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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thanks for the raves, August 23, 1999
This review is from: The Judy Garland Show, Vol. 01 (Shows 1 & 3) (DVD)
Hi, I'm Scott Schechter. I wrote the liner notes for "The Judy Garland Show Volume ONE" and am consulting with Pioneer and Classic World Productions on their releases, including PR and Marketing. I just wanted to say thanks for the great reviews! Hope you enjoy Volume TWO (out on August 31st, with Count Basie, Mel Torme and Lena Horne, and more outtakes), Volume THREE (out in November, with the Christmas Show and a solo song "Just Judy" compilation I put together with Matt Friedman), and the BIG news : "The Judy Garland Show COLLECTION" BOX SET, out on OCTOBER 12th : 14 shows (including two concert shows) with guests including Tony Bennett, Peggy Lee, Ethel Merman, Martha Raye, Vic Damone, Jack Jones, Ray Bolger, and many more. Plus lots of outtakes, an audio interview with producer George Schlatter, the "Just Judy" compilation, a paperback of Coyne Steven Sanders book on the series "Rainbow's End," a listing of all the shows, and a song index of the songs on the box, a photo gallery, and even DVD-Rom features! .... Judy-Heaven! .... Thanks again, and all best and warmest, Scott Schechter
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
This series is a big disappointment., October 1, 2009
This series of DVDs seemed to have great promise when announced ... a re-release of out-of-print material previously released by Pioneer and Geneon, with the mention of improved sound quality. This series may have slightly better sound but is painfully lacking due to having been ruthlessly edited. Why they would do this seems incredible ... whole chunks of the shows are missing and the promised extra material is minimal. Searching out used copies of the previous releases would be much more satisfying, if you want my advice. I bought Volume 1 but was unhappy with it. Volume 2 just arrived today and is equally poorly done. I am returning it for refund. Such a huge disappointment.
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12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The last time she was in control in front of the camera..., August 31, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: The Judy Garland Show, Vol. 01 (Shows 1 & 3) (DVD)
In 1950, Judy Garland, who had been under contract to MGM for over 15 years, was fired due to her lack of predictable behavior while on the set of the film version of "Annie Get Your Gun." No film offers were forthcoming, so she reached into her past and resurrected herself as a grown-up version of the child she had been when she started in show business. Judy became a vaudeville star. The incredible acclaim she received for this move was almost matched by her new-found love of performing. Indeed, through sheer desperation and force of will, she re-created herself. Although there would be several more movies, including the fitting capstone of achievement to her film career, "A Star is Born", as the decade wore on, and turned into the 1960s, Judy Garland became known as a concert performer. She gave a remarkable, widely lauded performance in 1962 at Carnegie Hall, which is still thrilling to hear on record, and then, in 1963, began what would become the last phase of her career when she was seemingly in total control before the cameras - "The Judy Garland Show" - which ran for one truncated season on CBS television. This first DVD, in a collection that will show her in all of her glory in her series, is a flawed gem. Certainly Garland, equally at home in front of an audience as she was in front of a camera, is a wonder of the entertainment business. And the studied "liveness" of these first two shows available after 30 years is charming and unlike just about anything you'd see on TV today. But the comedy bits are not highlights, and Mickey Rooney is just plain mediocre as her guest on one of these hours. Liza Minnelli does better on the second hour (although her full-throttle talent is barely developed here), and it's utterly beguiling to see the look of love and pride that Judy has for her daughter. But it's Garland we want to see and hear, and that we do. In nearly crystal clear black and white imagery, with trumped up stereo sound, Judy is dazzling. Whether she's reacting to some inane business scripted for her, making fun of herself, or just plain belting it out, she's as mesmerizing as ever. A true show-biz legend, this is the last time she was ever dead-on in terms of her voice and her performance. It's really something to see and to hear, especially the hair-raising finale to "Ol' Man River", when she summons up every bit of her strength, rears back, and knocks the song way out into space. She was a genuine one-of-kind performer, and this terrific DVD shows you why.
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