Rating: 
Summary: Judy at her comedic best!
Review: "The Harvey Girls" is my favorite of the MGM musicals. It has everything: a superb star (Judy Garland), a great supporting cast (headed by a young Angela Lansbury, with Ray Bolger and Marjorie Main), fantastic songs (featuring the Academy Award winning "On the Atchison, Topeka, and the Santa Fe"), and a funny plot. Susan Bradley (Garland) decides to marry the man she has been writing love letters to, and travels with the Harvey restaurant chain to a town in the Old West to meet him. When she gets there, she realizes the romantic letters were written by his friend, the owner of the town saloon (played by John Hodiak). Susan decides to join the Harvey girls in setting up the new restaurant. When the town leaders try to scare the Harvey girls away because they are taking business from the saloon, Susan must help keep the restaurant in order. Angela Lansbury shines as the villainous saloon girl, as do Marjorie Main as the Harvey House cook, and Ray Bolger as the local blacksmith.
Rating:
Summary: "Harvey Girls" demonstrates Garland's unique comedic talents
Review: "The Harvey Girls" (1945) is one of the grandest MGM Musicals of all time. Aside from containing such killer songs as the Academy Award-winning "On the Atchison, Topkea and the Santa Fe," it also manages to utilize its star, Judy Garland (looking more glamorous than ever) in a way so uncommonly seen. Granted the films of that era (especially musicals) ranged from corn to utter nonsense, but each has its own unique appeal that can't help but bring a smile to your face and have you singing songs for days. "The Harvey Girls" does just this. Whereas, it does contain some rather corny scenes, Judy Garland, who was never really respected as a GREAT actress until "A Star Is Born" (1954), manages some belly-laughs, with a gifted comedic side so uncommonly seen. "The Harvey Girls" is filled with humor, great music and an all-star cast. A film not to be missed!
Rating:
Summary: Judy at her comedic best!
Review: "The Harvey Girls" is my favorite of the MGM musicals. It has everything: a superb star (Judy Garland), a great supporting cast (headed by a young Angela Lansbury, with Ray Bolger and Marjorie Main), fantastic songs (featuring the Academy Award winning "On the Atchison, Topeka, and the Santa Fe"), and a funny plot. Susan Bradley (Garland) decides to marry the man she has been writing love letters to, and travels with the Harvey restaurant chain to a town in the Old West to meet him. When she gets there, she realizes the romantic letters were written by his friend, the owner of the town saloon (played by John Hodiak). Susan decides to join the Harvey girls in setting up the new restaurant. When the town leaders try to scare the Harvey girls away because they are taking business from the saloon, Susan must help keep the restaurant in order. Angela Lansbury shines as the villainous saloon girl, as do Marjorie Main as the Harvey House cook, and Ray Bolger as the local blacksmith.
Rating: 
Summary: Expert But Conventional
Review: A fine cast, superior score, and excellent production values highlight this otherwise conventional musical inspired by real-life adventures of Harvey restaurant waitresses during the 1880s. Perhaps best described as Americana at its most milk-fed wholesome, the film concerns the clash between the influence of "good girl" waitresses (led by Judy Garland) and "bad girl" saloon hostesses (led by Angela Lansbury) as they square off over both customers and beaus in an Old West frontier town.THE HARVEY GIRLS is justly famous for the production number "On the Atchison, Topeka, and the Santa Fe," an extremely complex and exciting bit of work; other memorable moments include Garland, Virginia O'Brien, and Cyd Charisse's trio on "It's A Great Big World" and O'Brien's drop-dead witty "Wild Wild West." The enjoyable cast also includes charming performances by Ray Bolger, Chill Wills and Marjorie Main. Even so, the film seldom seems to rise above tepid, and THE HARVEY GIRLS lacks the inspiration of a truly great musical--particularly so when compared with such Garland classics as MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS and THE PIRATE. Recommended, but don't expect too much.
Rating:
Summary: Garland: Making Diamonds Out of Rhinestones
Review: Certainly not the greatest of the Garland MGM movies but, as always, a skillful performance which displays her comedic talents along with the vocals. It is a tribute to her greatness that she was able to transform the material into a far better product. The commentary by director George Sidney is very interesting and insightful. Garland's performance of "On the Atchinson Topeka & the Santa Fe" is one of my favorites--all done in merely one take according to director Sidney. Color quality and sound are excellent--very good transfer--and I am pleased to own this title on DVD.
Rating:
Summary: Three of Judy's best films in one set!
Review: Enjoy three of Judy's most fabulous films altogether in this set! They are, Meet Me In St. Louis, The Harvy Girls and Easter Parade. Must see movies for any Garland fan.
Rating:
Summary: Un maravilloso clasico con Judy
Review: Esta es una de esas peliculas que siempre que la vez, difrutas de ella, con una banda sonora maravillosa y unos numeros musicales increibles.
El DvD esta muy cuidado con varios extras.La unica pega para ponerle 4 estrellas es el sonido que es mono.
Rating:
Summary: Something for everyone.
