Genres

Visitors Review

moonspinner55 2013-06-16 03:00:00

That Judy! She was always chasing rainbows...

Fan-magazine equivalent of a biography, in this case atelevision-budget glimpse into the early life of actress and vocalistJudy Garland (née Frances Gumm). Director Jackie Cooper, who reminds ushe befriended the real Judy during their years together at M-G-M, laysthe pathos at our feet right from the start, with Broadway's AndreaMcArdle belting out a lonesome "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows", followedby a reprise of the song fifteen minutes later! Cooper, and writer JohnMcGreevey (working from a sub-standard book by Christopher Finch),perhaps were hoping to show us Judy's natural pluck and verve despiteupheavals in the Gumm household--but, if so, somebody forgot to tellyoung McArdle. With her hangdog face, crooked mouth and watery eyes,she's about as far from plucky as a Garland substitute can be.Obviously chosen for the part due to her stage pipes as the original"Annie", McArdle has apparently studied Judy Garland but doesn'tattempt an imitation (perhaps unwisely, considering the results we doget); with a trained voice so one-dimensional it is practicallysoulless, McArdle seems zombie-fied, metallic. Cooper stagesinnumerable scenes around the piano with McArdle in song--alwayssurrounded by adults nodding to each other, pretending to find heradorable--but never gets at what was so unique about Judy Garland. Sheappears to us to be just another kid songbird. The Hollywood studiosequences are also underwhelming, with key details and conversationscoming off as suspect (made worse by repetitive moments, poor editingand mediocre acting). One can only scoff at what amounts to be awoe-is-me look at a poor little rich girl, one who finds herselfwondering aloud, "When will I be in the right place at the right time?"as she walks the lot of the biggest movie studio in the world.

padutchland-1 2013-06-15 11:58:40

Andrea McArdle will WOW you!!!

I was very fortunate to find a VHS tape of this movie and have watchedit many times since. One never tires of seeing and hearing it. It's oneof those videos you hang onto like a treasure. You do not even have tolike musicals to love this musical drama. Some might say McArdle wasdeadpan or the like but I see her performance as a reflection of aperson living an unhappy childhood (Garland). And that's how a personfeels. I consider it one of the better movies I have seen. One cannotpraise Andrea McArdle enough, not only for her knock out vocals but asa superb actress as well. In fact, the whole film is loaded withtalented people. Never during the whole movie does one stop and thinkof acting ability. When the acting is great, as in this one, you forgetthat these are people acting out parts. It was that good. The famousJackie Cooper also deserves a huge pat on the back as the Director. Whythis movie was not promoted into top billing and put on DVD, I have noidea. It certainly runs circles around many movies pushed as thegreatest. I hope that it will end up on DVD to help preserve it. Thisis the story of Judy Garland's early life, as she struggled intostardom. It helps us understand how she became addicted to drugsbecause the studio wanted her thinner. She took pills for energy, thenpills to go to sleep and on it went. What a shame, she died too young.She was unhappy many times in her life. But so are many other people. Iwas wondering to myself – why is it that we feel such compassion forthe problems of a movie star, when ordinary people may go through evenworse lives? There is only one answer – they live public lives. We seethem on the screen and we think we know them (which we don't), are apart of their lives. This movie will certainly make you feel that forJudy Garland. Judy complained to her mentor Roger Edens, that there wasno use in trying. She didn't feel thin enough nor good looking enoughto make it. Roger told her that he always thought she was pretty andthat she had something more than the beautiful actresses, she had avoice. Yet she did make it big, but it was also her undoing in the end.Andrea has that great voice. In addition, her acting ability will makeyou believe every scene is for real. With a voice like that, there isno reason she could not have made it big in the movies, perhaps shedidn't know the right people. However, perhaps she is lucky that shedid not, because she is probably a lot happier than Judy ever was as asuper star. Andrea starred on Broadway as "Annie". McArdle wasnominated for a 1977 Tony Award for that part. Nothing against othersingers, it is just very tough to better the voice of Andrea McArdle.When Judy's father (Don Murray) was dying in the hospital, listening toJudy (Andrea) on the radio, sing their favorite song (I'll Get By), youwould have to be a made of stone not to feel it. McArdle sang a numberof songs in this movie and everyone was a keeper. Forgive me if I don'tget the titles exactly right, but she sang You Made Me Love You in DearMr. Gable, Somewhere Over The Rainbow at the end of the movie, ZingWent the Strings of My Heart, Stormy Weather, Dinah and probably more.In a couple of scenes it was mentioned that she sang in B flat and Iwondered if that was the same key for both Judy and Andrea. As I saidearlier, there are many talented people in this wonderful film. MichaelParks played Roger Edens in his usual low-key method. I first noticedhim in a TV show from 1969 titled Then Came Bronson where he travelsaround the country by motorcycle seeking the meaning of life. Hereminded me of the new James Dean. He has done a wealth of work overthe years. Rue McClanahan played her part to a T and I am not a Ruefan, or maybe it is the parts she plays. Nice job Rue. Donna Pescowplayed Judy's sister Jinnie. My hat's off to anyone who will gain 40pounds for a part as she did in Saturday Night Fever – crazy, butdedicated. It is hoped good things will continue for her. Martin Balsamwas Louie B. Mayer in this movie and he certainly was believable. Agreat actor who is missed. It is said he was a bit annoyed when fansonly seemed to remember him falling down the stairs in Psycho when hehad done so many other works. Piper Laurie was Judy's mother and herportrayal was a difficult one to pull off. In a kind of contradiction,she was both one of those mothers who push their kids into showbusiness and yet she displayed a real concern for the welfare of herdaughter. Piper ably wove both types into the personality of thecharacter. Others also contributed to make this a wonderful movie. Itis well worth the time you spend to view it – no doubt about it –absolutely! Experience this movie if you get the opportunity.

