Customer Reviews

Judy, Frank & Dean - Once in a Lifetime

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Judy Garland was super-hot in 1962--so hot that she could easily coax stars Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin into appearing as secondary attractions when she decided to recreate portions of her legendary Carnegie Hall concert for television. After opening the program with a medley including "Just in Time" and "When You're Smiling," Garland introduces her guests, and both Sinatra and Martin have their musical moments and share a bit of comic banter. But this show belongs to Garland, and she dominates it with considerable ease.

Garland's voice was a delicate instrument, and although it was not in truly superior form for this performance it was certainly solid enough to deliver one knock-out punch after another, beginning with a ferocious performance of "The Man Who Got Away" and then a charming and memorable "I Can't Give You Anything But Love." But the highlight of the program comes at the end, when Garland dispenses with her guests and stomps out onto a runway surrounded by her audience to toss off a handful of songs as only she could: "Swanee," "Rock-A-Bye Your Baby," "San Francisco." And while she doesn't quite manage to catch that Carnegie Hall lightening, she still makes it more than worth the trip.

The program has been tinkered with, of course, first remixed into stereo and then colorized. The stereo isn't bad--but the colorization was a mistake: Sinatra's famous blue eyes have a truly peculiar cast, and the skin tones have a painted-on look. But I wouldn't avoid this tape on that account. On the other hand, a lot of Garland's television work is being slowly but surely released on DVD, and you may prefer to bypass this particular out-of-print tape in favor of a future DVD release. But one way or another, this is one that hardcore Garland fans will want to have in their collection.

Forget the videos from her '63-64 CBS series, some good, some bad...a patchwork of quality. If you want to own the ULTIMATE 'Garland On TV' video, buy this one....immediately. Her television work never reached this level of excellence, before or after, and say what you may about 'colorization,' it adds a lot to the over-all impact of her performance. She had just reached the zenith of her concert career in 1961 at Carnegie Hall, and this '62 TV special is the closest we will ever come to witnessing the magic she created there.

Her showmanship supreme is introduced by THE original, earth-shaking Overture from Carnegie Hall, which will put you in the mood to start clapping and shouting her name even from an easy chair in your living room. With "JUDY" in slowly illuminating lights as a background, she delivers a powerhouse version of "Just In Time" and then swings into her wonderful rendition of "When You're Smiling." "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" is sung more poignantly than ever before, and she delivers the most heartbreaking version of "The Man That Got Away" you will ever hear. It will take your breath away and make your spine tingle, and she does it in a simple cocktail bar setting, very restrained, no arms flying everywhere, just pure raw emotion in her voice.

Fellow 'Rat-Packers' Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, certainly legends themselves, are perfect guests, and do some fine solo numbers. They also display their obvious affection and respect for their hostess when joining her in "You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby" and an upbeat version of "You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You" that is truly fun to watch. Then...POW...Judy finishes the performance of her life with showstopper versions of "Swanee," "Rockabye Your Baby," and "San Francisco" that equal or surpass anything she ever gave us at Carnegie Hall or anywhere else.

If you are 60 and you were actually there to watch this TV special forty years ago, or if you are 16 and just starting to discover The Greatest Entertainer Who Ever Lived....you need nothing more than this one video to 'know it all.'

They sure don't make 'em like that anymore. Three legends that perform and "click" in perfect harmony. I found this tape to be beautifully restored and "colorized" from its' original black & white format presentation. Though as some other reviewer commented that some of the background setting is "vintage" early 60's, it serves not only as a entertainment show but as a "classic era" piece . I enjoyed the songs and the "politically" incorrect performance by Dean & Frank while they sang and in some scenes held cigarettes and also had drinks in their hands. Boy, I haven't seen that in the last 3o + years either. All-in-all, this video should be in any Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra & Dean Martin afficionados' video library. Just a great video about a long gone generation of classic performances that will never be rivaled again! Way-worth the small cost of the video. Amazon Videos & CD's should have more of these classic era shows available. "Just B-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l!!!"

I just saw this video for the first time, so you may have to forgive me if nostalgia causes me, to some anyway, to over-rate this. I notice some reviewers have dissected this filmed 1962 t.v. performance like a cadaver, but this is what I got from the viewing. I like varied styles of music, I'm not an expert, I like what I hear, or I don't. I found this filmed musical special just great! Seeing these legends perform together still gives one goosebumps. The entertainment industry back then was a smaller community, and the obvious affection, support, and comaraderie between these "friends", who also happened to be three of the biggest names in show-biz, is magic. Some find the staging, patter, etc..corny, I loved it. It's SHOW-BIZ, Baby!!! I found them all in great voice, Sinatra & Dino the definition of cool. And JUDY !...oh Judy, is so fantastic, when she sings "The Man That Got Away", from her "A Star Is Born", it's easy to see why many consider her the greatest talent Hollywood ever produced. Her voice, and the emotion in her renditions, justify the legend. And her finale may bring you to tears. This Baby-Boomer is SO glad I was around at that time , so that I was very familiar with these entertainment giants...was I lucky. I love music...many kinds, I'm just as likely to follow a Patsy Cline c.d. with Blondie, then Jefferson Airplane. But in this era of Puffy Daddys & Techno-Floozies, it is so refreshing to be reminded of these dear, now-gone people, all of whom evoke the term "God-given talent". A great video for "those who were there", and maybe even for those younger who weren't. As time goes by, and when all's said and done, these three will be of the relative hand-full of performers who will be remembered.

