Summer Stock
|
List Price: Our Price: $6.79 You Save: $13.18 (66%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Summer Stock
Movie Review: One of the BEST musicals - Don't miss it!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a great story with some of the best dancers, singers and actors of that generation. You will love it!Movie Review: Absolutely Wonderfull!
Summary: 5 Stars
Three simple words,I Loved It!Garland & Kelly Shines in this film as well as some of there great co-stars.Movie Review: Fantastic Movie
Summary: 5 Stars
What can I say. It's Judy Garland. Movie is great and Judy Garland is a classic timeless beauty.Movie Review: the good and the not as good
Summary: 4 Stars
SUMMER STOCK was Judy's final film for MGM. She made it for the Pasternak unit, as the folks in the Freed unit had all but given up on her after she couldn't re-team with Fred Astaire for BARKELEYS OF BROADWAY and was forced out of ANNIE GET YOUR GUN. Her last two complete films for the studio (GOOD OLD SUMMERTIME and this one) were for producer Pasternak who made decidedly lower budget, less high brow fare. This is not the material Judy should have been forced into, but her last years at MGM were tough and she was locked in a dizzying downward spiral due to health woes, a deteriorating marriage, the addiction and a studio that was less than generous or understanding with one of their greatest talents.
As a film, it's merely OK. It's not worthy of Judy's talents and Gene Kelly did it as a favor because he never forgot how good Judy had been to him on his film debut in FOR ME AND MY GAL, 9 years earlier. The plot is quite similar to the old Mickey/Judy barn musicals (yes, there's literally a barn here, too) and the whole affair is a bit tired. The sequence of Judy on the tractor singing "Happy Harvest" is telling enough...I've read stories about Judy up on the tractor, exhausted and unsteady, and asking them to summon "Vincente so he could take her home." In watching that sequence, she looks fine and all, but the coverage doesn't match up between shots and I think they simply got what they got and moved on.
All of that said, the film does overcome its story, script and plot points and succeed because of the talents of Judy & Gene. They shine. They're consummate professionals and they can take the tired material and raise it up 20 notches. Judy's solos are all good. Gene's work is its usual terrific. And together, in "You Wonderful, You" or the dance they do, they once again elevate the whole affair.
The finale, of course, contains the now legendary "Get Happy." Shot after production had wrapped weeks earlier, Judy had taken a long-needed vacation, she'd shed some pounds (at 4'11", even losing 5 pounds showed up on her) and she came back fit and relaxed. They decided they needed one more solo for Judy (she had opted out of the Hillbilly number that Gene and Phil Silvers ended up doing) and someone suggested Harold Arlen's "Get Happy" and the rest is history. It goes through four key changes and Judy learned the song and the dance routine in short order and it was shot. She was sexy and very grown up and sophisticated (not in keeping with the plot because, honestly, her character couldn't have done ALL THAT...but who cares...it's an MGM musical after all!).
In the voiceover during "That's Entertainment," Liza herself said, "Summer Stock was mama's final film for MGM and her last days of shooting here were devoted to this number, which a lot of people, including myself, feel was one of her very best." She's right. Everyone who loves this number is right.
Judy went out with a bang and her 15-year stint at MGM was over. It would four years before she made another movie and in the months after leaving MGM, her reputation was such that she found it difficult to find work. She had no recording contract, no movie contract and hadn't yet returned to the concert stage. Bing Crosby had her on his radio show numerous times in those months (those songs are terrific) and she worked to re-build her image and her career, culminating with the huge successes in London and at the Palace in New York, before returning to Hollywood to make "A Star is Born" over at Warner Bros.
Movie Review: Get Happy!
Summary: 4 Stars
Judy Garland stars in this movie as her last film for MGM. Gene Kelly also stars. Basically the movie is about Gene Kelly's theatre troup taking over Judy's barn for a show. Well Judy eventually gets the urge to sing and dance as well. The other cast members are great which include, Gloria DeHaven, Eddie Bracken, Marjorie Main, and Phil Silvers. As for the numbers,
If You Feel Like Singing, Sing- Judy sings this right at the beginning of the movie.
Happy Harvest- Judy sings this number also.
Dig-Dig-Dig-Dig for Your Dinner- This is sung by Gene Kelly and Phil Silvers and the chorus.
Mem'ry Island- Gloria DeHaven sings this song with a guy as part of the show.
Country Barn Dance- Judy and Gene dance to this country barn dance music and then it heats up!
You Wonderful You- Gene sings this to Judy and then Judy joins him. Later on Gene dances to this song.
Friendly Star- Judy sings this song.
All for You- Gene and Judy sing this as song as part of their show with a chorus.
Heavenly Music- Gene and Phil sing and dance to this song. I heard Judy Garland was actually supposed to do this number also but she wasn't well at the time. A fun number.
Get Happy- The best number in the whole movie! One of Judy's signiture songs and looks. She looks so sexy in that man's fedora, suit jacket and black tights. See the movie just for this number!
As for DVD extras,
New featurette Summer Stock: Get Happy!
Classic MGM cartoon The Cuckoo Clock
Vintage Pete Smith Specialty Short Did'ja Know?
Audio-only bonus: outtake song Fall in Love
Theatrical trailer
Languages: English & Français
Subtitles: English, Français & Español (feature film only)
Summer Stock is an enjoyable movie and I recommend it if you love Judy Garland and Gene Kelly. The movie's plot is much like the movies Judy did with Mickey Rooney. Go see this movie!