coloradokid719 2013-06-05 08:11:26

Wonderful Film

I saw this back in '78, and parts of the dialogue and music have stuckwith me for the past 21 years. In fact, I had just quoted one of thesongs at work the night before I discovered that this was running on mylocal cable "on demand" for free! The cast is excellent, and AndreaMcArdle's voice is amazing.Perhaps a few of the performances were a little "stiff" or "wooden,"but I think that speaks more to the direction of the film, and the factthat people back in those days WERE more stiff and wooden (read:"proper") than they are now.It doesn't have the production quality of a theatrical release, butkeep in mind, this was a made-for-TV movie. I thought the entireproduction was brilliant, and am so happy to have been able to see itagain after all these years!

jayunderscorezero 2013-06-05 05:24:24

A showcase for McArdle's talents, but little else

Really very thin on plot, dealing as it does with a relatively shortperiod in Judy Garland's life (and how much plot can one extract from"stage performer becomes film performer"?), and really just a showcasefor a series of singing performances from Ms McArdle. Still, McArdle isdefinitely noteworthy, and this is ultimately not bad TV biopic fare.When some actual plot does occasionally rear its head, it all seems tobe handled in a fairly shallow way, without any real delving into thestories big emotional mines, such as Garland's relationship with herparents, reaction to her father's death and her treatment - andmedication - by the studios.Judy Garland/Wizard of Oz trivia: Piper Laurie, who plays JudyGarland's mother in this film, would go on to play Auntie Em, DorothyGale's mother-figure in Return to Oz.

padutchland-1 2013-05-29 13:25:19

Andrea McArdle will WOW you!!!

I was very fortunate to find a VHS tape of this movie and have watchedit many times since. One never tires of seeing and hearing it. It's oneof those videos you hang onto like a treasure. You do not even have tolike musicals to love this musical drama. I consider it one of the bestmovies I have ever experienced, and I have seen enough movies to fill avideo store the size of Wal-Mart. One cannot praise Andrea McArdleenough, not only for her knock out vocals but as a superb actress aswell. In fact, the whole film is loaded with talented people. Neverduring the whole movie does one stop and think of acting ability. Whenthe acting is great, as in this one, you forget that these are peopleacting out parts. It was that good. The famous Jackie Cooper alsodeserves a huge pat on the back as the Director. Why this movie was notpromoted into top billing and put on DVD, I have no idea. Probablybecause the people involved were not part of the Hollywood clique. Itcertainly runs circles around many movies pushed as the greatest. Ihope that it will end up on DVD to help preserve it. This is the storyof Judy Garland's early life, as she struggled into stardom. It helpsus understand how she became addicted to drugs because the studiowanted her thinner. She took pills for energy, then pills to go tosleep and on it went. What a shame, she died too young. She was unhappymany times in her life. But so are many other people. I was wonderingto myself – why is it that we feel such compassion for the problems ofa movie star, when ordinary people may go through even worse lives?There is only one answer – they live public lives. We see them on thescreen and we think we know them, are a part of their lives. This moviewill certainly make you feel that for Judy Garland. I also saw somesimilarities between Judy and Andrea. Judy complained to her mentorRoger Edens, that there was no use in trying. She didn't feel thinenough nor good looking enough to make it. Roger told her that healways thought she was pretty and that she had something more than thebeautiful actresses, she had a voice. Yet she did make it big, but itwas also her undoing in the end. Perhaps Andrea was fortunate not toachieve "super" stardom. Andrea was pretty and cute in the film, butnot in a raving beauty sense. Yet many of the raving beauties ofHollywood are either empty headed or lack any basic common sense ortalent. Andrea has that great voice plus plenty of brains (you can justtell). In addition, her acting ability will make you believe everyscene is for real. With a voice like that, there is no reason she couldnot have made it big in the movies, perhaps she didn't know the rightpeople. However, perhaps she is lucky that she did not, because she isprobably a lot happier than Judy ever was as a super star. Andreastarred on Broadway as "Annie", and it is her renditions of the songsthat are the best ever done, including the movie that came later.McArdle was nominated for a 1977 Tony Award for that part. Nothingagainst other singers, it is just very tough to better the voice ofAndrea McArdle. When Judy's father (Don Murray) was dying in thehospital, listening to Judy (Andrea) on the radio, sing their favoritesong (I'll Get By), you would have to be a made of stone not to feelit. McArdle sang a number of songs in this movie and everyone was akeeper. Forgive me if I don't get the titles exactly right, but shesang You Made Me Love You in Dear Mr. Gable, Somewhere Over The Rainbowat the end of the movie, Zing Went the Strings of My Heart, StormyWeather, Dinah (my favorite that she did) and probably more. In acouple of scenes it was mentioned that she sang in B flat and Iwondered if that was the same key for both Judy and Andrea. As I saidearlier, there are many talented people in this wonderful film. MichaelParks played Roger Edens in his usual low-key method. I first noticedhim in a TV show from 1969 titled Then Came Bronson where he travelsaround the country by motorcycle seeking the meaning of life. Hereminded me of the new James Dean. He has done a wealth of work overthe years. Rue McClanahan played her part to a T and I am not a Ruefan, or maybe it is the parts she plays. Nice job Rue. Donna Pescowplayed Judy's sister Jinnie. My hat's off to anyone who will gain 40pounds for a part as she did in Saturday Night Fever – crazy, butdedicated. It is hoped good things will continue for her. Martin Balsamwas Louie B. Mayer in this movie and he certainly was believable. Agreat actor who is missed. It is said he was a bit annoyed when fansonly seemed to remember him falling down the stairs in Psycho when hehad done so many other works. Piper Laurie was Judy's mother and herportrayal was a difficult one to pull off. In a kind of contradiction,she was both one of those mothers who push their kids into showbusiness and yet she displayed a real concern for the welfare of herdaughter. Piper ably wove both types into the personality of thecharacter. Others also contributed to make this a wonderful movie. Itis well worth the time you spend to view it – no doubt about it –absolutely! Experience this movie if you get the opportunity.

