Little Nellie Kelly

Infobox Film
name = Little Nellie Kelly


image_size = 215px
caption = theatrical poster
director = Norman Taurog
producer = Arthur Freed
writer = George M. Cohan "(play)"
Jack McGowan "(screenplay)"
narrator =
starring = Judy Garland
George Murphy
music = Roger Edens
cinematography = Ray June
editing = Fredrick Y. Smith
distributor = Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
released = 22 November fy|1940
runtime = 98 minutes
country = FilmUS
language = English
budget = $665,300 "(est.)'
gross =
imdb_id = 0032718

"Little Nellie Kelly" is a fy|1940 musical comedy film based on the stage musical by George M. Cohan which was a hit on Broadway in 1922 and 1923. [ibdb title|9149|Little Nelly Kelly] The film was written by Jack McGowan and directed by Norman Taurog, stars Judy Garland and George Murphy and features Charles Winninger and Douglas McPhail.

The film is notable as having in it Judy Garland's only on-screen death scene, although she re-appears in the film as the daughter of the character who died. This was the first film Garland made after finishing The Wizard of Oz.

Plot

In Ireland, Jerry Kelly (George Murphy) marries his sweetheart, Nellie Noonan (Judy Garland) over the objections of her ne'er-do-well father, Michael Noonan (Charles Winninger), who swears never to speak to Jerry again, even though he reluctantly accompanies the newlyweds to America, where Jerry becomes a policeman, and all three become citizens. Michael continues to hold his grudge against Jerry, even when Nellie dies in childbirth.

Years later, Jerry is now a captain on the police force, captain, and little Nellie Kelly (Judy Garland) has grown up as the spitting image of her mother. When Nellie starts to fall in love with Dennis Fogarty (Douglas McPhail), the son of Michael's old friend Timothy Fogarty (Arthur Shields), the squabbling between Nellie's father and grandfather intensifies, as Michael objects to the romance, and leave home because of it.

Eventually, the three generations are reconciled, and Nellie and Dennis remain a couple. [TCM [http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title.jsp?stid=3371&category=Full%20Synopsis Full synopsis] ] [Erickson, Hal [http://www.allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll?p=avg&sql=1:29576 Plot synopsis (Allmovie)] ] [Bubbeo, Daniel [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032718/plotsummary Plot summary (IMDB)] ]

Cast

*Judy Garland as "Nellie Kelly / Little Nellie Kelly"
*George Murphy as "Jerry Kelly"
*Charles Winninger as "Michael "Mike" Noonan"
*Douglas McPhail as "Dennis Fogarty"
*Arthur Shields as "Timothy Fogarty"
*Rita Page as "Mrs. Mary Fogarty"
*Forrester Harvey as "Moriarity"
*James Burke as "Police Sergeant McGowan"
*George Watts as "Mr. Keevan, NYC Bar Owner"

Cast notes:
*Arthur Shields is the younger brother of actor Barry Fitzgerald.

ongs

"Little Nellie Kelly" offers Judy Garland the opportunity to sing a swing version of "Singin' in the Rain", as well as several newer songs, including the traditional "A Pretty Girl Milking Her Cow" sung partly in Irish-Gaelic. There are also two entertaining production numbers, one set at the New York City Policeman's Ball, which shows Garland off at her prettiest, and the other written by Roger Edens so that for Garland can belt out "It's A Great Day for the Irish" while marching up New York's famed 5th Avenue during the St. Patrick's Day Parade. This song became one of Garland's biggest hits.

Songs cut from the film include: "Rings on Your Fingers and Bells on Your Toes" (used in Garland's later film "Babes on Broadway"), "Danny Boy" and "How Can You Buy Killarney".

Production

On the back of the success of The Wizard of Oz, the film was a "test" by MGM to evaluate both Garland's audience appeal as well as her physical image. It was rumoured at the time that George M Cohan sold the rights expressly as a vehicle for the young Garland. The film gave the 18 year old Garland the opportunity to grow-up as in the first half of the picture set in Ireland, she plays Nellie Noonan, the mother of Little Nellie Kelly. Although dubbed a bit of 'Blarney', overall the film was well received and has become a classic St Patrick's Day film. Critics noted "she (Judy Garland) gets prettier with each picture". [" [http://www.jgdb.com/nellie4.htm Little Nellie Kelly] " at the Judy Garland Database]

ee also

* List of Films Set in Ireland

Notes

External links

*
*
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* " [http://www.thejudyroom.com/discography/soundtracks/kellycheer.html Little Nellie Kelly] " at the Judy Garland Online Discography
* [http://www.irishfilm.net/blurbs/LNK.html Irish in Film]