50th Anniversary: "Judy Judy Judy"
Saturday, April 23, 2011 at 8:30PM 
10|25|50|75|100 -anniversary specials
In the annals of showbiz history few one night events are as seismic as "Judy Judy Judy" the night Judy Garland hit Carnegie Hall, 50 years ago at this very moment, for her comeback performance. She was called many things during her legendary career: Hurricane Judy, The World's Greatest Entertainer, Ms. Showbiz and a lot of those titles coincide or funnel right into or through this big night. There's not really any concert footage of this event though it was famously recorded live to fulfill her record contract and eventually became her most important album.
I can't for the life of me remember how that Garland miniseries with Judy Davis covered the event but they must have done so given that it was one of those 'from cradle to grave' bios. Garland died just 8 years after this concert at the age of 47. Do you think the proposed Anne Hathaway as Judy Garland film will stretch this far into Judy's career? Or maybe it will never get made?
Hathaway is 28 years old at the moment, just ten years younger than Judy was on this big night...
Lots more after the jump including four melodic videos because I couldn't help myself. I do get carried away with the mythic actresses, don't I?
Judy looked older than 38 in 1961 (different times and those addictions will age you!). Judy was roughly Anne's current age around the time of Summer Stock with Gene Kelly.
By the time they film the new Garland movie -- if they ever film the new Garland movie -- maybe Hathaway will be at the exact right age for A Star is Born ;)
Here's a showbiz history piece Steve Kmetko (remember him from "E!"? years and years back?) did on the Judy Judy Judy concert.
Michael Musto shared the news on his blog this week that a documentary about this concert just went into preproduction. There's very little known footage of this event but I'm guessing they'll find some or do something creative with the editing (she did tour with the show after all so surely some footage exists, if not from this exact night).
Remember a few years back when Rufus Wrainwright recreated the entire set list for his "Rufus Rufus Rufus" tour in 2007? I got to see it live (Thanks Adam!)
Yay.
If you've never seen the movie I Could Go On Singing (1963), you really should. It's not only her last film but one of her best performances; her acting is always underappreciated given the absolute enormous shadow cast by her vocal legend. Plus, the movie is obviously not entirely a work of fiction [cough cough] if you catch my drift.
Here's a number from that one, her final film, because as much as we appreciate Rufus's actressexuality, we have to give Judy the last warbling notes as an encore.
Reader Comments (9)
This is why I love this site! Always had a special place in my heart for judy and this album is the bees knees!
There is no such thing as going overboard on Judy Garland. No amount of coverage would ever be enough.
I liked the Judy Davis movie (which I co-starred in, come to think), but I really don't want to see Hathaway as Judy. Hathaway played so down-to-the-bone in Rachel Getting Married, which I guess she'd bring to Garland, but I somehow don't seem that quite matching/working for the part.
I think "I Could Go On Singing" is in my top 5 Judy songs, but I REALLY love, "Last Night When We Were Young." I wonder if the young'ns on this site who don't know Judy might do themselves a solid by looking that one up.
Totally off-topic: In the site banner, is Rosie Perez doing a reading of a Suzanne Sommers book? Bizarre.
Anne Hathaway has the acting chops to pull-off Ms. Garland, plus she is a triple threat performer ( Judy Davis is not a triple threat ) , and these qualities will make this biopic more richer because Anne will be doing all the sing, dancing, and acting . I hear Harvey Weinstein is not only producing this Judy film biopic, but also a Broadway play biopic on Judy- both starring Ms. Hathaway . After seeing Anne do a great Judy Garland from Wizard of Oz on SNL, I am more than confident she will do wonders with this delicious role.
Kurtis -- yes. that's from a comedy series where guest star celebrities read from (i.e. mock) other celebrities memoirs. It's supposed to be awesome but i've never been to one.
I like hathaway ...but she is definitely NOT right to play Garland... it needs to be someone that can do and look frail... best it Not be made at all.
Tammy Blanchard was astonishingly good as young Garland in that same Judy Davis TV movie. Now she's the right age to play mature Judy. I know she doesn't have Anne Hathaway's box-office profile (such as it is) but - in a perfect world - it's Blanchard I'd like to see in the role.
I totally agree about Blanchard. Completely deserving of the Emmy she won. I saw the miniseries two r so years ago, and I remember the comeback scene being a big deal with her sitting on the stage and crying and huge applause. Amazing acting by Judy Davis.
A Broadway play and a movie bio pic? Anne already has an Emmy (from the Simpsons), so all she will need is the Grammy. EGOT Bitches! If only she didn't annoy me so much.
To the Anne Hathaway detractors, did any of you see Hathaway kill it with her wonderful Judy Garland impression on SNL ( it is available online ) ? Anne impeccably matched Garland's facial expressions, mannerisms, speaking & singing voice, vulnerability, and even down to the way she held Toto, Dorothy's dog. It is spooky how perfect her performance is.
Off topic, Hathaway deserves an Emmy nomination for hosting SNL this season . She had good comedic timing, incredible impressions, extraordinary gracefulness on stage, and her strong connection with the SNL actors. She deserves a nomination just for her brilliant impression of Katie Holmes, plus she outperformed many of the SNL actors .