Judy by the Numbers: "Why? Because!"
Wednesday, February 10, 2016 at 10:00AM Anne Marie is tracking Judy Garland's career through musical numbers...
With Judy Garland's growing success, MGM decided it was time to have her star in her own feature. The studio dusted off some musical numbers (arranged by Roger Edens) as well as a handful of contract players and Ziegfeld stars. Judy played a young aspiring actress stuck in a conservative school. Supported by her zany Russian maid (Fanny Brice), the young girl decides to join a musical. The result was another hit for Judy, and a delight for future Vaudeville nerds and historians.
The Movie: Everybody Sing (MGM 1938)
The Songwriters: Harry Ruby & Bert Kalmar
The Players: Judy Garland, Fanny Brice, Allan Jones, Reginald Owen, Billie Burke, directed by Edwin L. Marin
The Story: In Everybody Sing, Judy was joined by not one but two famous Ziegfeld women: Billie Burke (aka Mrs. Florenz Ziegfeld, who we'll see again later), and Fanny Brice, a Jewish comedienne whose life would eventually inspire the musical that would launch Barbara Streisand's career. At the time of Everybody Sing, Brice had successfully transitioned from Vaudeville to radio, and this musical number was based on one of her characters, Baby Snooks. I'll admit that this week's clip isn't so much Judy by the Numbers as Fanny by the Numbers, but there are so few films of Brice. Watching Fanny Brice in action, you see the blueprint being laid out for future funny girls like Barbra Streisand, Lily Tomlin, and Gilda Radner.
Reader Comments (5)
yeah you can totally see later funny ladies there, particularly Gilda, Molly, and Lily who all had "baby" or "young girl" characters.
I really see a lot of Gilda Radner when it comes to Fanny Brice. Points to both performers for playfulness, but when it comes to the song, it's not really much of a tune. More of a missed opportunity.
If I had been either of them I would have hated wardrobe - those short pants - Quelle dommage!
Do not miss that last sidelong glance as Snooks exits.
Classic Fanny Brice!
Well, this certainly made me impatient for 1939...
That's a cute number but what makes it really worth something is to see those two legends cross paths even if it is briefly.
Everybody Sing is an unremarkable little film, good as a star builder for Judy but just another picture. It does show some of why Fanny Brice didn't make it as a screen star. Much like Ethel Merman she was just too big and broad, perfect for the stage or the radio but all wrong for the intimacy of the silver screen. She's a terrific specialty but as the lead overwhelming.
I was reading up on lost films last week and among the many that are gone was one of Fanny's few star vehicles "My Man" based on her hit song. Her output is so small that's a tremendous loss.