1942 film by Busby Berkeley
For Me and My Gal
is a 1942 American
musical film
directed by
Busby Berkeley
, and starring
Judy Garland
,
George Murphy
,
Martha Eggerth
,
Ben Blue
and
Gene Kelly
in his film debut. The film was written by Richard Sherman,
Fred F. Finklehoffe
and
Sid Silvers
, based on a story by Howard Emmett Rogers inspired by a true story about vaudeville actors
Harry Palmer
and Jo Hayden, when Palmer was drafted into
World War I
. The film was a production of the
Arthur Freed
unit at
MGM
.
Plot
[
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]
In the heyday of
vaudeville
, on the verge of
America's entrance
into
World War I
, two talented performers, Jo Hayden (
Judy Garland
) and Harry Palmer (
Gene Kelly
), set their sights on playing the
Palace Theatre
on
Broadway
, the epitome of vaudeville success, and marrying immediately after.
Just weeks before their plans are to be realized Harry gets a draft notice. Intending to obtain a short delay before reporting for duty, he intentionally smashes his hand in a trunk. That same day Jo is notified that her brother, who had been studying to be a doctor, has died in the war.
When she realizes what Harry has done, she rejects him and leaves the act. Harry then tries to undo his rash act and enlist, but none of the armed services will take him as his hand has been permanently crippled. Eventually, he resigns himself to participating in the war effort the only way left open to him, entertaining front-line troops for the
YMCA
.
When he and his partner find themselves dangerously close to the front, Harry heroically sets out to warn off an ambulance convoy heading into an artillery bombardment. He is wounded while destroying an enemy machine-gun emplacement ambushing the convoy and is apparently commended for his bravery.
After the war, during a victory performance at the Palace Theatre, Jo Hayden performs "
When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again
" and sees Harry in the audience. She runs to him and the two reunite on stage to sing "
For Me and My Gal
", the first song they'd ever performed.
Cast
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Songs
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]
Although directed by Busby Berkeley,
For Me and My Gal
does not have any of Berkeley's signature large-scale production numbers in it. The songs included in the film are performed as they might have been on the vaudeville stage, choreographed by
Bobby Connolly
.
[2]
- "
Oh, You Beautiful Doll
", music by
Nat D. Ayer
, lyrics by A. Seymour Brown, additional lyrics by
Roger Edens
performed by George Murphy, Judy Garland and others
- "
For Me and My Gal
", music and lyrics by
George W. Meyer
,
Edgar Leslie
and
E. Ray Goetz
, performed by Gene Kelly and Judy Garland
- "When You Wore a Tulip and I Wore a Big Red Rose", music by
Percy Wenrich
, lyrics by Jack Mahoney, performed by Kelly and Garland
- "
After You've Gone
", music by Turner Layton, lyrics by Henry Creamer, sung by Judy Garland.
- "
Ballin' the Jack
", music by Chris Smith, lyrics by Jim Burris, sung and danced by Kelly and Garland.
- "
Till We Meet Again
", music by
Richard A. Whiting
, lyrics by Raymond B. Egan, sung by Eggerth and the ensemble.
- The film also contains portions of a number of songs popular during
World War I
, including "
By the Beautiful Sea
", "
There's a Long, Long Trail
", "
How Ya Gonna Keep 'em Down on the Farm (After They've Seen Paree)?
", "Where Do We Go from Here, Boys", "
It's a Long Way to Tipperary
", "
Good Bye Broadway, Hello France
", "(There are) Smiles (That Make Us Happy)", "
Oh! Frenchy
", "
When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again
" and "
Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit-Bag, and Smile, Smile, Smile
".
- Two additional songs were intended to be included: "Spell of the Waltz", which was to be performed by Marta Eggerth and a male chorus and "Three Cheers for the Yanks", written by
Ralph Blane
and
Hugh Martin
.
[3]
Production
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]
For Me and My Gal
marked the first real "adult" role for the nineteen-year-old Judy Garland, who had played juvenile parts until then, many of them opposite
Mickey Rooney
.
[4]
The original script had called for Harry Palmer to be involved with two women, a singer, which was to be Garland's role, and a dancer, who would have most of the dramatic scenes, but Garland's acting coach
Stella Adler
, who was an advisor to MGM at the time, suggested to producer
Arthur Freed
that the two roles be combined, and that Garland be given the part. Adler also suggested Gene Kelly for the lead.
[5]
Kelly was 29 years old at the time, and had made a mark on
Broadway
as the star of
Pal Joey
and the choreographer of
Best Foot Forward
.
