Judy Garland's "Easter Parade"- Page 2

[wildcat]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 10:41am

Start charming, I'll drive the getaway car!

[AndyHardy]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 10:53am

PJ, LOL!

Unfortunately I am quite sure not much else exists. Vault fires, constantly changing management ordering their destruction, etc. make it a wonder that anything still exists. The lack of foresight by many studio heads (in the 1960s in particular) meant a great deal of out American film heritage was lost. Most of the rare "lost" footage has been thankfully released on the laser discs that you mentioned and the "That's Entertainment" box sets. 20th Century Fox, who also had a major vault fire, still has a lot of footage and put out two dvds, "Hidden Hollywood" which are kind of fun. Particularly when one can witness Betty Grable mouthing "Sh*t!" when she goofs up.

On a related topic, Roger Mayer who has been a champion of film preservation at M-G-M (now Warner Brothers) is receiving a well-deserved special Oscar tonight for a job well done.

[wildcat]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 11:03am

I saw one of those HOLLYWOOD SCREENTESTS specials on cable where we were treated to a selection of tests for the movie of HELLO DOLLY!, including Ann-Margret, Joanne Worley and Peg Murray. I ran into Trisha Noble and told her I'd just seen her full test for Irene Molloy, including "Ribbons Down My Back", and she was flabbergasted. Apparently the artists weren't even informed that this material was now on public view.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 11:26am

It is amazing that things like rushes & outtakes for anything this old still exist after MGM sold its backlot & did a firesale of all its artifacts

It is fun watching reruns of The Man From U.N.C.L.E & seeing all the old sets from the movies & musicals made by MGM being recycled. Sadly it is all gone

[NYadgal]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 11:42am

Let me echo Glebb in saying what a wonderful thread this is to 'wake up' to today!

Thanks to all for the interesting info, and I know what I will be looking for in my Easter basket this year!

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 12:30pm

Aww, Andy! That's my Betty. Peaches and Cream on screen. Swore like a truckdriver off.

I know Joey...those film queens need to "give it up" for us yunguns (well...SEMI -young...Semi-oldums here)

Does anybody remember when Film Forum had a summer festival of Pre-Code Musicals about ten years ago? They screened dozens of rare stuff I had never seen before or since. It was one of the happiest summers I've ever spent, and I was pale as as a ghost at the end of it! :)

And, speaking of Film Forum...is anyone here going to AN EVENING WITH MARGE CHAMPION there tomorrow night?

Updated On: 2/27/05 at 12:30 PM

[Glebb]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 12:35pm

LOL!

I have a friend who has the Betty Grable "Sh*t" footage.
I ask him to show it to me every time I visit. :) Right AndyHardy?

LOVE IT!

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 12:40pm

AndyHardy, i couldn't agree more. i didn't read this whole thread, but did someone mention the ill-fated Tommy Tune/Sandy Duncan stage adaptation, which never quite came into NYC even after a wonderful workshop there and an attempt at a regional production?

And not to be picky, but could you possibly amend the title of the thread to at least give a little honor to Irving Berlin? yes, Judy was spectacular, but that score made the whole thing sing, and really inspired some of Minelli's best work.

i'm admittedly a Berlin fanatic, so i get it if you'd rather not. i just think he gets overlooked so much, and it makes my heart heavy.

[kjklo]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 2:30pm

Actually, Charles Walters directed "Easter Parade." Minnelli was taken off the assignment before filming began. Updated On: 2/27/05 at 02:30 PM

[AndyHardy]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 6:12pm

TxTwoStep, I also adore Irving Berlin. The fact that he was so prolific and was both composer and lyricist astounds me. Irving Berlin was very good at "promoting" himself -- hence his name always before the title or a film; Irving Berlin's White Christmas/ Irving Berlin's Alexander's Ragtime Band, etc.

I'm going to leave the title of this thread alone since the dvd set is focused on Judy Garland (and, hey, I just like seeing her name. :) FYI, I believe the new dvd set for The Bandwagon which also comes out on March 15 will mainly focus on Fred Astaire, if anybody was wondering why Judy is the focus of the Easter Parade set.

Ah, now I'm thinking of all those wonderful Irving Berlin melodies....

"It only happens when I dance with you..."

Irving Berlin WAS brilliant!!

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 6:23pm

I find it of interest to note that EASTER PARADE almost became another one of those screen-to-stage adaptations... I'm pretty sure it was planned to star Tommy Tune and Sandy Duncan. I'm not sure why the project was canceled--does anyone have any insights?

