Judy by the Numbers: "Let There Be Love/You're Nobody Til Somebody Loves You"
Wednesday, August 31, 2016 at 8:03AM Anne Marie has been chronicling Judy Garland's career chronologically through musical numbers...
In 1957, a golden opportunity landed in Judy Garland's lap that looked, at first glance, like a lawsuit. In fact it was a lawsuit (and a counterlawsuit) concerning a contract she'd signed with CBS. Garland (on the advice of hubby Sidney Luft) had signed a $300,000 contract with CBS for three years of TV specials in 1955. However, only one special had ever aired. In 1957, Judy sued, which caused CBS to countersue. The result reads like something out of the rejected musical version of Adam's Rib: in 1961, Judy & CBS decided to put aside their differences (and lawsuits) to sign a new contract for two new specials. The first of these aired just a year later in 1962.
The Show: The Judy Garland Show (CBS, 1962)
The Songwriters: Lionel Rand (music), Ian Grant (lyrics)
The Cast: Judy Garland, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, directed by Norman Jewison
The Story: Norman Jewison (soon to be famous for directing, among other things the movie version of Fiddler on the Roof) got one thing very, very right about this TV special: when you have three legendary talents onscreen, you don't need much else. The whole series featured a very pared down aesthetic: little choreography, few costume changes, and a set featuring random pillars and lights that flew out to reveal an equally mustard yellow void. Of course, when you have Judy, Dean and Frank clowning around and stepping in time, you don't need much more.
The series would be nominated for 3 Emmy Awards and net huge ratings for CBS. This was good news for both network and star, who decided to continue to put aside their differences in order to do a weekly TV series.
Select Previous Highlights:
“Zing Went the Strings of My Heart” (1938), "Over the Rainbow" (1939), "The Trolley Song" (1944), "I Don't Care" (1949), "Get Happy" (1950), "The Man That Got Away" (1954)
Reader Comments (7)
The essence of late 50's/early 60's cool. Love how their styles blend so effortlessly and the monochromatic set which allows the focus to remain on the trio and Judy's splash of color to make her stand it. (It was her special after all).
Love this series so much. Thank you Anne Marie!
Looking forward to which clip is selected from the Judy TV series. I hope it's either the iconic Streisand duet or Judy's "Come Rain or Come Shine" from the Liza show. Judy seems to surprise herself with her greatness in that number.
Love this special and the resulting series, despite the heartbreak of the behind-the-scenes troubles. I've had the complete series DVD box set for awhile and dip into it whenever I need a dose of Judy, especially around the holidays.
Here's a little bonus I recently discovered: Frank, Judy & Dean live (May 1963)
@ Jen
"Happy Days"/"Get Happy" is the obvious choice, but there are so many underrated/unfamiliar gems from that show, it'd be great to be surprised...
There's so much brilliance in the TV show it could be it's own mini-series of posts. I'm personally hoping for her rendition Ol' Man River which I think is one of her most amazing performances but the choices are so rich I can't imagine being disappointed in whatever Anne Marie focuses on.
Norman Jewison is a very under appreciated director. Actors and performers always look their best when directed by him. They look warm, open, intelligent and talented. Creating the conditions for that doesn't just happen by itself.
There was another special after the 1955 one, though it was just a half an hour in length, And wasn't this 1962 special in black and white to begin with?