Product Details

• Actors: Judy Garland, Jerry Van Dyke, Mel Tormé, Ken Murray, Vic Damone
• Directors: Bill Hobin, Dean Whitmore
• Writers: Arne Sultan, Frank Peppiatt, John Aylesworth, John Bradford, Marvin Worth
• Producers: Bill Colleran
• Format: Black & White, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono), English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Geneon [Pioneer]
• DVD Release Date: April 15, 2003
• Run Time: 60 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00008L3MK
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #74,876 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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  Movies & TV > Music Video & Concerts > Series > The Judy Garland Show

• This is item 10 in The Judy Garland Show Series.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
The magnificent Judy Garland closes out her magnificent television series with the last DVD volume, Final Chapter. Episode 11 is of the usual variety format, mixing guests Steve Allen, Jayne Meadows, and Mel Torme with dances and comedy. Episode 20 takes the concert format, highlights of which are the program of Americana Garland conceived of shortly after JFK's death and her songs to all her children (one for Lorna Luft had to be specially created).

Episode 26 was the last of the series, and what makes it particularly notable is not just the show as it was broadcast, but the extra disc of outtakes. Due to various problems, Garland was unable to record enough material for a complete show so segments from previous episodes were used to fill the gaps. The outtakes allow us to see what Garland had in mind for that finale, including a dance of her own devising to "Where Is the Clown." It's fascinating to watch the artist at work as she runs through multiple takes. But because the number was never finished and never aired, also not aired was the emotional "Here's to Us" finale because Garland was still in clown makeup as she bid farewell to her audience, her family, and her fellow performers. It's the finale Garland should have had, and its inclusion here is just one reason why The Judy Garland Show, as impressive as it was in 1963-64 when it presented the 20th century's greatest entertainer in a forum that best displayed her talent, is even better as it's preserved on DVD. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent, April 25, 2003

By	Joel D. Arndt (University Heights, OH USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars HERE'S TO US, October 24, 2003

By	T. Robin "ausskipper" (Byron Bay, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

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 4, 2003

By	Randall L. Wilson "Randy Wilson" (San Francisco) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.