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Category:    Home > Reviews > Music Variety Show > The Judy Garland Show – Tony Bennett/Steve Lawrence (Shows #5 & 6) + Peggy Lee/Ethel Merman (Shows #13 & 16) [Geneon]

The Judy Garland Show – Tony Bennett/Steve Lawrence (Shows #5 & 6) + Peggy Lee/Ethel Merman (Shows #13 & 16) [Geneon]

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: C     Episodes: B-

 

 

Geneon continues its classy reissue of episodes from The Judy Garland Show (1963 – 64) originally issued under the Pioneer name.  This time, the singles are double episode releases of Tony Bennett/Steve Lawrence (Shows #5 & 6) + Peggy Lee/Ethel Merman (Shows #13 & 16) are now available and they are good shows.

 

In these cases, I was not happy with the choice of all the songs or even some of the performances, but appearances from Mel Torme, Dick Shawn, Jerry Van Dyke, June Allyson, Jack Carter, Carl Reiner, Peter Gennaro and Shelley Berman are nice, while Norman Jewison even directs some of the happenings.  Each show is about 50 minutes, intended for an hour-long time slot.  I you like showtunes and song standards, then you’ll enjoy these sets.  Bennett and Merman shine in particular.

 

The 1.33 X 1 image is from the black and white videotape and looks very good and bright as if it came directly from the original 2” reels.  There are occasional flaws in the tape and the analog NTSC video is obviously limited, but it looks good for its age and as good as any such monochrome tape material from its time has looked on DVD to date.  The Dolby Digital is here in 2.0 Mono and a 5.1 mix that is a little better, but still very much in the front three speakers.  Extras include five outtakes on the first DVD, one on the second and nice booklets inside the cases of both.  Geneon is making these reissues very appealing and that will make fans very happy.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo


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