Film Review: For Me and My Gal

For Me and My Gal

MGM, 1942 (BW, 104 minutes, Production No. 1244)

In the heyday of vaudeville before World War I, a couple of talented youngsters set their sights on the Palace Theatre. Just when it seems their ambition will be realized, the boy gets his draft card. To obtain deferment, he smashes his hand in a trunk and the girl walks out on him. Unable to live without her and unable to enlist because of his injury, he joins the YMCA and follows her to France where she is singing for the troops. In a heroic attempt to rescue some soldiers trapped by the enemy, he vindicates himself and after the Armistice, their reunion is celebrated in lights on the Palace marquee.

Crew

Produced by: Arthur Freed
Directed by: Busby Berkeley
Screen Play by: Richard Sherman, Fred Finklehoffe, and Sid Silvers
Original Story by: Howard Emmett Rogers ("The Big Time")
Song: "For Me and My Gal" (by) George W. Meyer, Edgar Leslie, E. Ray Goetz
Musical Adaptation: Roger Edens
Music Direction: Georgie Stoll
Vocals and Orchestrations: Conrad Salinger, George Bassman, Leo Arnaud
Musical Presentation: Merrill Pye
Dance Direction: Bobby Connolly
Art Director: Cedric Gibbons
Associate: Gabriel Scognamillo
Set Decorations: Edwin B. Willis
Associate: Keogh Gleason
Gowns by: Kalloch
Men's Costumes by: Gile Steele
Make-Up Created by: Jack Dawn
Recording Director: Douglas Shearer
Director of Photography: William Daniels
Film Editor: Ben Lewis

Filmed: February 1942 - May 1942 (Judy was 20 years old)
Released: October 1942

Cast

Judy Garland ... Jo Hayden
George Murphy ... Jimmy K. Metcalfe
Gene Kelly ... Harry Palmer
Marta Eggerth ... Eve Minard
Ben Blue ... Sid Simms
Richard Quine ... Danny Hayden
Keenan Wynn ... Eddie Melton
Horace (Stephen) McNally ... Mr. Waring
Lucille Norman ... Lily Duncan
Betty Welles ... member of Jimmy's company
Anne Rooney ... member of Jimmy's company
Ben Lessey ... Dough Boy Dan
Six Hits and a Miss ... vocals
The King's Men ... vocals
The Sportsmen ... vocals

Musical Program

[0:00] Main Title: "For Me and My Gal" (played by Orchestra behind titles)
[0:05] Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny Oh! (instrumental danced by Gene Kelly)
[0:07] They Go Wild, Simply Wild Over Me (instrumental danced by Gene Kelly)
[0:08] Doll Shop Sequence:
The Doll Shop (sung by Lucille Norman and George Murphy)
Oh You Beautiful Doll (sung by George Murphy)
Don't Leave Me, Daddy (sung by Judy Garland)
Oh You Beautiful Doll (sung by George Murphy while dancing with Judy Garland)
[0:11] Sailor's Hornpipe (danced by Ben Blue)
[0:12] By the Beautiful Sea (sung and danced by Judy Garland, George Murphy, Ben Blue, Chorus Girls and MGM Studio Chorus)
[0:21] For Me and My Gal (sung and danced by Judy and Gene)
[0:31] When You Wore a Tulip (And I Wore a Big Red Rose) (Judy and Gene)
[0:38] Do I Love You? (sung by Marta Eggerth)
[0:45] After You've Gone (sung by Judy Garland)
[1:04] Tell Me (sung by Lucille Norman and The Sportsmen)
[1:06] Till We Meet Again (sung by Lucille Norman and The King's Men)
[1:07] We Don't Want the Bacon (sung and danced by Ben Lessey)
[1:08] Ballin' the Jack (sung and danced by Judy Garland and Gene Kelly)
[1:23] What Are You Going to Do About the Boys? (sung by Ben Blue and The King's Men)
[1:26] How Ya Gonna Keep 'em Down on the Farm? (Judy and Chorus)
[1:28] There's a Long, Long Trail (sung by The King's Men and the MGM Studio Chorus)
[1:34] Where Do We Go from Here? (sung by Judy Garland, The King's Men and the MGM Studio Chorus)
[1:35] YMCA Montage:
Over There (MGM Studio Orchestra)
It's a long way to Tipperary (sung by Judy Garland)
Goodbye Broadway, Hello France (MGM Studio Chorus)
Smiles (sung by Judy Garland)
Hincky Dinky Parlay Voo (Mad'moiselle from Armentieres) (MGM Studio Chorus)
Oh, Frenchy (sung and danced by Gene Kelly and Ben Blue)
Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag and Smile, Smile, Smile (Judy)
[1:42] When Johnny Comes Marching Home (Judy and MGM Studio Chorus)
[1:43] Finale: For Me and My Gal (reprise, Judy, Gene Kelly and MGM Studio Chorus)
[cut] Don't Bite the Hand That's Feeding You (sung by Judy Garland, Abe Dinovitch and Maude Erickson) [outtake]
[cut] Three Cheers for the Yanks (sung by Judy Garland, Six Hits and a Miss and the MGM Studio Chorus) [outtake]


