pigskin parade a jumble of jive
Well, there's not much to say: this is one of those tossed-off little pieces of entertainment with a lot of talented people (including Patsy Kelly, Jack Haley, Stu Erwin, Betty Grable, Tony Martin before he was Tony Martin - here he's billed as Anthony Martin - and the very young, charmingly chubby Judy Garland in her first feature movie role) getting chances to show off a little. The plot is some nonsense about a college football team, with Haley as the coach and Kelly as his wife (though who's actually in charge is part of the joke), but that's only an excuse for some very amusing musical numbers.

The Texas Tornado is coming your way...
Pigskin Parade was Judy Garland's screen debut...and what a hit she made! You can tell that she was going to be a star by the gusto she put into her performance. It's worth watching the movie just to hear her sing "The Texas Tornado"! Of couse, it came no where near the success that Judy would have three years later, after filming "The Wizard of Oz" but it was a start for the talented teen!
Texas State is playing Yale University in a football game after an invitation is mistakenly given to the small school. But when the new coach Slug Winters' (Jack Haley, The Tin Man in "The Wizard of Oz") wife, Bessie (Patsy Kelly) accidentally injures their star player, all hopes of winning are lost. Until, Bessie and students Chip (Johnny Downs) and Laura (Betty Grable, before she became famous) discover a hillbilly named Amos (Stuart Erwin) who can throw a melon like anything. They immediately take Amos and his younger sister, Sairy (Judy Garland) back with them and enroll him in school so he can play for their team. Now Yale hasn't got a chance!

A little corny but still funny with good musical performances
For any Judy Garland fan, this DVD is a Must Have. Packed with extras such as interviews and biographies, the story itself is kind of corny for modern audiences but there are still a few funny parts. The musical performances are terrific. It's one of those ensemble casts where no one was really a star at the time but all became stars later (like American Graffitti or Diner). I bought it because I'm a big Betty Grable fan and, although she only has a small part in this, she still shines.

Pigskin Parade 1936
Song , dance and Romance hit the field in this musical comedy that is sure to bring cheers for it's winning team of Hollywood all-stars , including Jack Halley ( 1898-1979), Betty Grable (1916-1973) and Fresh-faced Judy Garland (1922-1969) years before she wandered down the yellow brick road of Oz ( Wizard of Oz 1939) . When tiny Texas State University is mistakenly invited to play Yale University in a Football game unlikely match pits barefoot hillbillies against gridiron go-getters New coach slug Winters (Haley) tries to get his team prepared for the tough match , but when his wife Bessie (Patsy Kelly 1910-1981) injures their star player , she solicist student (Johnny Downs 1913-1994) and Laura (Grable) to help her find a replacement . Melon-tossing bumpkin , Amos (Stuart Erwin 1903-1967) might fit the bill , but he won't go without his pigtailed sister , Sairy (Garland).Special Features . High Quality Transfer .

Cornbally Plot Rescued by Great Performances from Early-in-their-Career Legends!
Well, the public library shelves lead me to another obscure but fun film. Randomness can be so fulfilling sometimes!

Pigskin Parade--the story of a small Texas university football team accidentally invited to play against Yale--is a predecessor of all the "underdog makes good" sports movies that would come out, and continue to, in the decades that follow. But, with one difference: This one has a legendary cast, or at least a cast that would become legendary years later.

The shining star is, of course, Judy Garland, in her musical debut. You marvel watching her perform, realizing that she is but 15 and already has a mature style and expressiveness that will lead her to things both great and tragic in later life. Betty Grable is barely paid attention to in this film, but just wait a few years and everyone will know her name. Jack Haley, the bumbling football coach with a good-hearted harpy of a wife (also a terrific comedic performance), already portrays many of the character quirks that will make him such a loveable tinman just three years down the road.

Anyway, the movie is fun, as are most of the songs, esp. those sung by the Texas university quartet. Their pieces could be performed today to great advantage. Talented high school kids could have great fun with "Woo-Hoo," for instance.

Predictable, yes, but who cares. It moves along at a rapid clip and, though the climactic football game's results can be guessed way in advance, that doesn't stop this film from being enjoyable.