tasha-52 2013-05-29 03:13:26

Little Girl - BIG Voice

Of course, in a made for TV movie, you aren't looking for theprofessionalism of the genre, but rather at the entertainment value.Well, this is one movie that delivers the entertainment by way ofAndrea McArdle. She is a powerhouse and made such an impression on mewith her voice as a young girl that I can still recall the lyrics toall of the Judy Garland songs she sang in this film.The relationship portrayed with her father is a touching one and youget a sense of how this little girl was transformed into the mediapowerhouse that was ultimately her undoing. A must see movie - if itcan ever be found released.

2013-05-24 08:52:01

put em' together and you get...

If you watch Rainbow, then watch me and my shadows you get a really in depth view of Judy's life - even if parts of it are a bit over dramatic. I didn't pay a cent for this movie - someone gave me a copy and I don't think I would pay more than twenty bucks if I ever come across a copy; it just isn't worth it - but teamed with Me and my shadows it works ohk - it gets a bit of a boost.

2013-05-23 18:16:21

A Pretty Memorable Portrayal

This was one of my favorites growing up in the eighties. The story very entertainingly depicts Judy Garland's rise to international stardom, her relationship with her family (especially her father) and her professional relationships with some of the more colorful characters from Hollywood's golden years. The music is top notch as well. I highly recommend this film.

webstanator 2013-05-13 09:54:06

Dreadful!

Judy Garland was incredibly talented and not in the least boring so howin the world this movie was made is beyond me. It was absolutelydreadful, boring beyond belief and in large part extremely poorlyacted. The only character I managed to grow interested in was thefather and they didn't develop him much.Andrea McCardle's voice could crack windows - I had to mute thenumerous songs to keep the dogs in the neighborhood from howling. Shewas in way over her head for this role and didn't sound a thing likeJudy Garland. Her horrid singing was only eclipsed by her equallyatrocious acting, all her dialogue delivered in a flat, monotonemanner. Andrea was simply awful so I'm astonished at the numerousaccolades by other reviewers.It was free on OnDemand and this is definitely a case of you get whatyou pay for. Save yourself two hours and avoid this painfullyembarrassing flick.

2013-05-12 20:32:15

A pretty good movie

I have been looking for this movie everywhere, and I recently got it on ebay for about 20 bucks, I was so happy, that's alot better than the 45 they have here! I got it because I am a fan of Andrea McArdle, and I was underimpressed with her acting. She looks dead in the face when she's singing, and she has totally the wrong timber to play Judy. But the lady for the mother and father are very good. The best parts I have to say are when Andrea McArdle are singing, she only got the role because she just got off the band wagon of Annie. And she's too young to look 16 at the end of the film, and she's way to skinny to be Judy. But for 90 minutes I did enjoy seeing this movie, in fact it was much better than I thought it would be, so I was pleased. But, I wouldn't want to pay $45 for this. For a better movie on Judy Garland just buy the Emmy Award winning one with Judy Davis: "Me and my Shadows." But if you'd love to see Andrea McArdle sing, go ahead and fork over the money for this one.