This video showcases Judy at a point in her career when she looked and sounded her best. This tape is worth the price, if only for the spectacular opening number, "Just in Time" and the closing moments that attempt to recreate the legendary Carnegie Hall concert. Did Judy think she needed "guests?" Frank and Dean are fine, but they serve only to give Garland a break and time to change. It's no mistake that the program begins with the Garland Overture and Judy's name in huge lights--the show is her's. Also of note is director Norman Jewison's unique staging of "The Man That Got Away," that begins with a rather interesting overhead shot and has Judy sitting for much of the number. Even when Judy is surrounded by odd sets and unnecessary guest stars, she still shines. A must buy for the rabid Garland fan and those looking to discover her for the first time.

This television special is one of the most incredible DVD's I have ever watched. Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra are my favorite singers so I was thrilled to find out that they worked together on this show. I don't really like Dean Martin, but if you like his kind of lazy, crooning style then he's at his peak I suppose. Frank's voice is in great shape and he gives an incredibly moving performance of "I See Your Face Before Me," among others. But it is still Judy's show, and as the New York Times stated when this show aired in 1962, "Judy Garland held television in the palm of her hand last night." Indeed she did. Her voice is in great shape and she sings many of the songs that she sang in her 1961 Carnegie Hall album, which was still charting at the time this aired. This is arguably the greatest television show featuring Judy Garland, even her wonderful series never quite matched its excellence, making it a must-have for any fan (or lover of truy great singing!)

This remarkable television special was filmed in early 1962 for CBS. Judy Garland along with Sinatra and Dean Martin is quite a legendary trio. Its singing, singing, and more singing with Judy in the spotlight. This elegant production is now "colorized" and the quality is quite nice. Two segments stand out; the trio singing You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You and Judy's finale. The finale has Judy dressed in her Carnegie hall attire and belting out several numbers from her famous live album that was still high on the charts. There are no weak spots in the production. Other songs include The Man That Got Away, Just in Time, and I Can't Give You Anything but Love. You won't regret buying this one !!!

Although Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra are billed in "The Legendary Concert", it's Judy's show. She does quite a few of the same great songs from the Carnegie Hall concert, and she does them exactly the way they were done in that concert. The adoring fans are even visible near the end of the tape. Dean and Frank are wonderful, but secondary performers here. If you're a Judy fan, I doubt you'll be disappointed. It's a tape I watch over and over for a "Judy fix".

If I were trying to initiate a friend into the joy of Garland, this wouldn't be the performance to recommend. But hey, if you're intent of seeing her entire "ouevre", this performance will strike you as neither her worst nore her best.

Sinatra comes across -- to me -- as sinister and somewhat condescending, while Dean Martin seems far more pleasant, though not possessing the great voice of the other two.

I thought I would be bothered by the colorized aspect of this tape, but in fact, found it to be well-done: it adds an almost spooky "modern" feel to this 1960's performance. Garland looks puffy and out-of-focus, not due to the tape itself -- probably due to her mental state on that particular evening. I was disappointed by the lack of a synergy I thought would be evident between these three pro's. Only Sinatra and Martin seem genuinely "chummy." Sinatra does a faux "flirtation" with Garland, and the whole premise of the competition between Sinatra and Martin for Garland's affection comes off as patently staged and false.

Judy Garland's 1962 television special placed her squarely in the leading role with Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin as her honored and adoring guests. The excitement begins immediately with a slightly shortened version of "The Garland Overture;" and immediately after this Judy's name in lights gradually goes up--and there's Judy!

Judy Garland remains in excellent, top notch form throughout this TV special and anyone with any instinct for unsurpassed entertainment will want this DVD in their library.

Judy begins the show by singing "Just In Time" and "When You're Smiling;" she sings in such a singularly beautiful way as she uses her arms and legs to accentuate certain words and even syllables as she gracefully delivers these ballads.

Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin also perform to perfection on this DVD of their television special. Sinatra sings "You're Just Too Marvelous" and "I See Your Face Before Me." Dean Martin performs "You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby" and Dean does a great duet with Frank Sinatra for "The One I Love Belongs To Somebody Else." Awesome!

But make no mistake about it--this is Judy's show. Not only does she get the lion's share of air time, Judy sings with incredible power as she infuses each song with a sense of intimacy with her audience and a certain vulnerability all at the same time. Judy does a smashing rendition of her classic torch song ballad "The Man That Got Away;" and she performs "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" to perfection.

The ending gives you Judy at her very finest. Judy sings on a runway with an orchestra to create a miniature concert for the masses who were watching that evening. Judy performs "Rock-A Bye Your Baby;" "Swanee" and "San Francisco" with incredible panache and emotion. One is left with the belief that any other singer could never surpass her. All the others could ever hope to do is to merely aspire to be like Judy when you see her deliver these last three songs.

The colorization brings up both good and bad points: The clothing Judy, Frank and Dean wear is great to see in color. Unfortunately, however, as one reviewer points out, it does create the effect that their skin is either very heavily made-up or simply painted onto them! Disappointment! I wish they had left this in its original black and white format; black and white can be very special, too. In addition, there are times when Frank Sinatra sings and you get a slightly fuzzy blur at the very left edge of your screen. Twice you can see the microphones overhead. Nevertheless, these are no reasons to avoid this incomparable masterpiece by Judy, Frank and Dean because, in my opinion, entertainment just doesn't get any better than this.

Overall, Judy fans will consider this a "must-have" for their collections. Together Judy, Frank and Dean weave a magical spell over you that will leave you wanting much more than the 50 minutes you get on this DVD. If you like this DVD I recommend the DVDs of The Judy Garland Show that was presented weekly on CBS TV throughout the 1963-64 season. You may also want to pick up the Judy Garland four DVD set entitled The Judy Garland Collection.

Now THAT'S entertainment!