic relationship despite poverty.
Blind Date is a romantic comedy film which tells the story of Kitty, a hardworking switchboard operator who is engaged to Bill, an auto mechanic. When Bill opens his own garage, his relationship with Kitty is affected due to his busy schedule. Frustrated, Kitty agrees to go on a blind date with the son of a rich businessman.
The Bold and the Brave is a war drama film which revolves around three American soldiers who are stationed in Italy during the Second World War. One of them is an idealist who doesn’t believe in killing, while another is a religious fanatic, who sees everything as either good or evil. Meanwhile, the third one is a gambler.
For a highly treacherous operation behind the enemy lines, the Allies recruit a group of 5 tough criminals against a promise of early pardon. Their mission is to rescue an Italian general held captive by the Nazis at a fortress in Dubrovnik. The felons collectively use their dark skills to achieve the impossible task. Can they succeed in this infiltration operation?
West Point of the Air is a drama film which tells the story of an army sergeant who wants his son to become an ace flyer.
Babe, a little pig, emerges victorious in the sheep-herding contest. After he returns to his farm, he sees that Farmer Hoggett is injured and unable to work. Therefore, he decides to go to the big city to save the farm.
Johnny Casar is a moody and angry young man, who lives at a Catholic orphanage which is run by a priest. One day, he decides to run away, and soon manages to become a world-class skater. However, he becomes extremely arrogant, and also starts womanizing and bullying others. Things change when he gets sick with polio.
Summer Holiday is a musical comedy which tells the story of Richard Miller, who lives in a middle-class neighborhood with his family. He is in love with the girl-next-door, but the girl’s father is not happy with their puppy-love, since Richard is full of revolutionary ideas, which he shares with her.
Ted and Lulu are a successful vaudeville couple. But they quit in order to have time to raise their son. However, years later, they find that their duet act has become stale with time. Meanwhile Ted Jr. also gets married and has a son, but soon finds himself becoming a victim to excessive drinking.
Mark Johan Winters is a migrant worker, who realizes that he has been hitchhiking on a stolen car. When the police arrive, he decides to flee, thinking that he will not be able to prove his innocence. He eventually finds himself in a summer camp for blind children.
Vienna is a short documentary film in which its director Orson Welles presents a tour of the city Vienna, and comments on its city and its people.
Sound Off is a comedy film which tells the story of an obnoxious nightclub comedian named Mike who is drafted into the US Army during the Korean War. During his basic training, he meets a lieutenant from the Women’s Army Corps, and begins to pursue her romantically. His activities not just annoy his drill sergeant but the entire army, especially when he goes absent without leave. This leads him to a sentence of hard labor for thirty days, which teaches him about being a soldier.
Evil sorcerer, Caliph Alquazar, promises his daughter’s hand in marriage to Prince Hasan, if Hasan can bring him the magical Rose of Elil. Prince Hasan embarks on a magical adventure, overcoming obstacles, genies and battling monsters to reach the rose and claim the hand of the Princess Zuleira.
Lassie, a sensitive and affectionate dog, is taken away to Colorado by a businessman after her owner’s grandfather refuses to sell him vineyards. Lassie must now find her way back home, for which she will have to run all the way from Colorado to California. However, the road is full of obstacles.
Despite losing his father in an accident years ago, a young man Billy, wants to make it big as a race car driver.
This biographical crime drama film revolves around the story of gangster, gambler and bootlegger Arnold Rothstein who manages to rise after he impresses a mob boss.
A group of friends get a race horse after its owner decides to retire. Soon, they gather some money so that they can compete at the Hollywood Derby.
The Atomic Kid is a science fiction comedy film which tells the story of a uranium prospector who finds that he has unusual powers after he is exposed to a nuclear blast at a testing site in Nevada.
This Western action romance film revolves around a young man who travels all the way to Mexico, searching for his brother, who has got involved with a dangerous gang.
Three sailors Joe, Skip and Moby find themselves in trouble after one of them is robbed at a shady bar.
When Frankie has to go for his Naval Reserve military duty in Tahiti, he enlists the help of a witch doctor Bwana to ensure that his girlfriend Dee Dee does not fall for any other guy. When advertising executive Ricky arrives, Bwana dispatches a mysterious beauty Cassandra to keep him away from Dee Dee. However Cassandra attracts other attention as well.
This fantasy comedy film tells the story of Kermit and John, two sailors who are shocked when they encounter a talking duck. Soon, they come to know that it used to be the pet for a scientist, and the duck holds a lot of valuable information about rocket technology.
