Product Details

• Actors: Judy Garland, Mel Torme, Lorna Luft
• Format: Black & White, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Delta
• VHS Release Date: October 17, 1995
• Run Time: 59 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304749600
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #180,237 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Spend a December evening with Judy Garland! This episode from her CBS- TV show, recorded December 6, 1963, and aired on the 22nd, captures the great entertainer and her kids, Liza Minnelli and Lorna and Joe Luft, in a one-hour songfest taking place in the family living room (one large enough to accommodate 12 crooning carolers, six strutting Santas, three charming children, two pop stars, and a film legend named Judy--well, you get the idea). Garland is mostly a spectator, encouraging the 17-year-old Liza (who appears somewhat uncomfortable when not singing or dancing) and the younger kids, Lorna (who displays a big voice on "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" and went on to have her own performing career) and the less-assured Joe (who sings one of the many nonseasonal selections, "Where Is Love," during which an anxious Garland can be glimpsed mouthing the words along with him). But she does sing two of her most memorable film songs--"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "Over the Rainbow"--plus "Little Drops of Rain" (from Gay Purr-ee) and she can still kick up her heels. Even one of her flubs produces one of the best moments: she joins Mel Tormé at the piano for his "Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)," and when she botches the lyric, he gently chides her, "Close!" Also on hand are Liza's "beau," Tracy Everitt, a dancer on the series, and clean-cut pop star Jack Jones, who sings his Grammy-winning hit "Lollipops and Roses" as well as a nice a cappella version of "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" with Tormé. The remastered DVD allows the original black and white to shine, and a new 5.1 surround sound track is available along with the original mono track. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Heart-Warming Special With Judy & Family!, November 29, 2001

By 

David Von Pein (Mooresville, Indiana; USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Judy Garland Show, Vol 03 - The Christmas Show (Show 15) (DVD)

This special Christmas installment of the sensational 1963-1964 "Judy Garland Show" is quite possibly the best of the series. For anybody who can remember watching this program when it originally aired on CBS-TV on Sunday night, December 22, 1963, I'm guessing that each one of you has a bit of a lump in your throat when re-watching this excellent DVD today, because you can no doubt recall very vividly the times in which it aired for the first time: exactly one month after our President (John F. Kennedy) had been killed in Dallas.

This Garland entry was then (and probably still is) kind of a bittersweet memory, coming so close to one of America's worst tragedies in our history. I can feel some of 1963 come right through the screen when I watch this Christmas show. It's just THERE, and it comes through (at least for me).

Judy and company do a standout job in comforting a distressed nation during this 1-hour party. Guests Jack Jones and Mel Torme are also on hand to add to the festive atmosphere, along with Judy's three children, Liza, Joe, and Lorna.

I know from reading various books that Christmas time was indeed very special to the Garland clan....and that fact really shines through during this program! The love these 4 had for one another is very evident. This point is driven home with force at the very end of this show, when Judy sits down, with pajama-clad Joe & Lorna by her side, and sings "Over The Rainbow", with the two kids snuggling ever-closer to their famous mom. A great end to a fine Christmas treat.

This program shines on DVD, but don't entirely dismiss the idea of getting this great show on VHS tape as well. The VHS version looks pretty good too (considering, of course, the limitations that exist on that video format).

Plus -- the "LaserLight" VHS edition (with the red box and the holly & berries on the cover) contains the original CBS-TV commercials that aired on the December night the show was broadcast for the first time in 1963. The VHS running time is 59 minutes, so you know nothing has been cut at all. The inclusion of the TV ads, in my opinion, is a good one. Being able to see the old TV commercials of the era brings back even more memories of the 1960s. The DVD version does not have these commercials included. But, of course, the DVD's picture quality is better than the VHS.

Judy Garland's legend and enormous talent lives on with Pioneer Artists' splendid series of DVD-Video programs spotlighting this one-of-a-kind superstar. Thanks, Pioneer, for giving us these wonderful DVDs! And thank you, Judy .... always!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful Christmas Special, December 8, 1999

By 

C. Clay "drakkar91" (St Paul Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Judy Garland Christmas Show [VHS] (VHS Tape)

We really enjoyed this tape! The quality was actual quite good, clear images (in B&W). This hour long show features the original commericals that likely aired with the special-an added treat. (I'm quite certain the cereal commerical features Marion Ross). The show itself features Judy and her 3 children (Liza, Lorna & Joe) as well as special guest Mel Torme and Jack Jones. Judy doesn't do alot of singing, but when she does, it's wonderful. It's really neat to watch a wholesome family special that aired in 1963. As one reviewer said, "they don't make them like this anymore" - and they don't! A real treat for any Judy Garland fan. Though not listed on the box, Judy closes the show with "Over The Rainbow" with Lorna and Joe at her side. Knowing the troubles that plagued the family through the coming years, this is a real special memory for Judy and her fans....

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderfull Christmas Gift, November 11, 2000

By 

Bob Waskiewicz (Wintersville, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Judy Garland Christmas Show [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I became a fan of Judy Garland in 1975.I was a teenager,and my cousin got me hooked on "Judy at Carnegie Hall." I wanted to know more about this great talent besides "The Wizard of Oz." This was before VCR's,so I had to look in the TV guide to see if any of her movie's were showing.I couldn't find anything usually. Then a week before Christmas I was sleeping on the couch,and "Judy Garlands Christmas Special" was on.What a Wonderfull Christmas Gift.Its fantastic to see all of Judy's children together,singing,dancing,and having a ball.My Favorite part is when Judy sings "The Christmas Song," with Mel Torme,the writer of the song,and she makes a mistake,and Mel says,"Close."This is the first time Judy sang,"Over the Rainbow," on her show.You can really see the love she had for her children.This video is a must buy for all of Judy Garland's fan's.