Mickey's Midnite Follies Review: Rooney as a tiny, cigar-chomping adult

You should probably watch this if you have a soft spot for film history or if you just want to see Mickey Rooney acting like a forty-year-old man in a toddler's body. If you’re looking for a plot that makes actual sense or high production values, you will likely hate every second of this.

It’s one of those early Mickey McGuire shorts. Before he was 'Mickey Rooney,' he was playing this comic strip character who was basically a tough-guy kid in a bowl cut.

The whole thing is about these kids putting on a show. It’s a classic 'let's put on a play in the barn' setup, but with way more dirt and questionable safety standards.

Rooney is just vibrating with energy here. He doesn't just walk; he bounces, struts, and sort of vibrates through every scene.

I noticed that the 'midnight' in the title is a total lie. It is clearly about two in the afternoon in Southern California, based on the harsh shadows hitting the barn floor.

There is this one kid in the background who just looks confused for the entire twenty minutes. I couldn't stop watching him instead of the main action.

The sets look like they were made of cardboard and hope. It has that same raw, unpolished feeling you get in The Adventures of Kitty Cobb, where you can tell they were just happy the camera didn't jam.

The dancing scenes go on for a really long time. Like, three minutes too long.

One kid does a blackface routine which is... well, it’s 1928. It is a very awkward reminder of how things used to be, and it definitely kills the 'fun' vibe for a modern viewer.

I did really like the dog, though. The dog seemed like the only one who actually knew where to stand and what his motivation was.

It’s weirdly more energetic than Is Conan Doyle Right?, mostly because stuff is actually happening. Even if that 'stuff' is just kids falling over and making faces at the lens.

Mickey wears these shoes that look about four sizes too big for him. Watching him try to dance in them is actually kind of impressive from a physical comedy standpoint.

The lighting is pretty terrible in the indoor scenes. It’s either 'surface of the sun' bright or 'cannot see anyone's face' dark.

I wonder if Fontaine Fox, the writer, actually liked how these kids portrayed his comic characters. They feel way more aggressive than the drawings I've seen.

There is a moment where a goat gets involved. I am 90% sure that goat wasn't supposed to be in the shot, but they just kept filming anyway.

If you've seen Sea Scamps, you know the drill. It’s just kids being chaotic and the adults just letting it happen for the sake of a nickel at the box office.

Things I wrote down in my notebook:

• The title cards have some really weird font choices.
• Mickey Rooney’s bowl cut is genuinely terrifying.
• The way they use a literal bucket as a prop is actually pretty smart.
• Billy Barty is in this! He’s tiny and doing his best.

I spilled some coffee on my shirt during the big finale. I didn't even bother to wipe it off because I was trying to figure out if that one kid was actually crying or just acting.

It lacks the polish of something like Vendémiaire. But it’s not trying to be high art, I guess.

The editing is super jumpy. Sometimes a character will be on the left, and then suddenly they are on the right with no explanation.

It’s a bit like watching a home movie of a bunch of kids who are way too into musical theater. Only the home movie has a professional camera and a distribution deal.

I think I liked the parts where they weren't performing better. Just the kids sitting around talking—well, gesturing—felt more real.

It reminded me of the pacing in Flashing Spurs, where you’re just waiting for the next bit of action to save you from the slow parts. Except here, the 'action' is just more tap dancing.

Is it a good movie? Not really. Is it a fascinating time capsule? Absolutely.

You can see the seeds of the performer Rooney would become. He’s already trying to hog the spotlight from everyone else, even the dog.

I wouldn't sit through it again, but I’m glad I saw it once. It makes you appreciate how much better child acting got over the next few decades.

There’s a scene where they eat something that looks like gray sludge. I hope it was just oatmeal, but in 1928, you never know.

Anyway, if you're looking for something better, maybe check out The Fighting Marine. Or don't. I'm not your boss.

The ending just sort of happens. It doesn't really resolve anything, the movie just stops.

"It's the kind of film that makes you want to wash your face afterward, just from all the dust on screen."

I noticed a smudge on the lens that stays there for a good two minutes. It drove me crazy trying to figure out if it was on my screen or the actual film.

The kid playing the 'villain' of the group has a very punchable face. He’s great at his job.

It’s definitely better than A Wall Street Tragedy, mostly because it’s shorter. And there are fewer men in suits crying about money.

Final thought: Mickey Rooney was born to be on camera. Even when the movie around him is falling apart, he’s still giving it 110%.

It’s exhausting to watch, honestly. I need a nap now.