The big draw here is a 14-year old Judy Garland, lighting up the screen whenever she appears. Too bad she doesn't have a starring role and better songs. Also, there's a 20-year old Betty Grable as one of the eye-candy co-eds. The story's nothing special. It's a big football game between little Texas State and big-time Ivy League Yale. Texas has a new coach (Haley) and his behind-the-scenes brains, (wife Kelly). Texas has no chance until wife Kelly spots cornpone farm boy Irwin who has a slingshot arm. With a little finagling they get him enrolled and made team quarterback. Now the little team from the West stands a chance, that is, if wife Kelly gets to make the big decisions.Irwin has the good-ole-boy drawl down pat, which is pretty funny. On the other hand, Kelly's pretty shrill as the loud mouth missus, undercutting her comedic impact, at least in my book. The college dance scenes, however, sparkle, especially the big one before the game. However, I could do without the Yacht Club Boys whoever they are-- Garland should have gotten their singing spots. And get a load out of that fierce rabbit Elisha Cook playing an aggressive campus communist, of all things. Even then, he appeared as a hapless fall guy. At the same time, somebody spent a bucket load turning the LA Coliseum into a snow bowl for the big game. It's very realistic, but after 40-years, I'm still waiting for real snow on my LA home.Other than Garland and Grable and a few sparkling moments, there's not much to recommend, unless you're into old time football.

MGM studio had signed Judy Garland to a contract, but didn't quite know how to use her talents, so they loaned her out to Fox for this little film. Little did they know how big an impact she would have in her first major feature-length film. (Never again would they loan her out.) Pigskin Parade concerns a invitation (by mistake) to a small college in Prairie, Texas to play Yale for charity. When they get the invitation, they're ecstatic; they're never told the truth. When their star player is injured, they're in a bind and try to get someone outside of their college to play. But in their quest, they come across Stuart Erwin who can throw a melon like no one's business. (Watch the movie to understand.) They meet him and sister Judy Garland, who are simple country people who ain't never been educated. Get the crux? Stuart Erwin apparently was so good in this film, he earned an Oscar nomination for Best Actor. While this film stretches the viewer's imagination, it sure is fun. Its cast is a virtual who's who of early Hollywood. Jack Haley is the new football coach, who was the future costar of "The Wizard of Oz" with Judy, as the tin woodman. His wife here is played comedienne Patsy Kelly, who is a riot. Betty Grable, Tony Martin, Elisha Cook, Jr. all costar, and Alan Ladd has a bit part, which if you blink you'll miss him. And, Judy has musical numbers, which she knocks out of the park and knocks your shoes off, at the same time. They had to do a retake due to the applause and bravos of "It's Love I'm After," which she sings near the end of the film. For a great old-fashioned film and to witness the beginning of Judy Garland's rise to stardom, this is the film for you.

Funny film where Yale University invites the wrong Texas college team to play against them. A series of comic misfortunes, wrong notes and other items mark this 1936 film.Ironically, Stuart Irwin got top billing in the film and wound up being nominated for best supporting actor. If there were to be acting nominations in this humorous film, they should have gone instead to Jack Haley, as the transplanted Texas coach from Long Island, and his wife, Patsy Kelly, as shrewd as they come.As the 'hick's sister, Judy Garland, 3 years before "The Wizard of Oz," is given the opportunity to sing. Betty Grable and Tony Martin, the latter under the stage name of Anthony Martin, also appear.It's that good old fashioned comedy about college life set to music. It succeeds nicely for the most part.

Pigskin Parade is a light-hearted football-themed musical (how many of those are there?) and is most notable for being the feature debut for a young Judy Garland. MGM loaned her out to Fox (the only time she made a film at another studio for the next 14 years) because they didn't know what to do with the little girl with the grown-up voice. Guess they solved that problem, huh?Not too much of the film is noteworthy aside from Judy's performances and it's interesting to note that she co-starred with Jack Haley, the father of the Tin-Man who she would star with, 4 years later, in the Wizard Of Oz.