Customer Reviews

Little Nellie Kelly [VHS]

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

They don't make 'em like this any more, arguably with good reason. However, Garland is luscious and joyful in this film, which pre-dates her quirky gestures and throbbing vocals. Here she is all sweetness and light, especially in the sublime "Pretty Girl Milking Her Cow" and "Singing in the Rain" numbers. God was she an original! Her luminous screen presence is what makes this film work.

Judy Garland was a sensation in THE WIZARD OF OZ and BABES IN ARMS--but by 1940 she was eighteen years old, and LITTLE NELLY KELLY finds her in transition between the child star she was and the adult star she would become. Based on a George M. Cohan play, the film offers Garland a double role: first as Irish-born Nelly Kelly and later as her teenage daughter, "Little" Nelly Kelly. The storyline is sentimental. Against father Charles Winninger's wishes, Garland marries George Murphy and leaves Ireland for America--with her stubborn and ill-tempered father in tow. After becoming an American citizen, she dies in childbirth (Garland's only death scene, and she plays it very well), leaving possessive grandfather and police officer husband to wangle over her surviving child.

The first portion of the film is the weakest, with neither Garland nor Murphy entirely at home with their Irish accents; another flaw is the fact that Winninger's irrascable grandfather eventually becomes a shade too obnoxious to fully engage our sympathies and Murphy is none-too-convincing in old-age make-up. Although not a musical per se, the real highlight of the film are Garland's few songs, which include "A Pretty Girl Milking Her Cow," "A Great Day for the Irish," and an elaborate staging of "Singin' In The Rain." Although she still shows traces of the affectations forced upon her in previous films by director Busby Berkley, she performs both her numbers and her scenes with a playfulness and sincerity that is quite charming.

Although expertly made, LITTLE NELLY KELLY is essentially an inexpensive programmer designed to test Garland's potential as an adult actress--a test which she clearly passes. But the film is so greatly overshadowed by both her earlier and later achievements that it is negligable in both her cannon and the musical genre as a whole, and as such will be of interests more to Garland completists than to casual viewers. Recommended for hardcore fans only.

Little Nellie Kelly is a wonderful example of how talented Judy Garland was. She was just 18 years old when she starred as a Young Irish beauty who falls in love with George Murphy, marries and dies in Child Birth. Then Garland plays her own 16 year old daughter Little Nellie and she did it brilliantly. One of the most lavish numbers in this film is "Nellie Kelly I Love You". Garland sings "Singin' In The Rain" just 12 years before Gene Kelly and her version is dynamite. As Wife Nellie She gets her first kiss and as child Nellie struggles to understand why her father (Murphy) and Grandfather (Charles Winninger) don't get along. This film proves that Dorothy was capable of enchanting an audinence as an adult movie Actress.
If you have only seen one film of Judy Garland then you have to see this one. You will fall in love with Judy while she falls in love on screen.
Little Nellie Kelly is a charmer in the Grand tradition. Based on a 1920's Broadway Musical this MGM hit features music by George M. Cohen.
Kimberly Loeffler, Forever a Judy Fan!

I am a big fan of Judy Garland. And actually, I'm 14 years old. i just don't have an email address, so i used the kid's version. ANYWAYS! I really love Judy Garland's movies. I have been a fan of them for years. i just wish that more young people liked her movies and music.

Judy Garland worked very hard to play both mother Nellie Kelly and daughter Little Nellie Kelly in this movie-and it shows! Her performance is both flawless and a treat for Garland fans. She dances, acts and sings very well. (Look for a brief "Singing in the Rain" by Garland toward the end of the picture; this movie was adapted from a play by George M. Cohan.) I honestly don't understand why the movie is out of print and not yet on DVD!

This movie has the only death scene Garland ever performed in the movies. A tearjerker! The mother Nellie Kelly dies just after giving birth to her daughter.

The movie tells the story of the Kelly family beginning in Ireland circa 1900. Nellie has fallen in love with her beau and they marry much to the chagrin of Nellie's stubborn father played by Charles Winninger. (His acting is extremely convincing, too.) They travel to America and the story continues with a fine view of the Irish immigrant experience. The Saint Patrick's Day parade scene positively shines!

There is also a good deal of time spent fleshing out the relationships between the members of this small family. The father of the first Nellie fights stubbornly with his son-in-law through the years. (He doesn't mind mooching off them, however, with never a thank you whatsoever.)

Overall, I recommend this movie for any Garland fan as well as fans of the M-G-M musicals. The detail of the family relationships and the immigrant experience make this a very noteworthy movie, especially when added to Judy Garland's incredible flair for acting so convincingly, singing and dancing!

Yes, the only film in which Judy dies (early on in childbirth) then, comes back to play the role of her daughter. This scene alone is worth 5 stars.

A wonderful heartwarming movie that I hope is soon released on DVD. It showcases Garland who is brilliant in every respect, right down to commanding an irish brogue better than more irish people. What a talent!! My gosh, this girl could do anything!! Probably the most talented individual of the 20th century.

The rest of the cast is exceptional as well....Charles Winninger as her cantakerous father/grandfather who holds the picture together with his stubborn Irish pride. George Murphy who tears your heart out in Judy's death scene...he practically steals the scene away from Judy which is no small feat. And Douglas McPhail who woos the young Nellie Kelly with great aplomb. Sadly, McPhail would commit suicide by poisoning himself on December 6, 1944 which was such a waste because he was a talented young man. Too bad MGM didn't quite know what to do with him.

All around, Little Nellie Kelly is pure escapism at its best with a show stopping "Singin in the Rain" number by Judy which can do it better than anyone!! Yes, this film is rated 5 stars from me....it is entertainment at its brightest with Judy Garland in the glory days of her MGM career! God Bless Her!

I have got nearly all the judy garland movies in my collection, and have found this title to be one of judys best films.I am awaiting for this film to be released on dvd.So how about it warner bros. Please consoider it in your next set of dreanm factory movies, to have this film would be a bonus.

Ken barrett Mooroolbark Vic Australia

This is a movie I remembered from my childhood. The quality of the movie print is excellent and the old songs delightful.

I cant help it... i love every single movie Judy Garland did
i just wish she had done more...
i like her in this one... sweet story!!