The Judy Garland Show, Vol. 04 (Shows 8, 19, 24 & 25)

Rating:
Summary: From the ridiculous to the sublime...
Review: At last another volume of episodes from the great Garland and her legendary variety series of 1963-1964. This volume runs the spectrum from the sublime ('Judy in Concert' episodes #24 and #25) to the ridiculous (Judy and the Dillards?!) and serves as an excellent illustration that despite embarrassingly sub par material and the meddling of a network that seemed hell-bent to destroy her series, Judy remained Judy...in a class by herself. Episode #8 is particularly embarrassing for the producers as Judy is forced to duet with a woefully "out of his element" George Maharis (?!) and chat about baseball with Leo Durocher. Still, Garland manages to rise above it and give one of her most moving performances ("I Wish You Love") and gamely agrees to go head to head with "The Dillards". It is particularly telling that, in his audio commentary, executive producer Norman Jewison avoids discussing this episode, and indeed the entire series, and instead focuses on Judy's 1961 comeback special which he also produced. When he does refer to the series, he comes off not only as unknowledgeable (referring to episode #6 guest star June Allyson as "Fran Allyson"), but as a colossal bore, relating that same "Over the Rainbow"/Kennedy anecdote that he has told everytime he is interviewed about Garland, and denigrating original series producer George Schlatter's superior prior episodes. In hindsight, it is all too apparent that the dismissal of Schlatter and the hiring of Jewison was the beginning of the end for the series. On the brighter side, side two that is, we have the Judy of legend...the great Garland doing what she did best: standing alone on a stage with an orchestra behind her, and blowing through two dozen or so songs with the command and mastery of a true artist at the peak of her powers. She gives definitive performances of the old reliables ("Chicago", "Get Happy", "By Myself", "Love") and tackles new and unexpected songs ("Lost in the Stars", "Never Will I Marry", "Do I Love You?") with verve and brilliance, climaxing the first hour with a heart-stopping medley from "Kismet" with guest Vic Damone. In addition to the telecast hours, there is a treasure trove of outtakes and deleted material (including two attempts at the "Kismet" medley) that prove once and for all that Judy's humor and ability to laugh, often at herself, were yet another reason why, thirty years after her death, she remains "The worlds greatest entertainer".

Rating:
Summary: Judy in concert, plus
Review: Episode #25 is one of the highlights of the entire 26 episode series and features Judy in great voice, beautifully coiffed and outfitted, in a concert type show with guest star Robert Cole on three numbers, singing songs that she is not necessarily "known" for by the general public. (Sail Away, Why Can't I?, Poor Butterfly...) She also reprises two songs from earlier in the series. (Old Man River, As Long As He Needs Me) Episode #24 is also a concert show with guest Vic Damone. More great songs like Lucky Day, When Your Lover Has Gone, and Sweet Danger. Shows 8 and 19 feature guest stars Jack Carter and Louis Jourdan and are in a more conventional series format, with comedy routines and sketches.

Rating:
Summary: What have you missed?
Review: I am not going to talk about show 24 and 25 since most of the reviewers here have given review for these two episodes.

After watching this wonderful DVD, it really surprises me why most of the reviewers do not like show 8 and show 19. I have to agree some parts of these 2 shows are ridiculous such as Judy chat with Leo Durocher about baseball in show 8 and the performance by The Kirby Stone Four in show 19.

In show 8, The Dillard, to me, is quite entertaining. Their "silly" faces and Judy awkward face put together made me laugh. "Side by side" performed by George Maharis and Judy was indeed quite beautiful. While watching this number, I almost shouted "Hey George! Stop hugging Judy so much!" How could CBS blame Judy for touching the guests too much? In this number, George Maharis was the one that could not get enough of Judy. The country songs medley was a real treat to me. Have you heard Judy sang country songs before? You got it from here. This number can also consider as rare as compare to other episodes because all the guests (Jack Carter and George Maharis), dancers, Jerry Van Dyke and Judy were performing together in this number in a beautiful setting. I have seen most of the episodes of this show. I don't think there were any other numbers like this one in other episodes.

In show 19, the Kirby Stone Four was a disappointing one. As quartet, they did not have layers in their singing. All four of them sang in the same tone. Louis Jordan has a beautiful voice. I especially like his performance with Judy in children's songs medley. I never know "Popeye the sailor man" can be sung in such a beautiful way. Louis's performance in "Lulu" was heart-melting. You can see it from Judy's face while he was singing that song. This medley has outdone many other medleys in other episodes.

If you do not like these two episodes before, watch them a few more times. I am sure you will find something that you have missed.

Rating:
Summary: What can you say besides she was the best
Review: I have had this DVD for sometime. Actually I love everything she does. But I wanted to say something about this one in particular because it really moves me. On episode 25 which was her next to last show everything she sings is saying goodbye. I guess it took me a while to realize that. Then towards the end of episode 24 she sings a duet with Vic Damone which is probably one of the best duets you'll every hear. That duet in and of itself is worth the price. Finally I will comment on her "Old Man River" song at the end of episode 25. She sings, and boy does she sing it, "I get weary and sick of trying, I'm tired of living but scared of dying, but Old Man River keeps on rolling along.

Rating:
Summary: Judy Garland Show----Classic show---First Class DVD!!!!!!
Review: Pioneer Artists with the release of the Judy Garland Show, which CBS ran during from 1963-1964 and consisted of 26 shows has done a first class job of mastering these DVD's.

Volume IV which includes guests, Louis Jordan,The Kirby Stone Four,Jack Carter,Robert Cole,George Maharis, Vic Damone is just a treat to watch.

The comedy at time is a bit forced and Judy looks unnatural in that role in particular the episodes with George Maharis and Leo Durocher but overall the grace and class of Miss Garland shines through.

