Watch Presenting Lily Mars

Presenting Lily Mars is a romantic comedy-drama film from 1943, directed by Norman Taurog and produced by Joe Pasternak. The movie is based on the novel "To the Top" by Booth Tarkington and features a stellar cast, including the renowned Judy Garland, Van Heflin, Fay Bainter, and Richard Carlson. The film takes place in 1904, in a small town in Indiana, and follows the story of Lily Mars (Judy Garland), a young and aspiring actress who dreams of making it big on Broadway. She idolizes the great stage actress Eve Arden and spends most of her time rehearsing and daydreaming about her future career. However, her plans are constantly disrupted by her family, who do not support her acting aspirations.

Lily's mother, played by the talented Fay Bainter, wants her daughter to settle down and marry a local boy named Frank (Richard Carlson), who owns a hardware store in the town. Her father, portrayed by the great Leon Ames, thinks that theater is a waste of time and keeps reminding her of her responsibilities as the eldest daughter. Lily's siblings, played by Marta Eggerth and Connie Gilchrist, are also skeptical about her acting talents and do not take her seriously.

Despite all the obstacles, Lily is determined to pursue her dream and get noticed by a Broadway producer, played by Van Heflin. She travels to New York City to audition for his play, but things do not go as planned. She has to compete with other talented actresses and faces rejection at every turn. She begins to lose hope and contemplates giving up her dream.

However, Lily's luck changes when the producer sees her perform a song and dance number in a nightclub. Impressed by her talent and energy, he decides to give her a chance and casts her in the lead role. Lily is overjoyed and returns to her hometown to tell her family the good news. The rest of the film is a delightful mix of comedy, drama, and romance as Lily prepares for her big break and faces a new set of challenges.

One of the highlights of the movie is Judy Garland's stunning performance as Lily Mars. She sings several wonderful songs, including "Every Little Movement," "Broadway Rhythm," and "When I Look At You," all of which showcase her incredible voice and acting skills. Her chemistry with Van Heflin is also noteworthy and adds a touch of romance to the story. Heflin's portrayal of the cynical and sarcastic Broadway producer is also impressive, and his banter with Garland is delightful to watch.

Fay Bainter delivers a poignant performance as Lily's mother, who struggles to reconcile her own dreams with the reality of her daughter's aspirations. Leon Ames and the rest of the cast also do an excellent job of bringing their characters to life and adding depth and humor to the movie.

Overall, Presenting Lily Mars is a heart-warming and entertaining movie that highlights the power of dreams, perseverance, and family. It captures the spirit of 1900s America and the magic of Broadway, making it a timeless classic that is still beloved by generations of moviegoers.

Presenting Lily Mars is a 1943 music movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 44 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.8.