Kelly and Me (1957)

Director:

Robert Z. Leonard

Writers:

Everett Freeman (screenplay)
Everett Freeman (story)

Release Date:

April 1957 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

A failed vaudevillean finds a trained dog, who helps him succeed in early talking films.

Plot Keywords:

Dog | Beautiful Woman | Film Making | Character Name In Title

Cast

Van Johnson	...	Len Carmody
Piper Laurie	...	Mina Van Runkel
Martha Hyer	...	Lucy Castle
Onslow Stevens	...	Walter Van Runkel
Herbert Anderson	...	Ben Collins
Douglas Fowley	...	Dave Gans
Frank Wilcox	...	George Halderman
Dan Riss	...	Stu Baker
Maurice Manson	...	Mr. Johnson
Gregory Gaye	...	Milo (as Gregory Gay)
Yvonne Peattie	...	Miss Boyle
Elizabeth Flournoy	...	Miss Wilk
Lyle Latell	...	Joe Webb

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:S

Company:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Trivia:

This directorial effort was the final film of director, silent screenwriter and occasional producer Robert Z. Leonard (nicknamed Pop), whose movie career started as an actor in Damon and Pythias (1908). Ultimately, Mr. Leonard's directing style would become identified with the golden age of MGM, where he worked beginning with Metro Pictures' Peacock Alley (1922) (as director plus writer) and ending with MGM's The King's Thief (1955) (as director only). For his career finale at Universal International, Mr. Leonard once more guided Van Johnson. Previously, the director and leading man had teamed five times at MGM for Week-End at the Waldorf (1945), In the Good Old Summertime (1949), Duchess of Idaho (1950), Grounds for Marriage (1951) and Too Young to Kiss (1951).

Soundtrack:

SINGING A VAGABOND SONG

A story of a dog and his man

Len Carmody "Van Johnson" is a wannabe stage actor telling jokes that not are funny, dancing and singing. Kelly is a stage show dog that is always being "hit" by his so-called master. Carmody befriends the dog not knowing that Kelly has decided to adopt him as his master. Kelly and Carmody develop routines for the shows which always features Kelly dancing when his paws are on Carmody's shoulders. A producer of early talking hollywood movies decides that Kelly would be a hit but that they must also bring along Carmody because Kelly will not work without him. Carmody's pride leads him to believe that he is the star of the movies and not a dog. Carmody has a showdown with Kelly.

In this film, Kelly also is the star but Van Johnson is wonderful as the overbearing egotist. The final scenes as Carmody realizes just how much Kelly loves him and he the dog is very touching. If you love dogs then you will always remember this gem.