Judy by the Numbers: "Get Happy"
Wednesday, July 20, 2016 at 9:19AM In 'Judy by the Numbers' Anne Marie looks back at Garland's career through key songs
By the time Judy Garland turned 28, her entire adult life and her entire star persona had been a product of MGM. In 1950, Judy Garland's image - as cultivated by MGM and the Freed Unit - was of an exuberant talent, small in stature but big in heart and voice; a buoyant box office sensation. However, the reality was different. In the 13 months between the release of In The Good Old Summertime and Summer Stock, Judy Garland fought drug addiction, rehab, an increasingly strained marriage, an unsympathetic studio, and a suicide attempt that made headlines worldwide. Filmed before her attempt but released two months after it, Summer Stock is a record of the conflict between the image of Judy Garland and the reality of Frances Gumm.
The Movie: Summer Stock (1950)
The Songwriters: Harold Arlen (music), Mack Gordon (lyrics)
The Players: Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, Eddie Bracken, Gloria de Haven, directed by Charles Walters
The Story: "Get Happy" is the number that shouldn't be from the movie that shouldn't exist. Neither Judy Garland nor Gene Kelly was supposed to be in Summer Stock. Judy had just dropped from Annie Get Your Gun and entered rehab, and Gene's star was rising with Arthur Freed. However, Joe Pasternak coaxed them into another picture, a return to form based on the old Rooney/Garland "let's put on a show!" model. Though it was intended to be a triumphant return, ultimately Judy lags through much of Summer Stock, which needs her energy to carry through a plodding plot. She looks and sounds a little slower, though sources disagree on why - either she was recovering from rehab or further spiralling into addiction.
In this context - and even out of it - "Get Happy" is a shock. Filmed months later at Judy's insistence, with design and directorial help from husband Vincente Minnelli, the number shows Judy shining like she hasn't in a while. She's sexy, she's witty, she's beaming, and she's urbane in a way that sticks out from her nostalgia-laced image. Even without the maelstrom of malady surrounding her, this would be a defining number for Judy. With this backstory, "Get Happy" takes on another meaning too - the "fix." If Summer Stock is the movie where Judy Garland's facade slipped, then "Get Happy" is the number that restored it, at least temporarily. Don't worry about the exhaustion! Judy's back, and better than ever. Forget your troubles!
The fix was a public one only. Though Summer Stock was a success, Judy and MGM parted ways in 1951. Divorced from the studio that had raised her, Judy Garland would find the 1950s to be both happy and heartbreaking. She would live out private struggles in public, and her image would change from child star to musical maiden to something more complicated. For some stars, the tragedies of their lives become as image-defining as their successes.
Reader Comments (10)
This is iconic Judy. And the first of many come-back Judy performances. Each one is a little bit of a resurrection. If you have never seen this movie SEE IT. It's a plodding ponderous story but it has my favorite Gene Kelly dance number. Just Gene and a page of newspaper
What a stellar number this is, perfect vocal, sublime song, great choreography, and beautifully staged and directed. Vincent Minnelli was a genius.
I love Judy Garland's insouciance, she makes it look so easy. And the tuxedo outfit makes her look fabulous. The definition of "Iconic".
Side note: This number became very influential, it has overtones of Fosse style to it.
Michael Jackson's "Dangerous" imitates the choreo, and Duffy's musical video "Rain on Your Parade" is a direct homage to "Get Happy".
"insouciance" is the perfect word for it. the whole thing just exudes 'what? this number? whatever -- we just threw it together. *shrug*' which is why it's so brilliantly fun because it cannot have been anything but complicated hard work to be that minimalist dazzling.
love this number so much. wish someone would restore every single Judy picture so they shine even brighter.
I was having a bit of a plodding day. Then I saw this video and Poof! the problems melted away. Sheer razzle dazzle perfection
IMO her best number ever... and I love them all.
I always liked Summer Stock more than most even if its a minor film. Yes the Get Happy number is a big shining moment but it's not the only one.
Judy & Gene tear it up in the Portland Fancy challenge dance number showing what an expert dancer she could be, it is sad that her particular talent in that area more or less ended being used with this film.
Even though Get Happy is the iconic number that came from the movie my favorite is her gorgeous rendition of "Friendly Star" full of longing and hope. It's also where she looks her best in the film.
But this movie also contains probably my least favorite musical number in all film, that godawful Hee Haw thing where Gene Kelly, Phil Silvers and others make animal noises and make jackasses out of themselves in a barnyard, I can't hit the fast forward button fast enough!!!
Of course they are huge signs in the film of the turmoil going on behind the scenes with her. The "Howdy Neighbor" scene is obviously pieced together from various takes (whole backgrounds change suddenly behind her as she rolls along) and her weight fluctuates wildly from scene to scene, not just the Get Happy number, they are a couple instances where she walks through the door of one room and enters the next either 10 pounds lighter or heavier. That she manages to give as breezy and both soundly comedic and tender performance as she does is testament to her gifts when she was able to pull herself together.
This series of articles on Judy is really just lovely. It has really reminded me how awesome Judy Garland was.
I loved this film and this number as a kid, though I always had a feeling that "Get Happy" didn't have anything to do with the rest of the movie. When I finally found out why, I loved it even more, even though it saddened me. I've been dreading rewatching the whole movie for years, because of all the things joel6 mentions, things I didn't (consciously) register in earlier viewings.
It's as if she mustered up all of courage and fire from within to listen to the message of the song she was singing.
I agree there's a lot of inner sadness when the context is explained, but it does make the actually feat of it even more impressive.
All those troubles and blues never show on her face or in her stunning dancing.
Keep up the great work, Anne Marie!
I think Charles Walter deserves the credit for staging and directing Miss Garland in " Summer Stock". As the story goes, they wanted a big number for Judy in the last part of the picture. she just came back from vacation and when ask if she would come in and do the number. She told Mr. Walters that she wanted to do "Get Happy" and wanted to wear the costume from "Easter Parade". She wore the costume for the deleted "Mr. Monotony" number.
Charles Walters also directed "Easter Parade".