The Judy Garland Show –
Chita Rivera/Vic Damone (Show #17)
+ Martha Raye/Peter Lawford (Show #18) [Geneon]
Picture: C+
Sound: C+ Extras: C Episodes: B
Geneon’s reissue of episodes from The Judy Garland Show
(1963 – 64) originally issued under the Pioneer name adds two more episode on
one DVD, with Chita Rivera/Vic Damone (Show #17) + Martha Raye/Peter
Lawford (Show #18). This was Rivera
in amazing shape and with amazing energy before the musical Chicago put
her on the map, while Damone was enjoying his last years at the top. Lawford is definitely in his element here,
while Raye was enjoying her last years of popularity before Vietnam got her
blacklisted in the industry, but not for the reasons you’d think.
She was actually trying to support the troops under any
circumstances, as she had been entertaining and supporting them since USO Tours
during WWII. When Vietnam became the
mess it did, she tried to be supportive and it backfired. It was not until Sid & Marty Krofft
hired her for their live-action shows (Puffnstuf, Bugaloos), McMillan
& Wife and Alice with Linda Lavin as the mother of her boss
Mel. The energy and spirit were
irrepressible. She is a series
highlight.
Each show is again about 50 minutes, intended for an
hour-long time slot. Raye has some
funny moments, including a fine solo song.
The big surprise of the Raye/Lawford show is a skit where they
mock the hits of 1964. It was loony
enough, when they have some dancer interpret The Nitty Gritty, where
they look dressed more for a 1950s bobby-soxer show and when the six dancers
come out, five are Lawrence Welk Show safe, but one young man (there are three
guys, three gals) obviously can move to the song better and the result is him
stealing the show. Even the camera
operator and director decide to zoom in on him. A fascinating moment, but the Rivera/Damone show is still
entertaining if not containing as many surprises.
The 1.33 X 1 image is again 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. It is at least as sharp and clear as the last DVDs
we looked at and might even have better overall fidelity this time. 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 six outtakes,
but that is all.
- Nicholas Sheffo
