Product Details

• Actors: Wallace Beery, Jane Powell, Elizabeth Taylor, Carmen Miranda, Xavier Cugat
• Directors: Richard Thorpe
• Writers: Aleen Leslie, Dorothy Cooper, Dorothy Kingsley
• Producers: Joe Pasternak
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
• VHS Release Date: February 24, 1995
• Run Time: 113 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6301967283
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #137,276 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Shot in soft-focus Technicolor by Oklahoma!'s Robert Surtees, A Date with Judy offers a candy-colored version of the high-school musical. In a cozy seaside town, 16-year-old Judy Foster (tiny soprano Jane Powell) and poor little rich girl Carol Pringle (a stunning Elizabeth Taylor, dubbed) prepare for the school dance. When Carol’s brother, Oogie (former child star Scotty Beckett), stands up Judy--on Carol’s advice--she takes new soda jerk Stephen (Written on the Wind's Robert Stack). Though Stephen can't take his eyes off Carol, he concedes, "You're the prettiest girl in Santa Barbara--and you know it." Afterwards, the girls compete for his affections, while Judy's dad, Melvin (The Champ's Wallace Beery), takes rumba lessons from Carmen Miranda's Rosita in preparation for his 20th wedding anniversary. Carol’s mild conniving aside, there are no bad guys here, and all's well that ends well. Notable numbers include Powell's "It's a Most Unusual Day" and Miranda's "Cuanto le Gusta" with the Xavier Cugat Orchestra. Aside from the ladies on screen, Dorothy Cooper and Pal Joey's Dorothy Kingsley adapted the script from Aleen Leslie’s 1941 radio play, hence lines like, "Don't try to understand women, just accept them." With direction by Ivanhoe's prolific Richard Thorpe and choreography from Singin' in the Rain's Stanley Donen, MGM’s A Date with Judy serves up wholesome entertainment for all ages. Special features include the original trailer and two shorts, Martin Block’s Musical Merry-Go-Round #3 with Ray Noble and Buddy Clark and Tom and Jerry's Professor Tom. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "I think men are awful! Even the ones you think are wonderful...", August 29, 2005

By 

CodeMaster Talon (Orlando, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Date With Judy [VHS] (VHS Tape)

A delightful entry in the Jane Powell cannon, "A Date with Judy" is a sunny, happy movie with fun songs, bright technicolor photography, and an impossibly beautiful Elizabeth Taylor in her pre-screechy days.

Based on a popular radio show, "A Date with Judy" stars our Jane as a spunky teen growing up in Southern California. Her boyfriend (sort of) directs the school band, his name is Oogie, and he's completely devoted to her. So of course when handsome Steven (a young Robert Stack) comes to town she ditches Oogie and chases after Steven with reckless abandon. But Steven has his eye on Oogie's older sister, Carol. "You're the most beautiful girl in Santa Barbara, and you know it," he tells her, and because she's played by Elizabeth Taylor it's hard to argue. There's also the always welcome Carmen Miranda, teaching Judy's father to rumba, and a host of familiar character actors to join in the fun.

I would put "A Date with Judy" up there with the best of Jane Powell, just below "Two Weeks with Love". If you're a fan of Jane and her voice you will love this. Elizabeth Taylor fans will also be intrigued, and of course anyone who loves MGM musicals will be in heaven. Recommended.

GRADE: B+

(And if you can't quite place the actor playing Oogie, try picturing him with a big oversized sweater. It's Scotty Beckett from The Little Rascals.)

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun, Nostalgic, Adorable Charmer!, February 25, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Date With Judy [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Get ready for laughter, romance, wonderful musical numbers, and an overall UPBEAT, FEEL GREAT time!!! Among the main stars in this fun color musical are Jane Powell, Scotty Beckett, Liz Taylor (just sixteen yrs. old ), Robert Stack, Carmen Miranda, and Xavier Cougat. The story is set in Santa Barbara, CA where sixteen yr. old Judy Foster (Powell), a vivacious teenager, finds herself in all kinds of chaos due to misunderstandings and family mixups. Lots of fun song and dance numbers by the charming Carmen Miranda. Powell sings gorgeous renditions of "Judaline" and "It's a Most Unusual Day." I LOVE THIS MOVIE and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!!!

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's a Most Unusual Day!, March 21, 2008

By 

classicmoviefan - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Date with Judy (DVD)

This is a great movie from the golden age of MGM's musicals!
It is "a most unusual day" at the Foster home. Judy Foster (Jane Powell) is all ready for the big high school dance when her steady boyfriend Oogie sends Jojo the school nerd to pick her up. She is furious! She confides her feelings to her old friend who owns the town drug store. He convinces his nephew Stephen Andrews (Robert Stack) to take her to the dance. Judy thinks he is so handsome and decides to dump Oogie. Now its Oogie's turn to be furious with her! At the dance Carol Pringle (A 16-year-old Elizabeth Taylor), Judy's best friend and Oodie's sister, catches Stephen's eye. "Your the prettiest girl in Santa Barbara" he tells her. "And you know it. That's also obvious." The rest of the story continues on with Oogie trying to win Judy back and poor Stephen caught in the middle. Elizabeth Taylor is great in this movie (you'll even get to hear her sing a few lines)! And Jane Powell sings wonderfully!