Judy by the Numbers: "Embraceable You"
Wednesday, May 18, 2016 at 8:00AM Anne Marie is tracking Judy Garland's career through musical numbers...
Throughout the 1930s, Mickey and Judy had been one of America's favorite musical duos. With Mickey in the lead and Judy providing musical support, the two young teenagers - with the help of the Freed Unit - dominated the box office, regularly grossing $1 million even during the Depression. However, by the beginning of the 1940s, both 21-year-old Judy and 23-year-old Mickey had grown past the simple comedies in which they'd made their names. While both continued to pull in the same amount at the box office, Mickey was moving into more serious roles - though he still had a few more Andy Hardy movies in his contract - and Judy was dropping her hems and trading in her hair ribbons for hats. So, at the end of 1943, Mickey and Judy starred in their last musical together.
The Movie: Girl Crazy (1943)
The Songwriters: George Gershwin (music) & Ira Gershwin (lyrics)
The Players: Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, June Allyson, directed by Busby Berkeley and Norman Taurog
The Story: This transition affected their partnership in Girl Crazy as well. While before, Judy had been Mickey's sidekick, now she was her own force to be reckoned with. Director Busby Berkeley gave 3 musical numbers to Judy alone, while Mickey appeared with her in 2 more (and also was dubbed on piano for one number). While the plot still mostly fell on Mickey's shoulders, the musical was entirely Judy's. In fact, she got two more iconic hits from it: "Embraceable You," and "But Not For Me."
Though Mickey and Judy would continue to be friends (and perform together - once more in a movie and again later on her TV show), their onscreen partnership had run its course. And though Judy couldn't have anticipated it, right around the corner was another movie that would change her life forever.
Previous Related Highlights:
"Our Love Affair," "Good Morning," "Got a New Pair of Shoes"
Reader Comments (5)
Congratulations on your posts, Anne Marie! You should publish them as a book! Is that the plan?
This is a sprightly musical with Judy nicely saucy in her first encounter with Mickey in his broken down jalopy on a desert road. She looks lovely throughout the film and is in superb voice.
She has a lot of fun with this number, though that bow in her hair look like askew Minnie Mouse ears, saving the pathos for later with But Not for Me, another beautiful performance.
It was a good time to break with Rooney. While he was still pulling that overly unctuous, consuming all the air in the room stuff her style had evolved into a more adult modulated one. There's still an ease between them but they were heading in different directions.
The first song in the film "Treat Me Rough" is also noteworthy not only for it being performed by a just starting out June Allyson but for the fact that she beats the hell out of Mickey during the number. She was never as unbridled again either.
I've read that unfortunately this was the first film where Judy's problems began to surface behind the scenes. She and Busby Berkeley, a hard almost demonic taskmaster who was originally set to direct, drove her to the point of collapse and she was confined to bed for several weeks. Berkeley was then fired and replaced. It doesn't show in the finished product but the cracks had started.
Gotta love these “Let’s Put on a Show” pairings for Judy. It’s nice to see the studio spend money on Judy and this picture, Broadway musical rights ( which of course has a plot change) Irene Sharaff costumes , Cedric Gibbons art direction , and the magnificent Tommy Dorsey Orchestra playing a memorable Gershwin score (Sigh………………..)
I really like this movie as I recall. Isn't this dinner dance supposed to be occurring at some desert dude ranch where Judy is the only beautiful woman/girl in sight? I'm glad that Anne Marie featured this number because it showcases Judy at her peak. Singing and dancing with a bunch of adoring chorus boys sounds about right.
But Not For Me is downright definitive for the song and for Judy and I urge people to watch that too. Judy here feels like she is becoming an adult on screen as well as a true actor, something Mickey only sporadically pulled off after this era.
I hope we get to hear you thoughts on her segment in Ziegfeld Follies.