Customer Reviews

The Judy Garland Show, Vol. 1

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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

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.

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.

Infinity Entertainment is re-releasing "The Judy Garland Show" (1963-1964) on DVD. The series was previously available on Pioneer, but those editions have since gone out of print. Infinity promises to release all 26 episodes in a 12 Volume Set-- 2 episodes on each DVD.
The first episode of Volume One illustrates what was wrong with the show. All three major TV networks at the time (CBS, NBC, and ABC) had a bidding war to sign the amazing and incomparable Judy Garland to a weekly TV series. CBS, having won, couldn't decide which "format" to put Judy in (note: nobody "formats" Judy Garland!) and seemed determined to change her from a dynamic diva into an average TV personality. Whatever changes CBS threw at her (and their were innumerable changes throughout the 26 episodes), Judy gamely rolled with the punches and gave her very best.
The first episode starts promisingly; with Judy singing "The Sweetest Sounds" with Count Basie and his orchestra. Later, she also sings "Memories Of You." There should have been more musical magic with Judy and Count Basie. Instead, too much time is wasted on asinine "comedy routines" with series regular Jerry Van Dyke. Please, Jerry Van Dyke never belonged on the same stage as Judy Garland! Mel Torme sings a manic version of "Fascinating Rhythm" while simultaneously playing drums. Obscure folk singer Judy Henske (who?) delivers a strong rendition of Billie Holiday's classic "God Bless The Child," and then joins Jerry and Mel for a pointless parody of Peter, Paul, and Mary called "Peter, Paul, And Irving." Judy Garland, finally and at last, returns to close the episode with the heartbreakingly sad "A Cottage For Sale" and the rousing "Hey, Look Me Over" from the forgotten Lucille Ball musical "Wildcat." Distressingly, the viewer will notice there is not enough of Judy Garland on this episode of "The Judy Garland Show."
The second episode, though featuring more pointless "comedy routines" from Jerry Van Dyke and Soupy Sales, is of far better quality and much more entertaining. This is because Judy's special guest is her own daughter Liza Minnelli. It is a treat to see young Liza at 17, nearly a decade away from her own career breakthrough in the film version of "Cabaret" and her TV concert "Liza With A Z." The strong mother-daughter bond is evident everywhere here. The affection between Judy and Liza is genuine and affecting. The Judy/Liza duets here are magical. Liza also does her own solo song and dance routine, and The Brothers Castro from Mexico offer a sexy, Latin twist on "You Make Me Feel So Young." Most importantly, Judy Garland: The Dynamic Diva is seen full force here as she delivers explosive performances of "Come Rain Or Come Shine" and "As Long As He Needs Me."
I'm removing one star from my review because I find Jerry Van Dyke so annoying and unnecessary. Judy Garland, the greatest entertainer of the 20th Century, definitely deserves five stars! These episodes were both taped in July of 1963, when Judy was age 41. She would leave us much too soon; just six years later at age 47. But Judy looks fabulous here and is in excellent voice. Judy's timeless talent will live forever!

This is absolutely the finest show of both the magic of Judy Garland and the truly awesome technology of DVD! Never have there been performances like these and the digital clarity of the picture and the sound is unbeatable. I could not have conceived of anything like this ever being available and I wish to thank those responsible. This is truly a work of art that has been preserved forever. Awesome video, Awesome quality and the incomparable Awesome Judy!!! Even if you don't like this sort of thing.....I know you'll love it! ***********

Judy's star again, as always, shines bright in these two episodes (1&3) of her television show! Two extra treats of these episodes are Mickey Rooney and Liza Minnili, Judy Garland's daughter. With both you can clearly see Judy's very special bond to each of these individuals!

If you simply love Judy Garland, these are a must for any fan! Her shows are perhaps the best body of her work avalible!

It's about time someone got around to packaging a Garland showcase with impeccable style and taste. Forget the grainy images and muffled audio sounds of earlier videotapes, this incredible DVD makes her seem actually live. The picture is positively pristeen and the sound as clear as a clarion bell. It totally captures what was an event back in the 1960s. Judy's unforgettable talent just shines throughout. Her entertaining duets and banter with Mickey Rooney is nostalgically irresistible and what a home movie this must be for Liza who as a young teenybopper displays an eagerness to step into "Mama's" shoes. Suffer through goofy Jerry Van Dyke's "village idiot" routines and enjoy a truly enjoyable couple of hours with America's greatest entertainer. No one can or will equal her. God bless her. "Old Man River" will never be sung in such a thrilling way as Judy's full-throated, goose-bump raising style.

I remember seeing this show on PBS years ago. Judy is at her best. Her performances of "Come Rain or Come Shine" and "As Long as He Needs Me" are among her best. The quality is excellent but I must say I am VERY disappointed. The liner notes state that Liza sings "You Are For Loving" from her off B'way show "Best Foot Forward". This has been cut and in it's place is an inept 'Lone Ranger' skit with the very untalented Jerry Van Dyke. The liner notes also state that there are outtakes, which is also not true. The Editorial Review on the Amazon product page states that the first episode on this disc is the show with Mickey Rooney. It is NOT. I have to wonder if the person who wrote the liner notes and the person who wrote the Editorial Review even knew what was on the disc.

Judy Garland's one foray into series television was not perfect, but that was not entirely her fault. She was more anxious than anyone to make this a success, but the show's producers tweaked and ravaged the show's format so much that it ended up a 'flawed gem' as someone so accurately described earlier. Audiences would've been more than happy to see Ms. Garland just belt out one song after another, but early on her show was a musical variety hybrid, co-starred with 'second banana' dimwit Jerry Van Dyke, and featuring an uneven roster of guest stars. In early 1963 she hit paydirt by featuring her teenage daughter Liza Minnelli, who showed early, raw, talent of her own. Impressive as they are together (performing in burlesque and a medley of pop songs), it is the solo efforts of the 41-year-old mother that really stand out: an up-tempo version of "Come Rain Or Come Shine (staged full-frame to better show off her slimmed down figure)," and a torchy rendition of "As Long As He Needs Me (staged behind a trunk on a darkened runway)." The black-and-white DVD renders a marvelous picture, as these shows are digital transfers from the original, show quality, 2-inch videotapes. Kudos to Pioneer Entertainment!!

As a child, mum and dad watched the 'Judy Garland Show'on our old b/w 'Admiral' t.v. here in Sydney. Now, almost 40 years later,some of the finest entertainment EVER has been beautifully and obviously lovingly transferred to DVD. The images are sharp and crisp. The Dolby Digital soundtrack is nothing short of sonic sorcery-without being over processed. The production values are extraordinary. It's easy to see why Judy was such an extraordinary talent. A 'must' for any collection.