Amazon.com: The Best of Judy Garland Judy Garland's legendary (and short-lived) 1963-64 TV show has been revived on DVD, but several less-expensive videotape compilations are also available, including this one. A collection of Garland performances from her television variety show, the tape does away with Garland's skits and shtick from that show and focuses on her singing her hits: "The Man That Got Away," "Come Rain or Come Shine," "Stormy Weather." The tape also includes a couple of her "Born in a Trunk" sequences, in which Garland would reminisce about her career-- inevitably looking skittish and uncomfortable working without a script. But it's her voice that stands out: strong and resourceful, a marked contrast to the skinny, scared-looking woman who only seems to come alive when the music starts to play. --Marshall Fine
Judy Garland and Friends A genuine historical document, Judy Garland and Friends captures moments from Garland's 1963-64 television show featuring not only daughter Liza Minnelli, but a 21-year-old Barbra Streisand. Garland playfully claims to "hate" Streisand because of her talent, but then the two enjoy an easy affection on stage, sharing casual chatter and two duets, one of which runs "Get Happy" and "Happy Days Are Here Again" in counterpoint, a performance memorialized in Streisand's Timeless concert 36 years later. Garland also gives the young Streisand (who mentions her upcoming project, a Broadway musical called Funny Girl) two solos, including an intimate "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered" filmed in close-up with the lights down. To further stir up the pot, Ethel Merman pops out of the audience to share a little banter and to perform a rendition of her trademark "There's No Business Like Show Business" that leaves the other two belters in the dust (Streisand never stands much of a chance, clearly not knowing the words, and the irony is that it would have been Garland's song as well had she not been removed from the film version of Annie Get Your Gun in 1950). Garland herself takes some solo turns in front of the orchestra, surviving a rocky start to post memorable takes of "The Man That Got Away" and "By Myself," and her scenes with Minnelli are joyful. Sure, it's in black and white and the video quality is nothing special, but that's a small sacrifice when you can watch history being made. --David Horiuchi
Judy, Frank & Dean: The Legendary Concert The title might be a trifle grand for what is essentially a one-hour 1962 TV special--that's been colorized, yet. But Judy Garland is in fine voice, belting out signature tunes like "When You're Smiling" and "The Man That Got Away." Rat Packers Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin are at their unctuous best, with Sinatra at one point casually flicking ash from his cigarette right onto the stage while singing an emotional "I See Your Face Before Me." The patter among the three stars is a bit stiff, but the numbers are all showstoppers, and Garland, especially, is belting in her most over-the-top Carnegie Hall tradition. Her finale, a medley of "Swanee," "Rock-a-bye Your Baby" and "San Francisco" still brings down the house 40 years later. (Trivia alert: the special was directed by a pre-Moonstruck Norman Jewison.) --Anne Hurley
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - 3 of the Best ...At Their Best
Great show from beginning to end. Judy ,Frank ,and Dean all in peak form.Garland magic! From the 1st notes of the overture to the finale with Judy rocking the house on a lit runway,you'll hear and see why Judy is revered and idolized.Songs include Just in TIme ,Man That Got Away,Swanee,San Francisco,A Movie Medley.and teamings with Frank and Dean. They don't make them like this anymore. Treat yourself. Buy it!
