Presenting Lily Mars (1943)

People are voting emotionally.

Overrated

Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

Presenting Lily Mars is a film which is principally geared for the baby boomers and possibly those over 40. It is not a prime time movie, but would be best enjoyed either in the afternoon or real late at night. Judy Garland is charming in this film She and the remainder of the cast interplay well. I love Spring Byington in this movie and anytime I see her. I find her charming no matter what's she's in. The background music is perfect. The plot is so so, but most 1940 movies don't have good plots. Van Heflin is also good in this movie. I always enjoy the extra entertainment in the 1940s films which have big bands playing in them as an act; and Tommy Dorsey & his Orchestra certainly qualifies as a big band. Grab you popcorn and sit down for some entertainment. Enjoy.

In this 1943 film, Judy Garland is deemed not to be ready for the big-time yet by the man who loves her-Van Heflin. This film was certainly a big change for Mr. Heflin, especially after his supporting Oscar win the year before in "Johnny Eager."Wasn't Spring Byington too old to be the widowed mother of 5 children, with four of them appearing to look like her grandchildren?The singing and dancing are just marvelously staged but the way that the blossoming romance between Heflin and Garland was depicted left a lot to be desired. It was a Gigi-like one where a young girl is eventually swept off her feet by a charmer.

This film was made in 1943 when i think Judy was at her peak (looks wise). In her previous film For Me and My Gal people often say that she looks emaciated. Well in this film she looks perfect. She is beautiful and shows that she has a flair for comedy.I think this film is hilarious, especially at the beginning when she is trying to arrange an audition with John Thornway. One of the funniest scene's in my opinion is Judy's rendition of Lady Macbeth and when John is looking for her at the party to give her a spanking (Lol).One criticism i do have is that there is a hole in the plot when John and Lily fall in love. I mean one minute he despises her and the next they are going out on a date then the next time they meet after that date they are in love.Another point i didn't like was on opening night. If i were Lily i would be furious with John but she isn't...it just doesn't make sense.But all in all i would have to give this film a 10 because it is just wonderful and almost perfect.

Lily Mars, a smalltown girl living in Indiana, dreams of making it big on Broadway and her aspirations are given a lift when successful Broadway producer John Thornway returns to his hometown for a visit. Lily tries everything she can to get Thornway to notice her, but he just gets annoyed with her antics. When Thornway goes back to New York to stage his show, Lily follows (unknown to John of course) and Thornway eventually gives her a small role in his next show, only as a favor to her family, however Thornway starts to fall for this young girl and a romance blossoms, which makes the show's leading lady, Isabel Rekay, jealous. When Isabel gets fed up with the John-Lily romance causing friction with the show, she leaves, and John decides to make Lily the star. Isabel returns later, and Thornway is forced to tell Lily that she is back to her small bit role in the play, which also may jeopardize the romance. Very charming film, and a refreshing change to see Garland put the comedic touches into her role (her reading of Lady MacBeth, while supposed to be humorous, never threatened her singing career) I enjoyed Heflin's character (Thornway) more when he was annoyed with Lily rather than be the romantic. The film got to be somewhat predictable and the scenes weren't assembled that well together, but a very enjoyable film. Rating, 7.