Film Review
Gene Kelly's screen career got off to a flying start with this
typically jaunty MGM musical, in which he is effectively partnered with
another screen legend of the era, Judy Garland. Not long before
this, Kelly had found stardom on Broadway as the lead in Rodgers and
Hart's musical comedy
Pal Joey,
which resulted in David O. Selznick offering him a contract to start appearing in
movies. As it happened, Selznick failed to find a suitable role
for Kelly, and it was MGM producer Arthur Freed who gave him his big
break in
For Me and My Gal, a
film that was based on a true story and which proved to be one of the
big hits of 1942.
The film was directed by Busby Berkeley, who had distinguished himself
in the previous decade by choreographing some of the most spectacular
song and dance numbers to grace a Hollywood musical, notably on
Gold Diggers of 1933 and
42nd Street (1933).
Whilst
For Me and My Gal has
none of the grand musical set pieces for which Berkeley is renowned, it
is directed with his customary aplomb and includes such uplifting
numbers as
Oh, You Beautiful Doll
and
For Me and My Gal.
In common with many films made around this time, the film had a dual
purpose, to support the war effort (by portraying those in the armed
services as selfless heroes whilst demonising draft dodgers) and to
divert the people back home with some wholesome, no-nonsense
entertainment.
The film's one flaw is that it fails to redeem its central character in
a convincing way. So good is Kelly at playing the self-loving
opportunist that his character's sudden transformation at the end of
the film (from draft dodging skunk to Bruce Willis-style action hero)
appears laughably absurd and takes the gloss off an otherwise flawless
production. Fortunately, there are enough other things to like
about the film to prevent this one king-size blemish from spoiling
it. By this time, Judy Garland has blossomed into a fully fledged
grown-up star, and there are few other actresses who could invest the
film with as much warmth and poignancy as she does, apparently without
the slightest effort.
Garland may be an accomplished actress, but it is in the toe-tapping
vaudevillian musical numbers that she is most in her element, and
watching her perform alongside Kelly is a treat which no fan of the
classical Hollywood musical should pass up. Garland and Kelly
make such an effective combination (and apparently had such a good
off-screen relationship) that you wonder why they only worked together
on two further films,
The Pirate
(1948) and
Summer Stock
(1950). For what is so patently a wartime propaganda piece,
For Me and My Gal has stood the
test of time remarkably well, bursting at the seams with star quality
and good, old-fashioned charm.
© James Travers 2012
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Film Synopsis
In 1916, Jo Hayden and Jimmy Metcalf scrape a living, touring American
towns with their second rate vaudeville act. Jo earns just enough
to support her brother Danny as he studies to be a doctor. Her
dream of Broadway success comes one step closer when she meets Harry
Palmer, an ambitious young dancer who offers her a partnership.
Realising that this is Jo's big chance, Jimmy steps aside and
encourages her to sign up with Harry, but success still proves elusive
for Jo. When Jo and Harry finally land a spot at a top Broadway
theatre, Harry learns he is about to be drafted into the army.
Unable to give up what may be his only shot at fame, Harry
intentionally damages his right hand so that he will fail his medical
examination. When she discovers this subterfuge, Jo is sickened
by Harry and refuses to have anything more to do with him.
Ashamed of himself, Harry tries to make amends, but getting into WWI is
a lot harder than he imagined...
© James Travers
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.