Elly Roberts reviews
The Judy Garland Show Volume 2
Distributed by
Wienerworld
- Cat.no: WNRD2379
- Released: June 2006
- Format: DVD 9
- Rating: 6/10
- Running time: 60 minutes
- Region: All, PAL
- Fullscreen: 4:3
- Sound: Mono
- Classification: E (Exempt)
- Languages: English, German
- Retail price: £9.99
- Extras:
None
The 1950s was a patchy period for Judy Garland.,
A divorce, a marriage, and a near suicide attempt all proved a rollercoaster
ride for the waif-like star. Thrust onto the international scene as a 16-year-old
in the role of Dorothy in the 1939 film, The Wizard Of Oz, Garland,
born Frances Ethel Gumm, came from a musical family.
By the early '60s her stardom was renewed via guest TV appearances and a
critically acclaimed show at Carnegie Hall on April 23 1961, often referred to
as the "greatest single night in show business". On the back of these
successes, CBS offered her $24 million for a weekly TV series called The
Judy Garland Show, then considered "the biggest talent deal in TV history."
It ran for 26 episodes, being critically acclaimed with four Emmy nominations,
but only lasted one season and was pulled, which proved to be both personally
and financially devastating, from which she never fully recovered. This show
was taped on October 4, 1963 at Television City, Hollywood.
The DVD, originally part of Vols 1-3 released in 2005, shows her at her
sparkling best. Along with some of her finest vocal moments, we see her
legendary charming wit and great sense of humour. Even the dreadful cigarette
adverts have been included.
Musically, there’s some impressive show - stopping numbers – particularly when
she’s joined by Streisand and Merman for a belting rendition of There’s
No Business Like Show Business.
Also included are: comedian brother of Dick van Dyke, Jerry, the outstanding
singing comedy duo The Smothers Brothers. Guest star, a chic looking 21-year-old
Barbara Streisand sings several songs, including Down With Love, Bewitched, Bothered
and Bewildered and the medley sequences.
The full list of tracks included are :
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.
