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Little Nellie Kelly
MGM, 1940 (BW, 100 minutes, Production No. 1153)
Nellie (Judy Garland), a young Irish girl, falls in love with the neighbor boy, Jerry Kelly (George Murphy). They marry against the wishes of Nellie's father, Michael Noonan (Charles Winninger). Nellie and Jerry decide to
leave Ireland and move to New York, "the land of opportunity." Noonan, swearing to never again speak to Jerry, sails with them to "see his only child safe across the ocean." Jerry realizes his ambition to become a police officer, but Nellie dies giving
birth to their daughter. The story concentrates on Little Nellie, her coming of age, her trials and tribulations with her grandfather, and her first romance, Dennis Fogarty (Doug McPhail).
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Crew
Produced by: Arthur Freed
Directed by: Norman Taurog
Screen Play by: Jack McGowan
Based upon the Musical Comedy Written, Composed and Produced by George M. Cohan
Musical Program: "Nellie Kelly I Love You" (by) , "Singin' in the Rain" (by) and
Musical Adaptation:
Musical Direction: Georgie Stoll
Art Director: Cedric Gibbons
Associate: Harry McAfee
Set Decorations: Edwin B. Willis
Women's Costumes by: Dolly Tree
Men's Costumes by: Gile Steele
Make-Up Created by: Jack Dawn
Recording Director: Douglas Shearer
Director of Photography: Ray June
Film Editor: Fredrick Y. Smith
Filmed: August 1940 - September 1940 (Judy was 18 years old)
Released: November 1940
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Cast
... Nellie Kelly / Little Nellie Kelly
... Jerry Kelly
... Michael Noonan
... Dennis Fogarty
... Timothy Fogarty
... Mary Fogarty
... Moriarity
... Sergeant McGowan
... Keevan
... Nanny
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Musical Program
[0:00] Overture (played by Orchestra behind titles)
[0:09] (ballad version sung by Judy Garland)
[0:42] (excerpt sung by Charles Winninger)
[0:46] (sung by Judy Garland, Doug McPhail and Chorus)
[0:51] (excerpt sung by singing telegram delivery boys)
[0:56] (ballad and swing version sung by Judy Garland)
[1:19] (sung by Judy Garland)
[1:30] (sung and danced by Doug McPhail, Judy Garland, George Murphy and Chorus)
[1:37] (excerpt sung by Doug McPhail, George Murphy, Judy Garland and Charles Winninger)
[cut] (sung by Judy Garland) [outtake]
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Notes
Just before Judy began work on Little Nellie Kelly, MGM raised her salary from $600 to $2000 a week with options for seven years that would eventually bring her to $3000 a week.
Little Nellie Kelly was a 1922 George M. Cohan stage musical. Arthur Freed purchased the motion picture rights expressly for Judy.
Judy plays a double role in this film, and she plays the only dying scene she ever did on film.
MGM's adaptation kept only one Cohan song - "Nellie Kelly, I Love You" - and added three others, including Freed's "Singin' in the Rain," first used in the 1929 film and later in (1952). Numerous songs were eliminated
from the picture during shooting, including "The Stars Look Down," "Danny Boy" and "By Killarney's Lakes." Judy sings a chorus of "A Pretty Girl Milking Her Cow" as Nellie Kellie, and a jazzed-up reprise as Little Nellie. She would later describe the song
as one of Roger Edens' discoveries: "...an obscure Irish folk song that fit the picture well. And we did it, and they released the picture, and the song became ... an obscure Irish folk song!" Edens also wrote "It's a Great Day for the Irish," which
became another Garland standard.
The soundtrack has never been released on compact disc.
See for information about the latest releases of home video and sountrack.
See for more information on this and other classic films.
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Critical Response
"Judy Garland, playing her first mature part in Little Nellie Kelly, will be seen in her first love scene on the screen ... as an Irish immigrant kid who marries Jerry Kelly (George Murphy). Going the whole hog in
this love business, Judy later enacts the role of her own daughter grown to womanhood, with Murphy now playing the role of her father ... Judy, in this later sequence, is romatically interested in Dennis Fogarty (Douglas McPhail), who came into prominence
with Judy and Mickey Rooney in Babes in Arms. A romantic comedy, the film swings from the colorful background of an old Irish village to the modern New York, with such famous musical numbers as "The Wearin' o' the Green," "Danny Boy" and "You
Remind Me of My Mother" interspersed in the fast, sometimes funny, and sometimes heart-touching action. Highlights of the film include a reproduction of the famous New York Police School, authoritatively and accurately done, in which the step-by-step
training of George Murphy takes place. Real highlight of the picture, however, will be the first screen appearance of a youngster the movie-going public has watched grow from a child to a full-fledged, grown-up portrayal. And Judy handles it with capable
ease.
- clipping from unknown newspaper, ca. 1940
"As rollicking and melodious a piece of mass entertainment as has been offered in many a moon. It's a hit show because it has little Judy Garland."
- Hollywood Reporter
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Memorable Lines
Fogarty: "You're a big man, Noonan, but a small hat fits ya."
Jerry: "Nellie, will ya marry me?"
Nellie: "Oh, I can't bear the thought o' it!"
Noonan: (to Nellie, hearing Jerry's whistle) "What's that? 'Tain't birds!"
Nellie: "There's nothin' like a darn good cry, is there?"
Noonan: "There's whiskey."
Little Nellie: "I wonder what would've happened if they'd all gone out. It'd be fun to know, wouldn't it? But one little candle stays lit, and I won't get my wish!"
Nellie: "Jerry, you and Dad must pull together from now on, for our daughter's sake. You will, won't you? Promise me."
Jerry: Yes, darlin'"
Nellie: "You got a job on your hands, but I'll be near ya...always."
Noonan: (to Little Nellie) "Perfume! A fine present for a child! You'll be the wrong smell far ahead of your time!"
Little Nellie: (to Dennis, after kissing him in her excitement) "Oh, what have I done? What must you think of me?"
Dennis: "I think you're marvelous!"
Little Nellie: "Grandpop! Grandpop! You can't arrest him!"
Cop: "Sorry, miss, but we're gonna try to!"
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