see soundtrack CD review

Notes

For Me and My Gal was the first film in which Judy's name was billed alone above the title.

This film was Gene Kelly's official MGM screen debut.

The film was in development for over a year, first known as The Big Time, then as Applause. Busby Berekely later declared the film his personal favorite of all the films in which he was involved.

Gene Kelly later said that Judy "pulled me through. She was very kind and helpful, more than she even realized, because I watched her to find out what I had to do. I was amazed at her skill; she knew every mark and every move. All I could do for her was help with the dancing. She wasn't a dancer, but she could pick up a step instantly. She was a very relaxed, marvelous person...the most talented performer we've ever had."

For Me and My Gal was Judy's biggest hit to date. The Los Angeles Daily News stated "she has the faculty (wonderful for her but tough on an audience) of melting your heart. And in a sympathetic part, she's murder." Judy recorded the title tune, "For Me and My Gal" with Gene Kelly for Decca, and the record was on the charts for twenty-one weeks.

Musical outtakes from this film are included in the laser disc box set: "Judy Garland: The Golden Years at M-G-M", MGM/UA Home Video, ML104869.

See Judy Garland Movies on Video for information about the latest releases of home video and sountrack.

See Class Act for more information on this and other classic films.

Critical Response

"Miss Garland is a saucy little singer and dances passably. She handles such age flavored ballads as "After You've Gone," "Till we Meet Again," and "Smiles" with music hall lustiness and sings and dances nicely with Mr. Kelly in the title song...

"3-1/2 stars ... Judy looks thin and frail throughout the picture, but she seems to have developed enormously as an actress and entertainer since her last screen assignment. She projects the old melodies charmingly ... and she also dances with grace...

"Miss Garland is someone to reckon with. Of all the youngsters who have graduated into mature roles in recent years, she has the surest command of her form of make-believe.

Memorable Lines

Harry: "Why didn't you tell me I was in love with you?"

Jo: "What do you do when you love someone and they don't even know you're alive?"
Jimmy: "I don't know. Just keep on loving them, I guess."

Jo: (referring to Harry) "Who's the want ad with the squirrel around his neck?"

Jo: (to Harry) "There's nothing lower than number one."

Jo: (referring to Harry) "I bet he takes a bow every time he hears a clap of thunder."

Jo: (to Harry) "You're always acting, but you'll never make the big time because you're small time in your heart."

Jimmy: "You know me, Jo - I'm a good waiter."

Jimmy: (to Harry) "You know what's the matter with you? You've been walking around with a picture book villain in your pocket, and every once in a while you take it out and take a look."

Nurse: "Here's the men for the stretchers."
Sid: "Gee, I didn't think we looked that bad!"

Supplemental Material