There is a spot with Ken Murray a sometime actor who took some fabulous home movies of early Hollywood with clips showing behind the scenes with actors such as Bing Crosby,John Barrymore, Rudy Vallee to name a few that are simply priceless.

Judy does a bit with Leo Durocher which includes a rendition of "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" is of historical interest due to the fact that Mr. Durocher refers to the upcoming World Series against the New York Yankees.

The series was due to start in about a weeks time and the Los Angeles Dodgers who were underdogs in that series would go on to sweep the Yankees 4-0.

The Bluegrass group The Dillards, who were riding a huge wave of popularity at that time make an appearance playing up their "Hillbilly" ancestry and are quite entertaining as musicians.

The highlights have to be Judy's rendition of "Old Man River" and her singing of "The Battle Hymn Of The Republic",which she sings with such conviction and emotion that she literally makes that song come alive.

A comic rendition of the "Platters" Smoke gets in your eyes" is hilarious as Judy continues to sing as the faux set behind her is dismantled.

After watching the Kirby Stone Four appear on this show I went out and purchased from Amazon.com their 1958 hit Baubles,Bangles and Beads a fun swinging album that this group parlayed along with other releases into a career that lasted until the mid 60's.

I highly recommend this DVD or better yet purchase the entire set, you will save money and these discs will be a worthy addition to your collection.

That coupled with the choice of audio, orignal mono, or new 5.1 digital sound along with outtakes and audio commentary by Norman Jewison, make this a must buy for your collection.

This disc on a scale of copper to platinum gets my highest rating.....Platinum!!! Enjoy!!

Rating:
Summary: Garland TV Show - Volume 4
Review: Thank God the DVD technology has come so far and in time to save the Judy Garland show from tape deterioration and extinction. I saw these shows when they were first broadcast in 1963-1964 and even the first run TV reception at that time was inferior to the crystal clarity and brilliance of the DVD tranfers. It's curious that the producers choose to group shows 8 and 9 with 24 and 25 on the same DVD. Shows 24 and 25 display Judy as we all would like to remember her, captivating the audience with her magnificent voice, showmanship and incredible charisma. Shows 8 and 9 are somewhat regretable since they show clearly that CBS didn't have a clue as to what to do with as staggering a talent as Judy. In short, while shows 23 and 24 are in the concert format with which Judy was so familiar and successful, shows 8 and 9 show Judy as a victim of network meddling and incompetitence and at less than her best (even vocally such as when she goes flat at the end of "Swanee" in the Born in a Trunk segment of Show 9). Judy was a very bright lady and I would bet that she knew all too well that she was not at her best on shows 8 and 9. However, these DVDs are part of the brilliant legacy Judy left for those who never could get enough of her. With the DVD technology, she's suddenly there before us looking fabulous and sounding wonderful (most of the time). They're a must for the Garland enthusiast for they capture Judy still at her peak before the tragic deterioration that marked the last five years of her life.

Rating:
Summary: Garland TV Show - Volume 4
Review: Thank God the DVD technology has come so far and in time to save the Judy Garland show from tape deterioration and extinction. I saw these shows when they were first broadcast in 1963-1964 and even the first run TV reception at that time was inferior to the crystal clarity and brilliance of the DVD tranfers. It's curious that the producers choose to group shows 8 and 9 with 24 and 25 on the same DVD. Shows 24 and 25 display Judy as we all would like to remember her, captivating the audience with her magnificent voice, showmanship and incredible charisma. Shows 8 and 9 are somewhat regretable since they show clearly that CBS didn't have a clue as to what to do with as staggering a talent as Judy. In short, while shows 23 and 24 are in the concert format with which Judy was so familiar and successful, shows 8 and 9 show Judy as a victim of network meddling and incompetitence and at less than her best (even vocally such as when she goes flat at the end of "Swanee" in the Born in a Trunk segment of Show 9). Judy was a very bright lady and I would bet that she knew all too well that she was not at her best on shows 8 and 9. However, these DVDs are part of the brilliant legacy Judy left for those who never could get enough of her. With the DVD technology, she's suddenly there before us looking fabulous and sounding wonderful (most of the time). They're a must for the Garland enthusiast for they capture Judy still at her peak before the tragic deterioration that marked the last five years of her life.

Rating:
Summary: Still Going Strong!
Review: What I enjoy most about this DVD is that it also has the outtakes included and you can choose to either watch the program as it originally aired or WITH all of the outtakes which gives an idea of how a show is put together and what a professional Ms. Garland was. Never to just pick up where she left off and to hell with continuity; No! As a true professional would do, she would go right back to the beginning and start all over, as is shown with the intricate "Kismet" medley which was written for Ms. Garland and Mr. Damone to perform. Also, this set has two of her concert format tapings which are absolutely wonderful! I still look forward to the Streisand show and pray that they are going to include Show #26, the final taping and include the outtakes from that taping.

There are possibly TWO drawbacks with this set of shows. This disc shows the insanity on the part of CBS to try and make Ms. Garland appear "homey," by including a ridiculous segment involving Jerry Van Dyke and the Dillards, some hillbilly group! The other drawback is the audio commentary provided by Mr. Norman Jewison, one of the show's producers. The audio commentary provided by Mr. George Schlatter on one of the original DVD set is better and seems much more personal, whereas Mr. Jewison's seems rambling, at times.

BUT, it's still Judy; still wonderful, still unforgettable and still the best damned performer of any time! Forget Streisand and her insane need to control every aspect of a production! Forget Madonna, Dion, Aretha, LaBelle, Tina and Ms. Ross, etc. There will always be only ONE true Diva --- Judy Garland!