jfarms1956 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.

lweigard-768-200640 Of interest only to die-hard Garland fans. The story is a mish-mash between "42nd Street" and the Andy Hardy series. The musical numbers--with the exception of the finale--filmed as an afterthought--completely forgettable. I don't wish to be mean here, because I love MGM musicals, and in particular Judy Garland musicals, but this picture is nowhere up to the standard of what MGM was making at the time, nor what Garland would become in her signature musicals. I've watched this picture twice now, so I don't think I can attribute these comments to a bad evening. Let's just say, Miss Garland and the MGM musical wwnt on to legendary triumphs past this film.

jjnxn-1 When Judy sings, its great. When she doesn't its average. This was originally intended as a straight dramatic vehicle for Lana Turner but when she proved unavailable it was retooled for Judy. Designed to move her forward towards adulthood and away from teen roles, a process started the year before with For Me and My Gal, every effort was made to glamorize her and she does look truly lovely in the film. However the story is silly and old hat and she shares no on screen chemistry with Van Heflin fine actor though he may be. It does have the added advantage of several great character actresses, Fay Bainter and Spring Byington among them, in supporting roles. There is one special scene where Judy and the terrific Connie Gilchrist perform Every Little Movement on a bare stage. Excepting that scene this is nothing special overall but Judy makes it worth checking out.

bkoganbing Presenting Lily Mars may have provided Judy Garland with one of the easier roles she had while at MGM because Lily Mars is definitely a character she could identify with. A young girl with talent enough for ten, she knows she has what it takes to make it in the theater no matter how much producer Van Heflin from her home town discourages her.I really liked Judy in this one as the girl determined to make it in the theater. Because it is Judy Garland with the talent of Judy Garland you in the audience know she has the right stuff even if it takes Van Heflin nearly the whole movie to be convinced.Both Judy and Heflin hail from the same small town, Heflin's dad was the town doctor who delivered her and Heflin while he may have moved away and become a big producer on Broadway, their respective moms, Fay Bainter and Spring Byington have kept in touch. That's her entrée, but Heflin's constantly barraged with stagestruck kids, but never anyone quite like Lily Mars.No real big song hits came out of Presenting Lily Mars for Garland, though she sings all her numbers. The best in the film is a revival of that gaslight era chestnut, Every Little Movement Has A Meaning All Its Own. Judy sings it with Connie Gilchrist playing the cleaning lady in a Broadway theater where Heflin's show is being produced. Gilchrist was a star back in the days of the FloraDora Girls and she and Judy deliver the song in grand style with Connie. It's the best scene in the film as Gilchrist encourages Judy to keep at it. Composer Karl Hoschna had died a long time ago, but lyricist Otto Harbach was still alive and I'm betting he liked what he heard.European musical star Marta Eggerth is in Presenting Lily Mars as the show's star who's at first bemused, then angry and finally, understanding of Garland and Heflin. She did a couple of films with MGM and then went back to Europe for more work on the continent. I'm betting MGM didn't quite know what to do with her and her thick Hungarian accent, though Louis B. Mayer never met a soprano he didn't like.Van Heflin does well as the patient producer who puts up with a lot from Garland and Eggerth. Heflin was just coming off his Oscar for Johnny Eager the previous year and he and Garland wouldn't appear to be an ideal screen team, but they're not bad together.Presenting Lily Mars is a fine showcase for the talents of Judy Garland. And she didn't have to share the screen in another backstage film with Mickey Rooney.