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For Me And My Gal | Year: 1942 Classification: Musical Actors/Actresses: - Gene Kelly - Judy Garland - George Murphy A Musical Masterpiece "For Me And My Gal" was one of the first musicals I saw, and one of the first I bought on video. Judy Garland is great in her first "adult" role. This is also the splashy debut of Gene Kelly to movie audiences. Movie hoofer and later politican George Murphy rounds out the love triangle. It's interesting to note the difference in the stars ages though. Garlandwas 20 when the movie was made. Kelly was 30. And Murphy was 40. Most movies of the 1940s, let alone World War II movies, dealt with serious issues, but this musical is full of them. Some of the issues include draft dodging and the horrors of war among others. The music portion of the movie is the highpoint. My personal favorite is Garland's teary rendition of "After You've Gone". Reportedly, she filmed it the day after her divorce from bandleader David Rose. Another memorable scene is the famous Garland-Kelly duet of the title track. The musical numbers are countless and timeless and add to the movie's greatness. If you are looking for a great musical, with dramatic moments, and a tearjerking ending, then "For Me And My Gal" is for you... Musically Enjoyable, Dramatically Tired This last of the big black-and-white musicals and the first of Garland's wartime films offers a barrel of vintage songs and production numbers remarkably performed by Garland, Kelly, and Murphy in the roles of vaudevillians whose careers are detoured first by romantic complications and then by the advent of World War I. Although the performances--particularly Kelly, playing the role of a classic heel in his film debut--are extremely strong, the story was "old hat" even back when the film was made, and while the gifted cast plays expertly the script never quite seems to catch fire. Musical fans will certainly enjoy the score, which includes the title song and such standards as "Oh You Beautiful Doll," "After You're Gone," and a sharply performed "Ballin' the Jack;" others, however, may lose interest long before the final credits roll. I liked it too I greatly dislike and resent reviewers who give away plots and endings. Why do they do it? This is one of my all-time favorite musicals. It is not a flag-waver and it does not sugar-coat war (rah-rah-America!), though as one reviewer mentioned, there is a note at the ending saying that war bonds would be sold in the lobby. War is hell. Everyone in it was wonderful, Garland actually kept right up with Kelly in the dancing, and she came across strong, professional and abundantly talented, all of which she is. (Incidentally, before Pal Joey, there was a straight play by Saroyan called The Time of Your Life which I think was Kelly's first big break (he danced), and before that a part in the chorus of a Porter musical called Leave It To Me, more than that I don't know.) The movie is singing and dancing from stem to stern, all wonderful, all Garland and/or Kelly, and I loved every minute of it. The directing was also good, though I'm no judge of that kind of thing, but it struck me as inventive and original while I watched it. I totally abhored Murphy's bit in France when he makes a sap out of the poor dumb foreigner with the fake money. And then his men have a good laugh. I thought it stunk. And on the subject of George Murphy (whose career in movies was about as stellar as Ronald Reagan's), Tom Lehrer said (sang, actually), "Gee it's great! At last we've got a senator who can really sing and dance!" That's about the size of it, folks. And I didn't think he did either of those particularly well. If he'd gotten the girl, I wouldn't have watched the movie a second time. One last note. I cried during this movie when Danny left for duty. And I really cried at the end. Buy For Me And My Gal at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  Search with Walhello on the Internet on For Me And My Gal Search with the Priority Search Engine on For Me And My Gal This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
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