Review: Even though the film starred Judy Garland, what I really enjoyed about The Harvey Girls is that it operates as an ensemble musical. That is, it gives features and spotlight numbers to just about everyone in the mammoth cast. This kind of thing is usually done for all-star films or stage musicals only, but back in 1946 MGM's roster of talent was strong, if not yet infamous. Players like hypnotic deadpanner Virginia O'Brien and dancer Cyd Charisse were fairly new back then, but this film gives them individual spotlights: not only do they both sing with Garland in the nighttime ballad "It's A Great Big World," but O'Brien gets to sing "The Wild, Wild West" (with comic blacksmith Ray Bolger looking on) and Charisse gets to display her ballet dancing opposite Kenny Baker's ballad "Wait And See." Marjorie Main sings bits of "The Waltz" and "The Train Must Be Fed;" Angela Lansbury is featured in *two* saloon numbers, and Ray Bolger gets to do some of his rubber-legged dancing at the Harvey House party. And, of course, it seems like everyone on the planet is assembled for the big, eight minute production number "On The Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe." There's literally something for everyone- even the oil-and-water romance (if you like that sort of thing) between Garland and John Hodiak.
Rating:
Summary: STUNNING! This HARVEY GIRLS DVD is "Metro-GARLAND-Magic"
Review: Hats off to Ted Turner's crew and their partners at Warner Home Video for a simply stunning DVD presentation of THE HARVEY GIRLS. The film looks sumptuous. A thrilling example of Technicolor at its most splendid. Although THE HARVEY GIRLS is a thoroughly delightful entertainment, there isn't much substance to the plot. It seems to hardly matter, as the film's major virtues are its great score by Johnny Mercer and Harry Warren, superb performances from a great cast, and of course, the peerless Judy Garland. If anyone else had played the lead in this picture, it would have been long forgotten. This is Judy's show, all the way, and everything about it is designed to show off her immense talents.
She is at the top of her form here...looking lovely, singing gorgeously, dancing with aplomb, and handling both dramatic and comedic scenes better than anyone else could ever dream to. The biggest highlight of the film is the mammoth eight-minute production number ON THE ATCHISON, TOPEKA, AND THE SANTA FE which ended up winning a Best Song Oscar. This sequence alone is worth the price of the DVD, and the Warner Home Video people give us an extra bonus by presenting the number separately in TRUE STEREO! Astounding! The supplementary materials are vast and beautifully assembled. The commentary by recently-deceased director George Sidney was fortunately captured for this release, and his thoughts and reminiscences are entertaining and charming. There were four musical numbers intended for this picture which were cut before release. MARCH OF THE DOAGIES and its reprise and MY INTUITION are the three that were filmed, and they are included on this DVD, looking like they were filmed yesterday (actually they look TOO good to have been filmed in this day and age). The one unused song that was recorded but not filmed called HAYRIDE is among the more than 20 pre-recording sessions included on the DVD's "Sing Song Express". A captivating opportunity to be present on the Metro recording stages as they laid down these historic tracks. You can hear the starts and stops, the banter and laughter...It's almost like being there. The disc also includes a trailer. Hats off to Warner and Turner for a splendid job well done, a VAST improvement from the once-impressive laserdisc release, which is now unwatchable in comparison to this DVD. Add to this the VERY reasonable price of this movie, and it can't be beat. Now the big question: "When will Warner give us MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, EASTER PARADE and the rest of the golden Garland catalog?" Let's hope it's soon. If this DVD is any indication of what those will be like, we are in for a treat.
Rating:
Summary: It's JUDY, what else do you need?
Review: Here it is. Judy Garland. In one of her many top-grossing MGM musicals. In restored technicolor. With restored stereophonic sound in some areas. On DVD. Yes, the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true!
Garland was in peak physical and emotional condition when this film was shot, and at the beginning, it was to be an "old west" musical answer to Garland's "Meet Me In St. Louis," released in 1944. Watching Garland in ANY film, whether she is Dorothy on her way to see the Wizard of Oz, or here, as Susan Bradley, on her way to the wild west to answer a matrimonial ad in her Ohio hometown newspaper, Garland's ability to make the viewer BELIEVE that she is Susan Bradley (as opposed to Judy Garland PLAYING Susan Bradley) is extraordinary. Garland's acting ability is flawless, and she displays all the elements in this film that led no less an authority than director George Cukor to say that she was "the world's greatest, most profound actress." Garland's husband, esteemed director Vincente Minnelli, said that "the surface hadn't been scratched with Judy. She could do anything. As good as ANY of the greatest actresses that ever lived."
Although "The Harvey Girls" was, as most of Garland's MGM films were, a lighthearted escapist venture with great songs and Garland's indescribable chemistry, it gives hints at the depth of her artistry as an actress. If you are only aware of Judy Garland through "The Wizard of Oz," I urge you to view this film.
It is a great introduction to the genius and artistry of Judy Garland.
Director George Sidney's comments about the film are available as one of the bonus features, and his insights and accolades of Garland match those statements made by her co-stars in this film, and by any and all that worked with her, and came under her spell, during her 45 year career. As a movie critic said in 1963, "she is Judy. She is the very best there is." Nearly 40 years after that statement was made, and over 30 years after Garland's untimely death, she is STILL the very best there is, and "The Harvey Girls" is a tune filled, happy musical that only underscores those sentiments.
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