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I'm taking today off from bringing you all recipes and have decided instead to write about the woman that I have decided to claim as my favorite actress all time.
Truthfully, it's not hard to see why I've fallen in love with the woman. When she first started making her way into show business (as Frances Gumm with the Gumm Sisters), she was known as the "little girl with the big voice."
But it's more than just the voice to her, no matter how beautiful and powerful it happened to be. She could belt a tune like no other, but there is also something about her spirit that comes across on the screen.
She's effervescent.
Judy Garland was a beautiful woman who is now a part of movie history, a legacy among a long list of movie stars and television actors. She will be remembered for her music, her face, and her easy charm.
Or, at least, she will to me.
I've been watching musicals as long as I can remember. My house has always been one filled with music and her voice was among the first that I was lucky enough to witness through the power of VCR.
Today, it's all about DVD's, but her movies are still among my favorites. She really does have a way of charming you and making you believe whatever scenario she's being put into. Sure, all her movies aren't going to go down in the annals of history the way that The Wizard of Oz has, but she'll certainly live in the heart of fans like me.
Today, I'm still a fan of musicals and Judy is one of the stars that I can consistently count on to deliver high-quality performances, even if I'm not a fan of the movie itself. Her troubled personal life never seemed to make it onto the screen - the drugs, the divorces, the depression - all you can see is Judy from the minute she steps out into the lights.
So, I'm going to share with you some of my favorite Judy Garland movies, in the hopes that you can see for yourself the woman who was Judy, on and off the screen.
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The Wizard of Oz (1939)
I'm not exactly to sure what to say about this movie. Obviously, if you've known me for any amount of time here on the Sugar site, you know that I'm in love with the movie, owning everything from posters to purses.
It's a classic, one of those must see movies that if you haven't seen, you should rent. It's a feel good movie, but it's still got elements that even adults can enjoy. The music is gorgeous, the characters interesting and dynamic, and its legacy will continue for many years to come.
Bottom line: If you haven't seen it, see it.
[0]George Murphy, Judy Garland, Gene Kelly
For Me and My Gal (1942)
Gene Kelly's first movie. He went on to have an outstanding career in dance and musicals, but this is where he got his big break. It's filmed in black and white and brings history to life, as WWI breaks out on film. It's a story about love, about sacrifice, about patriotism and heroism.
Bottom Line: This one is one my list of favorites, but I like some of her subsequent works better.
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Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)
A classic in the world of musicals. This is based on a true story and set in early twentieth century St. Louis, just as the 1904 World's Fair is set to come to town. The story centers on the Smith family - 4 daughter, a son, their parents, and the workers of the household.
This is the movie where she first sang the now timeless "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." It was directed by Vincent Minnelli while they were falling in love and you can see it in the way that she acts and the way that he uses the camera. Just beautiful. The use of color is vivid and the songs are, in the majority, fun and bright.
Judy claimed later that it was one of her favorites to make, even though she hadn't wanted to play a teenage character again. And it's easy to see why. The story is easy to fall in love with and Judy's character even more so.
Bottom line: If you only see one after The Wizard of Oz, make it Meet Me In St. Louis. The others are good, but that's definitely a standout performance. If nothing else, just watch this clip of Judy singing The Trolley Song. It was done in ONE TAKE. EVER. She messed up one of the lines, but they didn't want to do it over, afraid that Judy wouldn't have that same energy and charm in the next take. (In the clip, she's sad in the beginning because she's waiting for her crush to show up, but you'll see when he arrives...)
[0]Judy Garland, Angela Lansbury
The Harvey Girls (1946)
One of the best parts of this movie is that Angela Lansbury is one of the other stars, playing the role of the bad girl in the movie - and a prostitute at that. She's evil and no holds barred - and you have to love her for it, even though she said that for years after she had that role, people would berate her for being so mean to poor Judy!
This movie is set during the 1800's when America was just beginning to expand out into the west through railroad. The name of the movie comes from the Harvey Restaraunt chain, an actual company, and famous for its waitresses, or "girls."
The Harvey chain is notorious for coming to towns and bringing in civility and, more or less, taming the Wild West. And this story is no different. The girls make the trek for various reasons, but Judy's character doesn't immediately plan to be one of them.
Things, however, change. The costumes are great, the dance numbers are fun, and the songs are fun and enjoyable.
Another great addition to this movie is Ray Bolger, who played the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz and teams up here again with Judy Garland. His dance style is so unusual and he really brings something to the movie with his foppish, weak character trying to make it amongst men who have made the West their own.
Bottom Line: A historical musical worth seeing.
[0]Judy Garland, Fred Astraire
Easter Parade (1948)
On the day before Easter in 1911, Astaire's character, Don Hewes, is crushed when his dancing partner (and object of affection) Nadine Hale, played by Ann Miller, refuses to start a new contract with him. To prove Nadine's not important to him, Don acquires innocent new protegee Hannah Brown, Miss Judy Garland, vowing to make her a star in time for next year's Easter parade.
Of course, what he fails to realize is that Hannah, a pretty girl who needs a little help with her dancing, is worth falling for. He tries to keep things strictly business and, of course, fails miserably in the end. But in the middle, there's singing, there's dancing, and there's mixups and relationship muddles.
Bottom Line: One of Fred Astaire's last films, worth seeing for that reason alone. But beware, the theme song will get stuck in your head for days!
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In the Good Old Summertime (1949)
This is one is definitely on the bottom of my favorites, but for some reason, I keep coming back to it. Judy costars with Van Heflin and the story itself is at times irritating and adorable, I can never quite decide.
Either way, there are some lovely songs and, in the end, predictably, boy gets girl, even if there are some major muddles and mixups along the way.
Bottom Line: The best part may be the cameo by baby Liza Minnelli at the end of the film, but there's still something about it you can't help but kinda like.
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Summer Stock (1950)
This movie is one of the only ones that you can see Judy's personal problems coming into her work, but even though, it's only due to her constant weight fluctuations through the film. In some scenes, she's obviously heavier than before and in others, she still looks to be the svelte and slim Judy that the public was used to seeing (thanks to drug use.)
There are some numbers that I tend to skip through, but I absolutely love the first one. Still, though, the one song that is now a perennial favorite and most associated with Judy is her "Get Happy" number, clad only in a man's tuxedo jacket, hat, stockings, and her shoes. And she looks FABULOUS. Few women could carry off that look, but she does it without flaw, emoting a powerful song and a powerful look with ease.
The storyline is a little corny, but another person to be on the lookout for in this movie is Eddie Bracken, known to most of us now as Mr. Duncan from Home Alone 2. He's plays a weak man overpowered by his domineering father, but he manages to come into his own by the end.
Still, every scene that Judy's in just shines and her voice is as big and beautiful as ever.
Bottom Line: Watch the Get Happy scene. Now.
Alright, that's the end of my adulation of Judy Garland for this blog. I have to admit though, that it was great fun writing it and finding the pictures and clips! So don't be surprised if you occasionally see another one of these popping up at another time from me, whether it be someone else or my obsession with Judy continuing!