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A Crash Course in Becoming a Judy Garland Buff
By an Amazon.com customer
The Wizard of Oz (Import - English - All Regions)The Wizard of Oz (Import - English - All Regions)
On day one, you have to start with this movie. Most people become hooked after seeing "The Wizard of Oz"!
25th Anniversary Retrospective25th Anniversary Retrospective by Judy Garland
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Also on day one, you might want to try listening to this CD. It covers her career from 1939's "Over the Rainbow" to 1963's "By Myself." Included are her famous Carnegie Hall concert recordings.
Judy Garland: World's Greatest EntertainerJudy Garland: World's Greatest Entertainer by John Fricke
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As the last part of day one, this is a good book to start with. It's not overwhelmingly large and it is filled with beautiful illustrations.
Meet Me In St. Louis (Two-Disc Special Edition)Meet Me In St. Louis (Two-Disc Special Edition)
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On day two, it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with Judy's other best films. Starting with "Meet Me in St. Louis," you'll see Judy at her most beautiful and hear some of her best songs including "The Boy Next Door" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."
Easter Parade (Two-Disc Special Edition)Easter Parade (Two-Disc Special Edition)
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In the evening on day two, curl up on the couch with Judy's other most famous musical, "Easter Parade." Filled with dazzling and colorful song and dance routines, it's a really fun film to view!
Judy Garland: Collectors' Gems From The M-G-M Films - Motion Picture Soundtrack AnthologyJudy Garland: Collectors' Gems From The M-G-M Films - Motion Picture Soundtrack Anthology by Judy Garland
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Now that you've heard an overview of Judy's best work, this CD set is a good continuation. It focuses in on her MGM musical soundtracks.
The Mickey Rooney & Judy Garland Collection (Babes in Arms / Babes on Broadway / Girl Crazy / Strike Up the Band)The Mickey Rooney & Judy Garland Collection (Babes in Arms / Babes on Broadway / Girl Crazy / Strike Up the Band)
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On day three, now that you've seen the lavish Technicolor musicals, you're ready to see the early black and white films of Judy Garland. Her pairings with Mickey Rooney really set off her career. The best films in this collection are "Strike Up the Band" and "Babes on Broadway."
Judy Garland: A Portrait in Art & AnecdoteJudy Garland: A Portrait in Art & Anecdote by John Fricke
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Also on day three, you might take a reprieve with this enormous picture book. It's less dense reading with quick anecdotes and memories from Judy's friends and co-stars.
The ClockThe Clock
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On day four, you can view Judy's mature roles. By the mid-forties, she had shed the teenage roles and become a leading lady. This film is the only one when she does not sing. She's surprisingly talented at straight dramatic acting!
Judy Garland: The Complete Decca Masters (Plus)Judy Garland: The Complete Decca Masters (Plus) by Judy Garland
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On day four, you can relax in the evening to various recordings from this four CD boxed set. There's a CD from each era during Judy's MGM heyday, spanning from the early 1930s to late 1940s. Especially good recordings are "On the Sunny Side of the Street", "I Never Knew" , and "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows."
In the Good Old SummertimeIn the Good Old Summertime
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On day five, you can view some of Judy's later MGM films. I feel this film is underrrated. It's really just as good as "Easter Parade". Judy's best moment in the film is when she sings "I Don't Care" in a brilliant red dress.
The PirateThe Pirate
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Although not her most highly acclaimed film, this is a chance to see Gene Kelly and Judy working together. If "The Pirate" does not appeal to you, you can see Judy and Gene Kelly together in "Summer Stock" or "For Me and My Gal."
Me and My Shadows : A Family MemoirMe and My Shadows : A Family Memoir by Lorna Luft
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Also on day five, if you're tired of the other books, try this memoir by Judy's second daughter, Lorna Luft. It gives wonderful insight into the issues Judy was dealing with during the 1950s. Disturbing at times, the book may not portray Judy through rose-colored glasses, but it is an absorbing read.
I Could Go On SingingI Could Go On Singing
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On day six, try to get ahold of Judy's final film. She plays a singer touring England while being estranged from her son. During this time, Judy was growing more and more troubled, causing rifts with her family. The parallel with own life makes her performance here even more moving!
The Judy Garland Show CollectionThe Judy Garland Show Collection
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This collection is huge and I haven't seen half of it. But try ordering it on NetFlix just to get a sample of what Judy's TV show was like. Some of the episodes with Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin are especially worth seeing. These shows give viewers a chance to see how personable and funny Judy could be!
A Star Is BornA Star Is Born
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Now that you've reached the end of the week, the culminating experience is to watch "A Star is Born." Judy almost won the Oscar for this role. Her performance includes everything-- drama, musical, and comedy.
Get Happy: The Life of Judy GarlandGet Happy: The Life of Judy Garland by Gerald Clarke
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If you have been hooked by this crash course in becoming a Judy Garland fan, the best way to proceed is to read this essential biography. It is long, but not dense or boring in any way. It shows Judy as human and likable, while not whitewashing her flaws. I hope you can learn more about one of the 20th century's best entertainers through trying out these suggestions!