Customer Reviews

The Judy Garland Show Collection

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Bought The Judy Garland Show collection (2009) for a gift after being dizzified by the number of discontinued versions. The box sets for Vols. I/II would run about $450, if they could be found, so when I came across the pre-release of this set, I thought this would replace those other collections. I took a chance ordering this collection as there wasn't any real information as to the content besides the set containing 4 DVDs. Compared to one of the box sets that had 7 DVDs and another that had 4 DVDs (I recall thinking they were double sided), I assumed that this remastered set was really the equivalent of 8 DVDs on 4 physical media discs.

There are NO liner notes and no indication of which shows are present. The back of the box says 4 discs with three 47-minute shows plus bonus material. The front cover indicated that there was a limited edition poster inside, but it's a cardboard postcard slightly smaller than the size of the DVD box. The box indicates that there were 26 episodes of The Judy Garland Show, and going back and looking at the box sets for Vols. I/II most of those episodes are there (not here), and it's impossible to directly compare what's in this set with what is available in the more expensive discontinued sets.

Other than the minimal information on the content and the rather uninspired packaging and DVD menus, the price is likely right for those interested in simply watching the shows for enjoyment rather than adding this as a viable set for a real collector. Giving this as a gift to someone who expected some history on the shows, or at least a table of contents, turned out to be a letdown.

Buyer beware: don't jump to buy this if you're looking for a comprehensive or exemplary collection of Judy Garland Show programs. You'd do better to select the individual programs that interest you. This is NOT the complete set of all 26 Judy Garland Show programs (some sellers will give you this impression). There are only THREE programs on four discs (not counting the so-called bonus material). These are hardly the cream of the crop either. There are photos on the package of Judy with Liza Minnelli, Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra and Lena Horne, NONE of whom are included on the discs (Dean and Frank never guested on the program at all). The package doesn't tell you which programs they are (other than mentioning the guests Bobby Darin, George Maharis, Bob Newhart, Jack Carter, Leo Durocher and The Dillards). You can do the math by finding online program guides. Extremely disappointing and unnecessary.

I agree with the info in the first review. In addition, the dvds are said to be in color. FALSE. Also the supposed never before seen bonus outtakes were all on the Pioneer discs years ago. The pictures used are kinda dumb too, from all over Judy's career.
You only get what you pay for.

In 1963, all three major TV networks (ABC, NBC, and CBS) had a bidding war to sign the incomparable Judy Garland to a weekly musical-variety series. Having won, CBS, under the leadership of president Mike Dann, did everything conceivable to dilute Judy's potent performance power; transforming her from a powerhouse diva to an "average" TV personality. The show went through countless directors, producers, and format changes in its all too brief 26 episodes. Whatever changes were thrown at her, Judy adapted to the circumstances, rolled with the punches, and consistently gave her very best-- proving that nothing could diminish her once in a lifetime talent. The three episodes collected here (the fourth disc consists of "out-takes") illustrate what went occasionally right and more often terribly wrong with "The Judy Garland Show":
DISC 1: The first episode, taped in June of 1963, finds everyone in high spirits (the troubles had not yet begun) as Judy is paired with her frequent MGM co-star Mickey Rooney. The "Dynamic Diva Judy" is seen full force here; belting out thrilling renditions of "When The Sun Comes Out" and "Old Man River." When Mickey and Judy chat about the old days at MGM, she remarks, "I wish the MGM executives had been nice when they fired me." For some reason, CBS chose a later episode with Donald O'Connor as the premiere episode in September. By the time this "Judy and Mickey" episode finally did air in December, Mike Dann had decided to cancel the show, despite previously promising Judy a four year comitment.
DISC 2: This episode, pairing Judy with guests Jack Carter, George Maharis, and The Dillards, is upsetting, to say the least. What are hillbilly/bluegrass band The Dillards doing on the same show with Judy Garland? The "jokes" offered by comedian Jack Carter, including some awful ones at Judy's expense ("this is the fourth Judy Garland-- the original one went over the rainbow years ago") , are in extremely bad taste. George Maharis sings an appropriate moody-melancholy rendition of "Goodbye." But his later interaction with Judy is so physically intimate and "touchy-feely", it is uncomfortable to watch. At the end, Judy jokingly refers to herself as "a little old lady."
DISC 3: This high-voltage combination of Judy and Bobby Darin easily makes this the best episode in the collection. Judy kicks things off with fantastic renditions of "Hello, Bluebird" and "Zing! Went The Strings Of My Heart." Bob Newhart offers some light comedy. And Bobby Darin proves he is just as explosive as Judy with his two intense solos. But the highlight is definitely Judy and Bobby Darin's lengthy duet/medley of "traveling songs."
DISC 4: consists of "out-takes" and unaired material. The heavy emotional toll the series took on Judy is evident, as her insecurities show. Judy sings a wonderful version of Jule Styne's "Time After Time." But, just as she reaches the finish, she stops herself and says she wants to do it over. Simalarly, she sings a superb version of Irving Berlin's "Suppertime" and suddenly stops and says, "I'm sorry. I ran out of gas." Dressed as a clown, Judy offers a stark, unsettling pantomine as an off-camera chorus sings "Where Is The Clown?" The unaired finale to the series is even more disturbing. Still dressed in clown make-up and costume, an obviously heartbroken and distraught Judy sings "Here's To Us" as she passes champagne to audience members. She gives a game, valient effort to prove once again that the show MUST go on. But it is painfully obvious that the thoughtless and cruel cancellation of "The Judy Garland Show" was the beginning of the end for Judy Garland, the person.