The Private Lives of Adam and Eve is a comedy film which revolves around eight travelers, who are on their way to Reno Nevada, but are forced to stop for the night. They soon experience a dream about Adam and Eve, in the Garden of Eden, and their encounter with the Devil.
Find the Lady is a comedy film which revolves around a hoodlum who makes various plans to kidnap an heiress. However, every time his plans fail as a wrong woman gets taken.
The Queen of England has been kidnapped, and the British Secret Service has no option but to ask the French secret service for help, as their best man is no longer alive.
The Manipulator is a thriller film which tells the story of an unstable and insane Hollywood makeup man who kidnaps a woman, and keeps her captive in his warehouse which is full of different kinds of props.
During WWII, 4 American soldiers stranded on an island, find a WWI gunboat haunted by its captain, Finchhaven, who had fallen down drunk on first assignment, disgracing the family and was condemned to stay on his ship till he tries to redeem his actions. Making a deal, the soldiers assist him in fighting-off a Japanese vessel. Will that help Finchhaven regain his honor?
The Bold and the Brave is a war drama film which revolves around three American soldiers who are stationed in Italy during the Second World War. One of them is an idealist who doesn’t believe in killing, while another is a religious fanatic, who sees everything as either good or evil. Meanwhile, the third one is a gambler.
The Private Lives of Adam and Eve is a comedy film which revolves around eight travelers, who are on their way to Reno Nevada, but are forced to stop for the night. They soon experience a dream about Adam and Eve, in the Garden of Eden, and their encounter with the Devil.
A young orphaned red fox is taken in by a kindly farmer, Widow Tweed, and becomes friend with the neighbor’s new hound puppy Cooper. As Tod and Cooper grow up, the two drift apart as they are born to be enemies. However, the two former friends must overcome their differences for their friendship to survive.
Young Nemo goes to Slumberland every night, looking for adventure, and eventually, he befriends the king of the land, who makes him his heir. He also entrusts him with a key to a door that can lead to terrifying power. However, things get complicated when Nemo gets manipulated and causes a big mess, that can throw Slumberland into great danger.
Pete’s Dragon is an adventure fantasy comedy film which tells the story of a magical dragon who helps an orphan boy to escape from his abusive foster parents.
A tornado in Kansas causes a girl named Dorothy to become unconscious, and she re-appears in the Land of Oz. She encounters the cousin of the Wicked Witch of the West, who is attacking the Emerald City, with an army of monstrous green elephants.
This animated adventure film tells the story of a dog who is rebellious against the domestic life, and wants to be free and become a wild dog. However, he has realized that the grass is not always greener.
The Care Bears try to help a young girl at a summer camp. However, their plans are threatened by a shape-shifting demon who transforms himself into a young boy.
An acclaimed boxer Jimmy Dolan, kills a reporter accidentally at a party. However, he escapes and hides at a home for crippled children, with the help of Mrs Moore, who runs the home. However, a detective recognizes him eventually, and now it is up to Jimmy, to decide whether he will escape or face his responsibilities to the children.
Jim Fitzpatrick, an upright and honest police chief, is striving to clean his city of gangsters, especially the gang of Sam Belmonte. Jim’s police-detective brother, Ed, gets involved with Daisy, a Belmonte gang mole. As he needs money to continue this relationship, Ed conspires with the gangsters resulting in deaths and corrupt practices, which forces Jim to turn into a vigilante.
During the WWI, a day before William Gordon is about to set off for France, he meets socialite Joel Carter and spends a day with her, revealing that he has written a valuable book on cryptology.. The very next day, he is assigned to the code breaking division and while working there comes in contact with beautiful Olivia, making Joel jealous.
Richard Field is unable to marry his secretary Diane Lovering because his wife Louise refuses to divorce him. He sends Diane on a cruise to weigh her options but she falls in love with Mike Bradley on the cruise. She returns to New York, with the intention of breaking things up with Richard, but Richard proposes to her.
This short comedy musical film revolves around various Hollywood stars performing in a pirate-themed variety show.
This 1942 short film revolves around performers for MGM, whose careers were just beginning at the time. Excerpts from some of their films are also included.
When Ruth and her father go missing during their search for an uncharted island, Clyde Beatty, an animal trainer sets out to find them both. He eventually manages to find Ruth, who has been separated from her father some time back. As they continue to search for him, greedy gold hunters and wild animals cause problem for them.
Mickey Rooney Awards
| Bill | Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | 1982 |
| Mickey | Best TV Star - Male | 1964 |
| Bill | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Special | 1982 |
