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Shot in soft-focus Technicolor by
Oklahoma!'s Robert Surtees,
A Date with Judy offers a candy-colored version of the high-school musical. In a cozy seaside town, 16-year-old Judy Foster (tiny soprano Jane Powell) and poor little rich girl Carol Pringle (a stunning Elizabeth Taylor, dubbed) prepare for the school dance. When Carols brother, Oogie (former child star Scotty Beckett), stands up Judy--on Carols advice--she takes new soda jerk Stephen (
Written on the Wind's Robert Stack). Though Stephen can't take his eyes off Carol, he concedes, "You're the prettiest girl in Santa Barbara--and you know it." Afterwards, the girls compete for his affections, while Judy's dad, Melvin (
The Champ's Wallace Beery), takes rumba lessons from Carmen Miranda's Rosita in preparation for his 20th wedding anniversary. Carols mild conniving aside, there are no bad guys here, and all's well that ends well. Notable numbers include Powell's "It's a Most Unusual Day" and Miranda's "Cuanto le Gusta" with the Xavier Cugat Orchestra. Aside from the ladies on screen, Dorothy Cooper and
Pal Joey's Dorothy Kingsley adapted the script from Aleen Leslies 1941 radio play, hence lines like, "Don't try to understand women, just accept them." With direction by
Ivanhoe's prolific Richard Thorpe and choreography from
Singin' in the Rain's Stanley Donen, MGMs
A Date with Judy serves up wholesome entertainment for all ages. Special features include the original trailer and two shorts, Martin Blocks
Musical Merry-Go-Round #3 with Ray Noble and Buddy Clark and Tom and Jerry's
Professor Tom.
--Kathleen C. Fennessy
Product Description
Interesting early postwar musical that combines the musicomedy warhorses of the '40s with the rising Hollywood stars of the '50s including the lovely Taylor. Choreography by Donen distinguishes plot of teenage doings before a big dance. Includes the songs "It's a Most Unusual Day" and "Cuanto La Gusta" (with Miranda!).System Requirements:Running Time: 113 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA/CLASSICS Rating: NR UPC: 012569648449 Manufacturer No: 1000015117