Essential Mickey Rooney

James L. Neibaur is a film historian and educator who has written hundreds of articles, including more than forty essays in the Encyclopedia Britannica. He is the author of several books on film, including The Elvis Movies (2014) and The Clint Eastwood Westerns (2015), bothpublished by Rowman & Littlefield.

[T]hroughout the book Neibaur’s respect and admiration for Rooney’s talent, even if he appeared in a bad film, is evident in his writing. Neibaur often draws on material gathered from personal interviews with Rooney as well, lending further depth to his discussions of his films. Each chapter is incredibly thorough in terms of plot summary, background info, critique and analysis, whether he is discussing another cookie cutter Andy Hardy movie or a large-scale comedy like 'It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.' Production stills, movie posters, and other photos are sprinkled throughout the book, adding more context to each chapter . . . The Essential Mickey Rooney lives up to its title, proving to be the definitive book on the actor who had one of the longest, most prolific careers in Hollywood. Even film fans already familiar with Rooney’s body of work will likely discover new information within its pages. Rooney’s personal life and relationships were notoriously tumultuous and may not have had the happiest of endings, but his boundless talent and enthusiasm on the screen lives on, and Neibaur perfectly captures it here.

• AcknowledgementsIntroduction From Joe Yule to Mickey Mcguire The Early Appearances The Devil is a SissyDown the StretchA Family AffairSlave ShipCaptains CourageousHoosier SchoolboyThoroughbreds Don’t CryYou’re only Young OnceLove Is a HeadacheJudge Hardy’s ChildrenHold That KissLord JeffLove Finds Andy HardyBoys TownStablematesOut West with the HardysThe Adventures of Huckleberry FinnThe Hardy’s Ride HighAndy Hardy Gets Spring FeverBabes in Arms Judge Hardy and SonYoung Tom EdisonAndy Hardy Meets a DebutanteStrike up the BandAndy Hardy’s Private SecretaryMen of Boys TownLife Begins for Andy HardyBabes on BroadwayThe Courtship of Andy HardyA Yank at EtonAndy Hardy’s Double LifeThe Human ComedyGirl crazyAndy Hardy’s Blonde TroubleNational VelvetLove Laughs at Andy HarKiller McCoyWords and MusicThe Big Wheel QuicksandThe Fireball He’s a Cockeyed Wonder The StripSound offAll ashoreA Slight Case of LarcenyDrive a Crooked RoadThe Atomic Kid The Bridges at Toko RiFrancis in the Haunted HouseBaby Face NelsonAndy Hardy Comes HomeEverything’s DuckyRequiem for a HeavyweigIt’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad WorldAmbush Bay The ComicPulpPete’s DragonThe Black StallionThe “Bill” TV Movies, The Honorary OscMickey Rooney in the 80s and 90sThe “Night in the Museum” Films, The 21st Century Bibliography