Born in a Trunk
Born in a Trunk
#0Born in a Trunk
Posted: 12/17/04 at 6:31pm
This place needs more talk about older Hollywood movies, and the stars that made these Golden-Age movies and musicals.
One movie in particular comes to mind, the awe-inspiring musical "comeback" for Judy Garland. The 1954 verson of "A Star Is Born". I hope that many of you have seen this movie, if not it is a great must watch for any fan of Judy Garland, classic movies, and just musicals in general. The great "Born In A Trunk" montage is simply to die for. Damn Warner Brothers for cutting the movie's length down and destroying some older footage long ago. But the movie is still amazing and Judy shines. It's one of her top three flims in my opinion, along with "Meet Me In St.Louis". Simply amazing.
#1re: Born in a Trunk
Posted: 12/17/04 at 6:33pm
Damn Acadmey.
Robbing her of the Oscar.
"One no longer loves one's insight enough once one communicates it."
The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.
The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.
robbiej
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#2re: Born in a Trunk
Posted: 12/17/04 at 6:35pm
I have a friend who will NEVER FORGIVE Grace Kelly.
NEVER.
"I'm so looking forward to a time when all the Reagan Democrats are dead."
#3re: Born in a Trunk
Posted: 12/17/04 at 6:37pmDon't get me started on that horrible, no, DEEPLY horrible decision made by the Academy.
robbiej
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#4re: Born in a Trunk
Posted: 12/17/04 at 6:41pm
Hates Princess Grace.
With a passion.
It's practically irrational.
Practically.
"I'm so looking forward to a time when all the Reagan Democrats are dead."
Mary_Ethel
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/6/04
#5re: Born in a Trunk
Posted: 12/17/04 at 6:43pm
Well, to be 100% fair, Warner Brothers didn't mount much of a campaign for Judy come Oscar time.
Paramount went FULL OUT on a campaign for Grace Kelly.
Plus, A STAR IS BORN was cut by Warner's after its NY Premeire--so many of Judy's best scenes were cut by the time the Oscar Voters got a chance to view it and cast their vote for Best Actress.
At least, it was restored in 1983 so we can now enjoy Garland's truly magnificent performance.
"I say YOU'RE the CUTEST one. No, I say YOU'RE the CUTEST One. And we go on like that from dawn to three."
judy_in_disguise
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/31/04
#6re: Born in a Trunk
Posted: 12/17/04 at 8:20pm
I love Grace, but it was Judy's.
I think I'm going to like reading this thread!!
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#7re: Born in a Trunk
Posted: 12/17/04 at 9:11pm
I was born in a trunk
In the Princess Theatre in Pocatella, Idaho
It was during the matinee on Friday
And they used a makeup towel for my didee
When I first saw the light
It was pink and amber
Coming from the footlights on the stage
When my dad carried me out there to say hello
They told me that I stopped the show.
So I grew up in a crazy world of dressing rooms
And hotel rooms and waiting rooms
And rooms behind-the-scenes.
And I can't forget the endless rows
Of sleepless nights and eatless nights
And nights without a nickel in my jeans.
But it's all in the game and the way you play it
And you've got to play the game you know.
When you're born in a trunk at the Princess Theatre
in Pocatello, Idaho.
At first I just stood and watched from the wings
That's all my mom and dad would allow.
But as I got older, I got a little bolder
And snuck out for their second bow.
They kept me in the act because they needed me
To milk applause
Until one night, they did a crazy thing
They left me out there all alone
Mama said 'you're on your own!'
And Papa shouted 'this is it kid, sing!'
I'm not a Judy queen, but she deserved an Oscar just for "Born in A Trunk" and her extraordinarily devastating performance of "The Man Who Got Away."
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
kjklo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/03
#8re: Born in a Trunk
Posted: 12/17/04 at 9:50pmBesides Judy's big musical numbers, there are also all these great throwaway moments. At one point she's talking about her past life and says something like "Wow! That was a low point." It sounds insignificant, but the way she said the line was so real and so memorable. What a magnificent performance.
#9re: Born in a Trunk
Posted: 12/17/04 at 11:23pm
"Born In A Trunk" has to be one of my favorite Judy moments. It caputres all of her talent so well, and I could watch it over and over. It's hard to believe that some critics found it repetitive. Judy really did deserve that Oscar. It really makes you think about the way the industry treated thier stars.
I sang this entire montage for my chorus recital last year. It was the greatest song(s) I ever had the pleasure of singing. And you can put so much emotion into that piece. It's simply amazing by itself, but Judy makes it live. Oh I so have to pop in "A Star Is Born" right now and watch it.
#10re: Born in a Trunk
Posted: 12/17/04 at 11:29pm
1) I love "A Star Is Born".
2) I love "Born in a Trunk".
3) I love Judy.
There is funny story about "Sing Melancholy Baby!" from Judy's vaudeville days.
luvliza89, you've got very good taste.
" ...the happiness in the tune convinces me that I'm not afraid."
#11re: Born in a Trunk
Posted: 12/17/04 at 11:56pm
Yes, kjklo--"Wow! That was a low point" is one of my favorite moments in that movie--about working in a restaurant. Her next line is "I'll never forget it--and I'll NEVER do it again."
Where is Andy Hardy, Glebb? He must have SOMETHING to contribute to LuvLiza's threads?
#12re: Born in a Trunk
Posted: 12/17/04 at 11:57pmI'm hoping AndyHardy will sign in this weekend and tell us the Melancholy Baby story. :)
" ...the happiness in the tune convinces me that I'm not afraid."
