BIG CITY

US, 1948, 103 minutes, Black and white.
Margaret O’ Brien, Robert Preston, Danny Thomas, George Murphy, Betty Garrett, Edward Arnold, Butch Jenkins, Connie Gilcrhist, Karen Booth.
Directed by Norman Taurog.

Big City is a Margaret O Brien star vehicle. After her successes during the war in such films as Lost Angel, Meet Me in St. Louis, Journey for Margaret, the studio kept finding stories for her up until 1950. This is a sentimental tale of Margaret O' Brien as a waif with three fathers - played by popular stars Robert Preston, Danny Thomas, George Murphy. Betty Garrett also appears in an early role. It is the kind of expected material for Margaret O'Brien, so popular at the time.

The direction is by Norman Taurog, veteran of this kind .of sentimental comedy with films ranging from Skippy to Boys Town films. He later directed many Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin comedies as well as Elvis Presley musicals.

1. Popular sentiment-of the 40s? The playing of God Bless America?

2. Black and white photography, MGM Production values, New York City? The cast? The strong score, Irving Berlin's songs and themes?

3. The title - the big city and people who love people?

4. The popularity of Margaret O 'Brien? Screen presence, charm, sentiment?

5. The telling of the story: the neighbourhood, Irish background, Jewish? The mixed population of New York City and of America? The variates of religion? The waif -and her uniting peoples in the neighbourhood? The judge and the experiment with the fathers?

6. Margaret O 'Brien as Midge: her name, school, Lewis and the fight, the home and the three fathers? Playing and working? Singing? Grandma? Coney Island? Shoo Shoo and language, sick? Song, the school? The tension? The court case, arguments? The truth? The institution - and the finale? Margaret O' Brien's talent, her capacity for mimicry? Sentiment?

7. David, and Danny Thomas's style as the cantor, the choir, his mother, home, teacher, attractive, the flowers? Shy? The talk with Sho Shoo-Shoo? The comic song? Upset, the proposal? The court -;and his speech to the judge?

8. Phil and his work, love, the kids, Florence, the flower, meal, coffee, being upset? The court, its effect on him, the judge - and the prayer?

9.Pat and the bar, the fights, the Irish background, catholic? The relationship with Shoo- Shoo? Songs, the visits, Coney Island? Marrying? Court case - and relenting?

10. Shoo- Shoo, her story, the songs, comic style, audiences, attraction to Pat, the injury, love? Coney Island, the movie? Relationship with Midge? Packing? The wedding? Court, her testimony, the happy ending?

11. Florence, teaching, the story, the visit, the concert? The coffee? interest,
unable to help? the proposal, the end?

12. Grandma, the lullaby, the meals? Fair, love, her son, hopes?

13. The religious backgrounds, grace and unity? The court and its effect?

14. A popular piece of 40s American sentiment?