[6]
When
David O. Selznick
signed him to a film contract, Kelly's intention was to return to Broadway after fulfilling his contractual obligation, but he ended up staying in Hollywood for a year because Selznick didn't have a role for him. When Arthur Freed inquired about getting Kelly for
For Me and My Gal
, Selznick handed over the contract, and Kelly got the part, over the objections of Freed's bosses at MGM.
[5]
[7]
The casting of Kelly meant that George Murphy, who was originally going to play "Harry Palmer", was switched to playing "Jimmy Metcalf".
Gene Kelly and Judy Garland got along well – she had been in favor of his getting the part, and during shooting she helped Kelly adjust his stage acting for films, and backed him in disagreements with director
Busby Berkeley
, whom she did not like. Kelly and Garland went on to star together in two other films,
The Pirate
(
1948
) and
Summer Stock
(
1950
).
[8]
The film was also the American motion picture debut of Hungarian singer
Martha Eggerth
, who had appeared in over thirty films in
Germany
. Her career in Hollywood did not last long: she appeared in only two other American films.
[9]
For Me and My Gal
had an estimated budget of $803,000, and was in production at MGM's
Culver City
studios from 3 April until 23 May
1942
, with additional scenes shot in June. Working titles for the film while it was in production were "Me and My Gal" and "The Big Time".
When the film was initially
previewed
, the audience was dissatisfied with the ending: they thought that Jo (Garland) should end up with Jimmy (Murphy) rather than Harry (Kelly). This prompted
Louis B. Mayer
to order three weeks of additional shooting to give Kelly's character more of a conscience and to reduce Murphy's presence in the film.
[5]
Release and reception
[
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]
For Me and My Gal
premiered in New York City on 21 October 1942. It grossed $4,371,000 (consisting of $2,894,000 in the US and Canada and $1,477,000 elsewhere), making it one of the big hits of the year.
[5]
[10]
The studio earned a profit of $2,098,000.
[1]
For Me and My Gal
was released on
VHS
in the US on August 1988 by MGM/UA Home Video (#M201379) and on DVD on April 6, 2004 by Warner Home Video.
Awards and honors
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]
The film received a nomination for the
Academy Award for Best Score
for
Roger Edens
(musical adaptation) and
Georgie Stoll
(musical direction).
[11]
In addition, Gene Kelly received a
"Best Actor" award from the National Board of Review
for his performance.
[11]
[12]
The film is recognized by
American Film Institute
in these lists:
References
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]
Notes
External links
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]
|
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As producer
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Uncredited
as producer
| |
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Non-musicals
| |
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|
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Broadway plays
choreographed
| |
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Films directed
|
- 42nd Street
(musical numbers, 1933)
- She Had To Say Yes
(1933)
- Footlight Parade
(musical numbers, 1933)
- Dames
(musical numbers, 1934)
- Fashions of 1934
(musical numbers, 1934)
- Gold Diggers of 1935
(1935)
- Bright Lights
(1935)
- I Live for Love
(1935)
- In Caliente
(musical numbers, 1935)
- Stars Over Broadway
(musical numbers, 1935)
- Stage Struck
(1936)
- Varsity Show
(finale, 1937)
- The Singing Marine
(musical numbers, 1937)
- Gold Diggers of 1937
(musical numbers, 1937)
- The Go Getter
(1937)
- Hollywood Hotel
(1937)
- Men Are Such Fools
(1938)
- Gold Diggers in Paris
(musical numbers, 1938)
- Garden of the Moon
(1938)
- Comet Over Broadway
(1938)
- Broadway Serenade
(finale, 1939)
- They Made Me a Criminal
(1939)
- Fast and Furious
(1939)
- Babes in Arms
(1939)
- The Wizard of Oz
(scenes cut, 1939)
- Forty Little Mothers
(1940)
- Strike Up The Band
(1940)
- Blonde Inspiration
(1941)
- Lady Be Good
(musical numbers, 1941)
- Ziegfeld Girl
(musical numbers, 1941)
- Babes on Broadway
(1941)
- For Me and My Gal
(1942)
- Born to Sing
(finale, 1942)
- Cabin in the Sky
("Shine" sequence, 1943)
- The Gang's All Here
(1943)
- Girl Crazy
("I Got Rhythm" sequence, 1943)
- Cinderella Jones
(1946)
- Take Me Out to the Ball Game
(1949)
- Annie Get Your Gun
(scenes cut, 1950)
|
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Films
choreographed
only
| |
---|