Mickey Rooney, born Joseph Yule, Jr. was an American film actor. Rooney’s works spanned his entire life, including multiple roles as a child, and a role in 2014 just before his death. He had one of the longest careers in film history. He even appeared on stage at 17 months old, as a part of his parent’s routine. As a child he attended Hollywood Professional School, where his peers included other such future stars as Judy Garland and Lana Turner. Rooney is the winner of an Honorary Academy Award, two Golden Globes, an Emmy Award, and a Juvenile Academy Award. At the time of his death, he was one of the last surviving stars who worked in the silent era of film.
Mickey Rooney was a talented and iconic film actor. His fans spanned generations, and his works remain cherished by many. In honor of his recent death, we’ve compiled a list of his best works throughout his life. The multitude of films made the challenge of narrowing greater, but we hope you agree and enjoy.
Did your favorite Mickey Rooney film not make the list? Tell us about it in the comments below.
[ new page = 10: The Beast of the City]
The film is a 1932 gangster film. The film is pre-code, meaning it falls inbetween the introduction of sound in the late 1920’s and the enforcement of the Motion Picture Production Code. This means that the film did not ruled by any censorship guidelines, allowing sexual innuendo, drug use, promiscuity, and other taboo topics to be addressable.
This film in particular depicts violence and sexuality in forward ways for the time.
[ new page = 9: RiffRaff]
This 1936 films stars Mickey Rooney as a teenager. The film focuses on a strike of a tuna cannery. The film’s subthemes were socially relevant at the time, including vagabonds, a prison birth, and of course the stories main narrative of striking.
[ new page = 8: Breakfast at Tiffany’s ]
Despite the racist appearance of Rooney’s character, the 1961 film ranks as one of his best, and an iconic film in American cinema. The film focuses on Holly Golightly, played by Audrey Hepburn, and her romantic/personal life in Manhattan.
[ new page = 7: Broadway to Hollywood]
The film is a 1933 film, featuring brothers Moe Howard and Curly Howard of the three stooges, without Ted Healy or Larry Fine. Moe and Curly feature as Otto and Fritz, who are clowns. Some sequences are filmed in the early two-strip Technicolor process.
[ new page = 6: The Human Comedy]
At number 6 comes 1943 drama, The Human Comedy. The film stars Mickey Rooney as a teenager still in High school during WWII. Rooney’s character depicts the effects of the war on himself and others over a year in sentimental scenarios.
[ new page = 5: The Bold and the Brave]
This is a 1956 WWII film directed by Lewis R. Foster. The film follows the fate of three extremely different soldiers stationed in Italy. Most interesting of the three is Rooney’s character, Dooley. Mickey Rooney co-wrote the title song with Ross Bagdassarian, creator of Alvin and the Chipmunks.
[ new page = 4: The Black Stallion]
At number 4 comes 1979’s The Black Stallion. The film is based off of the 1942 classic children’s novel of the same name, written by Walter Farley. The film features music by Carmine Coppola, father of producer Frank Ford Coppola, who was the executive producer of the film. The film is about Alec Ramsay, who befriends a wild stallion while shipwrecked, and later enters the horse in a race.
[ new page = 3: Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town]
At number 3 comes Christmas classic, 1970 Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town. The film stars Fred Astaire as the narrator, a mailman who answers childrens numerous questions about Santa Claus. Mickey Rooney voices Kris Kringle/Santa Claus. The film is based on the hit Christmas song of the same name, first introduced on radio by Eddie Cantor in 1934.
[ new page = 2: The Year Without a Santa Claus]
At number 2 comes another Holiday classic, 1974’s The Year Without a Santa Claus. Again, the film stars Mickey Rooney, voicing Santa Claus. While a sick and disheartened Santa may need to take Christmas off, a search begins to prove to Santa that children still believe in him. The film features some fun and catchy songs, particularly those of Snow and Heat Miser.
[ new page = 1: It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World]
Finally, topping the list is 1963’s It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. The film features an all-star cast, including Mickey Rooney, as well as Spencer Tracy and Sid Caesar, among others. The film is about a diverse group splitting up to try to get to $350,000 in stolen cash. The film was both a critical and commercial success, and was director Stanley Kramer’s first attempt at comedy, and not is usual film focused on social problems.