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#13re: Born in a Trunk
Posted: 12/18/04 at 12:00amOne of the most interesting bits of film ever shot is when she is dressed as the clown and does the monologue. You will notice that the camera never cuts away from her. It's all Judy, and she proves she doesn't need anyone else to make the moment work. It was an Oscar worthy performance.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
kjklo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/03
#14re: Born in a Trunk
Posted: 12/18/04 at 12:03amIsn't it funny how little things like that can just lodge in your head? Judy was so fresh and so authentic in that moment. God, I love that woman.
#15re: Born in a Trunk
Posted: 12/18/04 at 10:43am
The "Sing Melancholy Baby" line was interpolated into Trunk as an "inside joke" because Roger Edens and Leonard Gershe (songwriters/ arrangers) knew it would make Judy crack up. There is an audio recording of Judy first hearing Born in a Trunk and she is in fits of laughter each time Leonard Gershe shouts "Sing Melancholy Baby!"
The "inside" joke:
A tenor is on a stage singing some aria when a drunk from the audience shouts "Sing Melancholy Baby!'
Flustered, the tenor continues singing his aria and the drunk yells again "Sing Melancholy Baby!!!"
Determined to go on, the tenor keeps singing but the drunk, at the top of his lungs shouts "SING MELANCHOLY BABY"
The tenor stops the orchestra and angrily says to the drunk "I DON'T KNOW MELANCHOLY BABY!!"
So the drunk pointedly asks: "Then show us your c*ck."
"ubiquitous"
Updated On: 12/18/04 at 10:43 AM
Mary_Ethel
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/6/04
#16re: Born in a Trunk
Posted: 12/18/04 at 10:45am
Andy,
That story is INCREDIBLE!
How did you ever come across it?
"I say YOU'RE the CUTEST one. No, I say YOU'RE the CUTEST One. And we go on like that from dawn to three."
#17re: Born in a Trunk
Posted: 12/18/04 at 10:48am
Sorry to double post.
But if you have a chance to watch the American Masters special "On Cukor" there is a (somewhat) nice section devoted to STAR. Especially nice is George Cukor doing running commentary over that scene near the end when Danny comes to take Esther to the Shrine and she starts yelling about not wanting sympathy. Wow!! I have chills right now thinking about it.
"ubiquitous"
#18re: Born in a Trunk
Posted: 12/18/04 at 10:53am
Andy--that is the best Judy Garland story I've ever heard.
And I thought I'd heard 'em ALL!
#19re: Born in a Trunk
Posted: 12/18/04 at 10:55amMy best friend interviewed Leonard Gershe and -- since we had heard the audio tape with Judy laughing so much -- he asked Gersh what was so funny. Gershe told the story and laughed at remembering how much fun he had with Judy.
"ubiquitous"
sabrelady
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/16/03
#20re: Born in a Trunk
Posted: 12/18/04 at 11:56amLove the story but the BEST Garland story to me is "SHOOT OLE BLUE" Mel Torme told in his "the Dawn Patrol"
MasterLcZ
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/12/03
#21re: Born in a Trunk
Posted: 12/18/04 at 2:32pm
A few years ago, a great Judy video-CD combo set was released by "32 Records" with lots of rare tracks (I got it for the Vitaphone disc transciptions of "Blue Butterfly", "Hang Onto A Rainbow", "When the Butterflies Kiss the Buttercups Goodnight" and "In the Land of Let's Pretend" from the lost 1930 Meglin Kiddies films with the Gumm Sisters). But there is a fascinating studio transcript of her laying down the tracks for "Born in a Trunk", which was pieced together from several sessions. Listening to playback of "Swanee", Judy cracks up and can't stop laughing "Thats All! Try it again!" ("You got a broom with ya?" someone - Edens? - says, which only makes her laugh harder. "My Goodness! here we go...c'mon..Oh, c'mon now...Let's go...". She sings a bit to herself, warming up: "Mammy... ha da da da da da da ..my dear ole Mammy..." "Then stands back and socks over the last line of the song with that thrilling, ringing last note: "You're wanderin' chile will Wan-Der-No Moooore... When I Get To That SWAH-NEEEEEEEEEE SHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORE!!!!!!!!"
Cut. Print.
"Christ, Bette Davis?!?!"
Updated On: 12/18/04 at 02:32 PM
Mary_Ethel
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/6/04
#22re: Born in a Trunk
Posted: 12/18/04 at 3:03pm
Oh, Beaverhausen, it sounds like last night was GLORIOUS.
Why, oh why, don't they ever do things like that in Dallas... 
"I say YOU'RE the CUTEST one. No, I say YOU'RE the CUTEST One. And we go on like that from dawn to three."
Mary_Ethel
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/6/04
#23re: Born in a Trunk
Posted: 12/18/04 at 3:21pm
Believe it or not, CBS FINALLY relented and Garland did get to sing "Battle Hymn of The Republic" on her ill-fated TV series.
See link for full details on that particular episode:
http://www.jgdb.com/jgs16.htm
"I say YOU'RE the CUTEST one. No, I say YOU'RE the CUTEST One. And we go on like that from dawn to three."
Ivana B. Arthur
Swing Joined: 12/18/04
#24re: Born in a Trunk
Posted: 12/18/04 at 10:40pmConnie Champagne is amazing! I've never understood why she wasn't chosen to appear in a Judy Garland biopic. I saw her about 10 years ago in Christmas with the Crawfords. Her performance was so realistic it sent chills down my spine. It was as if she were channeling Judy Garland.
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