FOR ME AND MY GAL

US, 1942, 104 minutes, Black and white.
Judy Garland, George Murphy, Gene Kelly, Marta Eggerth, Ben Blue, Keenan Wynn, Horace Mc Nally
Directed by Busby Berkely.

For Me and My Girl is an engaging musical, a piece of World War II propaganda released just after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. It is a pleasant adult vehicle for Judy Garland who gets to sing quite a number of songs. George Murphy, later senator, is always a genial screen presence. And, most importantly, this was the first film for Gene Kelly who had been performing on Broadway in Pal Joey. He Intended to return to Broadway but stayed at MGM and began a successful career as a performer, singer and dancer (Singin’ in the Rain) as well as a director.

This is World War I story, a tribute to vaudeville, a memoir of American involvement, with a collage towards the end of a lot of the battles in France. But it is also a catalogue of so many of the popular war songs in 1917 – 1918, and an opportunity for hearing Judy Garland sing them.

Gene Kelly plays a brash young actor with a great dream, to dance at the New York Palace. He falls for the young Judy Garland, shares playing different provincial theatres with her, is desperate to play in New York and injures his hand so that he can avoid the draft. This plays on his mind. He later meets an old dancing partner, played by Ben Blue, and joins the troupe eventually going to France, helping with stretchers and warning trucks against proceeding because of a bombardment. He is able to become something of a hero, is able to reunite with Judy Garland who had been disillusioned with him and his behaviour.

The film was directed by Busby Berkely but is quite restrained, not having the visual flair of his films at Warner Brothers.

1. A popular film of the 1940s? MGM musical? Production values? The songs, the dancing? And war propaganda film?

2. Surprisingly in black and white? The provincial theatres, vaudeville, the stage performances, backstage? The various musical numbers, songs and dances, the routines? In the theatres, for the troops, and the climax in New York City?

3. A war propaganda film, memories of World War I, soldiers volunteering to go like Danny, Jo’s brother, and his dying in France? The film indicating American involvement in the war, the changes in France? The collage of the various battles? The action sequences, involving Harry, the bombardments, the wounded, his riding to stop the trucks, on foot, the hand grenade into the German nest? The spirit of World War I, the songs? The return home, tickertape parades, final concerts? As propaganda for American involvement in World War II?

4. The tribute to vaudeville, the old theatres, the audiences, the routines, song and dance, the ambitions of the entertainers to go to the big cities, Chicago, the New York Palace?

5. Jo, Judy Garland at 20, her charm, screen presence? Attachment to Jimmy? Performing and liking it but wanting to support her brother to become a doctor? His visit? His joining up? The telegram announcing his death? The farewell in New York, Eva singing the songs? Jo and her performance, antagonism towards Harry, trusting in Jimmy? Harry and his song, For Me and My Gal, his leading her on, his apologising?

6. The troupe, Jimmy and his performance, kindly, love for Jo, genial towards Harry? He and Jo and their performances? Getting to New York, the Palace?
Upset when it was the Newark Palace, Jo? His joining up, in France, with Jo, meeting up with Harry, affirming him?

7. Sid, his routines, comedy, dance, his meeting with Harry, performing for the war bond appeal, urging him to join, their going to France?

8. Harry, the train, the encounter with Eva, friendly, going out with her, Jo and the visit to the carriage, Eva and her reassurance, saying that she would tempt Harry, her doing it, his succumbing, her message that she was sorry?

9. The telegram, going to New York, the wrong Palace, Elliott and his work as an agent, the manager? The intention for the wedding, putting it off? Playing in Newark, the manager present, giving the contract? Jo and enjoying the hope? Harry and his being drafted, his injuring his hand, rejected, Jo and her disappointment, not wanting to see him again?

10. Jo, with the troops, the performances, the return to New York, her being feted, seeing Harry, Jim and Sid in the audience, joining with them?

11. Harry, as a heel, his injury, being ashamed, Jo rejecting him? Finding Sid, the performances? Going to France, helping with the stretchers, the mission, the hand grenade, saving the trucks? The involvement in the rest of the war? The return to New York, and the happy ending with Jo?