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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Magnificent, April 24, 2003
This review is from: The Judy Garland Show, Vol. 08 - Final Chapter (DVD)
Run, don't walk to your nearest computer. Type in Amazon.com and under DVD type Judy Garland. Find Volume 8 of The Judy Garland Show, click on it and add it to your shopping cart post haste. Then, don't forget to buy it. This is another magnificent release from Pioneer Artists showcasing Judy Garland at her best. Whether you're a fan of Judy Garland, great music, etc. you will love this. This release includes episodes 11, 20 and 26 of Judy Garland's 1963-64 television series and they're all great. In episode 11 the rapport between Judy and Steve Allen is so apparent. Their medley of songs from his Broadway show "Sophie" is a knockout, especially, "I'll Show Them All" because it's so autobiographical for Judy. The audio commentary by Jayne Meadows is equally fascinating. Episode 20 includes what for me personally is the highlight of the entire series, Judy's performance of the song "Lorna". For me it captures her humor in the introduction, "We found songs about "Linda"...even "Lydia, the Tattooed Lady", but no one ever wrote a song about Lorna." They took Mort Lindsey's theme song, "A Song for Judy" and Johnny Mercer wrote lyrics for it. Theatre magic was created. Judy's voice is magnificent and it captures the wonderful essence of the entire series with humor, wit and heartfelt feelings. Episode 26 is a hodgepodge consisting of original material and segments interpolated from episode 22 mainly. Much has been written about the nightmares trying to get this episode taped, but the usable new material is wonderful, "Time After Time", "Suppertime", "The Last Dance", etc. It's amazing that this was taped primarily in the wee small hours of the morning because the usable footage is so good. The bonus disc is great. Fascinating are the "Where Is the Clown?" sequence and, of course, "Here's to Us" among many others. While I'm thrilled that this has been released, it's a bit of a letdown knowing that all of the episodes and deleted sequences are on the market. It makes one wish that there were more to be released in the future. My advice. Buy it immediately!
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
HERE'S TO US, October 24, 2003
This review is from: The Judy Garland Show, Vol. 08 - Final Chapter (DVD)
I bought the boxed set if the Judy Garland show and all the subsequent releases.Sadly, this is the last- but what a collection. I must say these DVD's are the most played in my inventory. Beautifully restored footage (from videotape!)the image quality is at times astounding, with extraordinary depth and detail. Those early Marconi cameras shot very much 'in your face' which gives an intimacy never seen with todays zoom lenses.Judy quickly mastered the art of looking- at suitable intervals- right down that lens - giving an almost 'I'm singing for YOU at home' feel which few performers have mastered. Just watch as judy sings 'Smile' and just at the right moment- looks at us- the television audience.
The audio,recorded with excellent microphones,has been superbly mixed to a 5.1 soundtrack. It would have been so easy for pioneer to make a 'joke stereo' soundtrack- but they didn't and the results are spectacular.
For me the never released 'Here's to Us' was the most poignant thing i have ever seen.
The quality is lower than some of the other numbers- (possibly from a kinescope recording)- but who cares!
And somehow it IS for us, you, me, all the legions of Judy's fan's around the world.
I watched spellbound as Judy embraces the audience, Mort Lindsay, and then in a dramatic gesture blows a huge kiss to the television audience- which an over enthusiastic producer almost missed.
And Judy, here's to you,the greatest entertainer of all time.(raise cocktails!)
This is manna from heaven.
And here's to Pioneer- great job.
Only request- would like to have seen some before/after footage restoration and technical detail.Where were the videotapes found? And how on earth can Pioneer extract a sizzling top end you could fry eggs on from a lifeless monophonic audio track??
To Steven Sanders of Pioneer.Ignore the 'conspiracy theorists' of some reviewers re the staggered releases. You've done a wonderful job.The price of these discs is almost ridiculously cheap for the content and entertainment value.
What price can you put on the Holy Grail?
So finally, here's to you.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the Artistic Highpoints of the 20th Century, May 3, 2003
This review is from: The Judy Garland Show, Vol. 08 - Final Chapter (DVD)
Its so satisfying to know that all of Judy's shows as well as priceless outtakes are now preserved on DVD. The last 2 releases have been as good as the first box set in terms of extras and picture quality. The outtakes show Judy's professionalism, quick wit and the hard work that in its finished product looks so effortless. For years I read accounts of the show is which she is portrayed as bored and petulant, frequently phoning it in and that the series' failure was one more sign that she was washed up. I dare anyone who watches these shows and outtakes to say that Judy Garland didn't work her rear off and give some of the best musical performances by anyone at anytime. For example, take "Suppertime" from the last show when Judy was apparently distraught about the end of her series. She performs "Suppertime" with such feeling that I see a film in my head as she sings the lyric. It is one of her best performances on a series that has more forty musical highlights in the course of 26 hours.
Finally, there is one song from show #11 that demonstrates what Judy Garland could do that no one else could. Its "Island in the West Indies" which is really nothing special but with a straw hit and a swaying bossa nova beat in her voice, Judy turns it into magic. After hearing her sing that song, I feel like I've been to the West Indies.
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