LITTLE NELLIE KELLY

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CREDITS

1940, 100 minutes, B&W.
Producer, Arthur Freed; Director, Norman Taurog; Screenplay, Jack McGowan; Cinematography, Ray June.

CAST

Little Nellie Kelly/Her Mother, Judy Garland; Jerry Kelly, George Murphy; Michael Noonan, Charles Winninger; Dennis Fogarty, Douglas McPhail; Timothy Fogarty, Arthur Shields; Sergeant McGowan, James Burke; Dooley, Robert Homans; Father Malone, Thomas P. Dillon; Mary Fogarty, Rita Page; Dennis (child), Henry Blair.

SONGS

Nellie Kelly, I Love You by George M. Cohan; Nellie Is a Darlin'; It's a Great Day for the Irish by Roger Edens; Singin' in the Rain by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown; A Pretty Girl Milking Her Cow.

PLOT SYNOPSIS

Nellie (Judy Garland) and Jerry (George Murphy) fall in love and marry in Ireland. Together with Nellie's father (Charles Winninger), they travel to America to start a new life. Shortly after they arrive, Nellie dies giving birth to a daughter (also played by Garland), who is named after her mother. As little Nellie Kelly reaches maturity, she is caught in a struggle between her loving father and overly possessive grandfather, who has never forgiven Jerry for the death of his daughter.

NOTES

"Though Judy sang her way through Jack McGowan's screenplay with her usual charm and sparkle, the 18-year-old George M. Cohan play on which it was based emerged as an over-brogued bit of burdensome blarney. . ."
- Clive Hirschhorn, The Hollywood Musical

"Sentimental nostalgic vehicle for young Judy Garland, who plays both wife and daughter and sings plenty of standard melodies."
- Leslie Halliwell, Halliwell's Film Guide


Little Nellie Kelly is the only film in which Judy Garland died.

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