For Me and My Gal [DVD] [1942]

Gene Kelly is genuinely sexy and sublimely confident in his debut role as the opportunistic, all too human vaudeville actor, who is drafted to go to fight World War I, but fakes an accident to evade it, because it collides with his prestigious debut at The Palace, New York. AND loses the love of Judy ...

There is an unexpected depth of feeling to 'For Me and My Gal', and Kelly's part is a dream to jumpstart a career with, offering heaps of real dramatic opportunities as well as juicy showman's scenes. He is exuding self-confidence and constantly mirroring the vanity of what would become his screen image. Garland, of course, is brilliant and fetching, but in the bit parts as well there are golden moments worth waiting for. And it is impossible not to fall in love with George Murphy's truly sad best pal of Garland. "There aren't any heroes and there aren't any cowards, there are just regular guys", he says in an interesting comment on the ongoing war at the time of this film's opening in 1942.

The DVD is crammed with valuable extras, and the transfer is truly and gorgeously black & white. You almost forgive Warner Bros for their little white lie on the sleeve, saying the film is in colour it is not, nothing as vulgar as that.

"For Me and My Gal" was a collaboration between fabled director-choreographer Busby Berkeley and Arthur Freed, producer of many classic MGM musicals (e.g., "Singin' in the Rain"). This 1942 film also has the distinction of being the first to feature the top tapping talents of Gene Kelly, who plays Harry Palmer. To avoid being drafted during World War I, Palmer deliberately slams a trunk down on his hand. He then teams with Jo Hayden, played by Judy Garland, as a vaudeville act and eventually finds redemption, teaching one and all that duty to country is more important than the life or dreams of any one individual. George Murphy (Jimmy Metcalf) provides the other song and dance man in the show.

Even though it was set during World War I, "For Me and My Gal" had an impact on American audiences during the first year of World War II (compare with "Yankee Doodle Dandy" and "This is the Army"). There are several scenes showing the impact on the war on show business and how entertainers rose to the occasion, entertaining the troops and such. Those expecting traditional Busby Berkely production numbers with dozens of chorines will be disappointed, but besides the title song we get to hear "Oh, You Beautiful Doll," "After You're Gone" and "Hincky Dinky Parly Vous." This is not a classic musical, just a very good one. Final Note: This was also the first American film for Marta Eggerth (Eve Minard), the star of German and Austrian musicals and operettas (think the Continental version of Jeanette McDonald), who had fled Nazi anti-Semitism.

I think we can all agree that this is a great, yet underrated movie. However, there are some things that bugged me, though they don't necessarily affect the overall experience, but I think it should be pointed out. IF YOU DON'T WANT SPOILERS, STOP READING NOW! :O

Firstly, Kelly's character starts out as an opportunist, confident yet vain guy which Jo (Garland) initially dislikes. So when exactly does she start to fall in love with him? I know why WE all love him as an audience but I don't buy how Jo so quickly falls for him, especially after she catches him flirting with the singer nor how quickly Harry 'realises' his feelings for Jo when he was smitten by his new love interest. Jealousy, maybe, but love? Hmm....
Second, the supporting characters of Jimmy and Eve are unrealistically pleasant and forgiving. Jimmy, who has been in love with Jo for possibly years, yet doesn't hesitate to help her relationship with Harry. They made him too much of a nice guy, I can understand why during early viewings everybody wanted Jo to end up with Jimmy instead.
Thirdly (and my biggest issue) is the lazy afterthought of a scene where Harry does something 'heroic'. This scene was added in because of the reason above so they had to make Palmer do something good and selfless so he looks like the better option (I still prefer Jimmy to be honest). His truck miraculously didn't get blown up in that war zone and as he gets out of the truck, a rifle and a whole pile of grenades is conveniently there on the ground next to him to defeat a whole bunch of shooters with. Seriously? Who leaves a bunch of grenades just lying on the floor?! I think this scene was just too much.

And finally, what really bugged me was that the movie was waaayyy too short! Another half hour or so would have done the movie a lot of justice; they could have made us care more for Jo's brother Danny, how Harry and Jo's relationship went from dance partners to lovers etc.
In the end, it's a nice 'feel good' movie and after watching you can see how this role was what got Gene Kelly attention lol