Product Review

Words and Music (DVD)

Mickey Rooney, Tom Drake, Betty Garrett, Janet Leigh, and a host of topmusical performers headline this extravagant biographical tribute to theprolific songwriting duo of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. In theearly 1920s, the diminutive Hart (Rooney) teams up with Rodgers (Drake)to launch a successful 24-year music career, penning nearly 500 songswith him until Hart's death in 1943 at the age of 47. Rodgers marrieshis dream girl (Leigh) while Hart pines after Peggy (Garrett),eventually spiraling into depression and death after her rejection. JuneAllyson, Perry Como, Ann Sothern, Mel Torm©, Cyd Charisse, Judy Garland,and Lena Horne are just some of the singing sensations featured. This isthe last movie in which Garland and Rooney appeared together.