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 6:40pm

ANDYHARDY, i completely get you. Does the DVD talk at all about the possibly apocryphal story that EASTER PARADE was meant for Gene Kelly and Judy instead of Astaire? supposedly Kelly broke a foot or ankle or leg playing badminton or volleyball, and Astaire "came out of retirement" to take over the lead. If you look at the film that way, you can see some of the numbers have a Kelly (as opposed to Astaire) concept...like the rhythm number in the music store, even the interaction with La Miller, and the "Couple of Swells" which is vintage Kelly clowning. Of course Astaire does them beautifully, but they have that "athletic vigor" about them, when Astaire concepts were usually a bit more refined and elegant. The fact the production rushed to keep filming was supposedly due to the idea Garland had limited windows of productivity and they were afraid to wait for Kelly.

As to whether Minelli directed or not, did he at least art direct? no doubt he was at least coaching Garland on the side.

MARY ETHEL, i did mention the Tommy Tune live version earlier in the thread. Rumors i've heard is that the Berlin estate could not see eye-to-eye with Tune (who was also directing/choreographing). Funny they had no such qualms with Walter Bobbie/Randy Skinner and the recent WHITE CHRISTMAS, which raided the Berlin canon for great songs to add to an already wonderful film score. The biggest shame, in my opinion, about no live EASTER PARADE is that my feeling is Sandy Duncan would have been wonderful. Not so sure about Le Tune.

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 6:49pm

Thanks for the update, TxTwoStep...

Note to self: Read ALL posts in thread before asking a question.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 7:02pm

Tx--listen to Liza's "Liza with a Z"--it's "M-I-double N-E-double L-I"--not "Minelli"

[wildcat]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 8:24pm

The final workshops for the Tommy Tune/Sandy Duncan EASTER PARADE took place in Sydney in '98 using an Australian cast and featuring Rhonda Burchmore (West End SUGAR BABIES, STOP THE WORLD...) in the Ann Miller role which she would then repeat on Broadway. All those present agreed that Sandy Duncan was simply breathtaking in the show and the tragedy of its cancellation meant that she was denied the Tony she most surely would have won.

[Yawper]

Posted: 2/27/05 at 9:43pm

MInnelli did all the pre-production on Easter Parade. Walters was brought in when filming began.

[EvelynNesbit1906]

Posted: 2/28/05 at 12:05am

What is the Garland film with a preview at the beginning of the "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" video? It has a bunch of guys snapping their fingers Chicago style and then her singing... something in the center.

And what's the Gene Kelly film that's previewed on the same tape? It appears to be set in the country and he's singing something about a duck. I couldn't make out of the lyrics from the clips so it's been difficult to track it down through google.

[Yawper]

Posted: 2/28/05 at 12:59am

sounds like Summer Stock w/ Garland & Kelly (and Marjorie (sp?) Main and Phil Silvers). It was Garland's final film for MGM. Her number you described is Get Happy. Updated On: 2/28/05 at 12:59 AM

[EvelynNesbit1906]

Posted: 2/28/05 at 1:08am

That's it. Thanks!

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 2/28/05 at 8:43am

thanx for the correction PalJoey. You DO know that the show your handle refers to was commonly spelled with a space between the two words, right? are you the secret identity of Captain Obvious?

for the record, i have corrected other posters in the past. But i gave up proofreading of name spellings years ago. In informal usage, the typo likelihood is just too overwhelming. However, repeated mispelling of a commonly used word, i see as a gentle reminder to amend habit.

That being said, i should be in the habit of spelling Liza's last name correctly automatically.

[Jimmcf]

Posted: 3/20/05 at 4:36pm

Just watched...and man, it is great! (I had never seen before)

[Glebb]

Posted: 3/20/05 at 9:30pm

If you loved Easter Parade and who in their right mind wouldn't love it, you might also love IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMERTIME and FOR ME AND MY GAL.
Also, check out the Garland doc - BY MYSELF which is available on the Easter Parade DVD.

Updated On: 3/20/05 at 09:30 PM

[Glebb]

Posted: 3/21/05 at 2:33pm

Jimmcf - I love your avatar!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/31/13 at 12:30am

Happy Easter, Glebb. Here's the lost footage you were so excited to see.
JUDY GARLAND: 'MR MONOTONY'. DELETED SCENE,

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 3/31/13 at 3:28am

Thanks for the recommendation, AndyHardy. I can't wait to find a copy!