Customer Reviews

A Date with Judy

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.)

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!!!

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!

I have seen this movie many times on vhs and have enjoyed it with my family.The film is good family entertainment and the singing by Jane Powell is terrific especially, its a most unsual day.I am so looking forward to its release on dvd.I am looking forward to many other jane Powell films also to be released on dvd.So please how about it?.Two weeks with love would be great.I have enjoyed Janes films all my life.

A cluster of MGM stars are showcased in this song-filled comedy that keeps you chuckling from beginning to end. Jane Powell is Judy Foster, who sings weekly on a local radio show sponsored by next door neighbor Elizabeth Taylor's father. Liz's younger brother, Oogie, is the leader of the band for the show and is also in charge of the music for the big school dance which everyone is preparing for. He also has a crush on Judy. But Judy and Liz both have a crush on local soda fountain adonis, Robert Stack. Guess who wins?

In the meantime, Judy's learns that her father, Wallace Beery, is seeing Brazilian bomshell, Carmen Miranda, on the sly. Not realizing that he is taking dancing lessons to surprise his wife, Judy manages to frustrate relationships in several different directions.

The whimsical plot is laced with several dazzling musical numbers. Jane sings the up-beat "It's A Most Unusual Day", the radio show's theme song "Judaline", a mad-cap duet with Oogie "I'm A Little On The Corney Side" and the spirited "Love Is Where You Find It." Carmen Miranda dazzles with "Cuanta La Gusta" and Xaviar Cugat and his orchestra wrap it all together with their beautiful Latin rhythms.

So, curl up in a comfortable chair and enjoy A Date With Judy.

I always loved this movie. I was one of the lucky ones who was able to get a copy of the VHS when it came out in 1989. I love this movie.

Here is a brief Description

Judy (Jane Powell) is a little teenager from the 40's who just thinks about boys and being a social little darling. Well that is until she meets big High School Boy. Even though she is in Junior High she dumps the boy who really loves her and goes out with him. Well unlucky for her the boy who loves her sister is the rude and spolied (Elizabeth Taylor) well at the end Jane and her realy boyfried get back together.

Great Movie. It's a shame they don't make'em like this anymore.

A Date With Judy 1948 stars teenagers Jane Powell and Elizabeth Taylor who experience all the pains of growing up in a time of innocence. The story line has some very interesting similarities to Doris Day's By The Light Of The Silvery Moon (1953). Grumpy Wallace Beery plays Jane's father (how is that possible with his mug?) who becomes innocently involved with Carmen Miranda, who stirs things up a bit in the music and laughs department. Also appearing are Xavier Cugat and his Orchestra, a young Robert Stack and Scotty Beckett. Add some great songs and breathtaking color by Technicolor, and you have a totally enjoyable musical comedy for the entire family.

MGM's Technicolor A Date With Judy (1948), based on the the radio program of the same name, is a fun, colorful musical with a great cast including Jane Powell, Elizabeth Taylor, Carmen Miranda, Robert Stack, Xavier Cugat, Wallace Beery, Scotty Beckett, Leon Ames and Selena Royale, featuring wonderful songs such as It's a Most Unusual Day and Cuanto la Gusta. No huge production numbers here, just a simple story played out enagagingly by its large talented cast.

This title will be released on 11.6.07 and available exclusively through Critic's Choice Video and DVD for $15.96. Their website is www.ccvideo.com. I'm sure the Amazon Market Sellers will have copies for sale soon, also. Enjoy!

In "A Date with Judy," Liz is fully the poor little rich girl, snobbish and out for trouble because her father's real attention is elsewhere, on making money...

Unhappy at home, she stirs up trouble abroad, giving naive Jane Powell bad advice on how to handle boys, and stealing one of Jane's boyfriends right out from under her twitching nose...

Very pre-Lolita, a Forties style teenaged sex kitten, this is the first version of the Taylor minx and she seems highly sophisticated for a small-town high school girl, even if she is rich...

"A Date with Judy" is a pleasant musical, antiseptic and cheery, suggesting Hollywood's conception of high school Life in the Forties... Like "Cynthia," the film is very class conscious, contrasting Taylor's cold, upper class household with Jane Powell's comfortable middle-class home...

Typically, Liz is rich, spoiled, and reserved, but typically, too, when all is said and done, she's not bad-mannered or troublesome one; she's a good kid who just needs a little love and attention...

Taylor's character finally allowed her to use the sexiness that everyone had sensed since she rode that horse in "National Velvet."

Jane Powell's singing voice is clear as a bell, and she represents the ideal sweet-16 girl of the late 1940s, all pink and pretty. Just as you discover how adorable and talented she is, Liz Taylor shows up as stunningly beautiful as Snow White, and we discover she can sing too. Jane's dad hires Carmen Miranda to teach him to rumba, and Jane thinks he's having an affair. But it's all to surprise his wife for their wedding anniversary. Robert Stack shows up as Prince Charming and both Liz and Jane vie for his attention. A Most Unusual Day, Love Is Where You Find It, Judeline and I'm On the Corny Side are the fun songs of the day, complete with great orchestration and harmony background. Xavier Cugat backs up Carmen Miranda in some boogy-woogy and swing. It's great fun.