Judy by the Numbers: "Smile"
Wednesday, December 14, 2016 at 11:11AM Anne Marie has been chronicling Judy Garland's career chronologically through musical numbers...
On January 22, 1964, CBS announced the inevitable: The Judy Garland Show would be cancelled after just one season. Though the network stated that the cancellation was so that Judy could spend more time with her family, the subpar ratings and tumultuous backstage difficulties had made the show untenable for the studio. In fact, less than a month after the announcement - after Episode 22 was shot - Judy ended the longest artistic partnership she'd had on the show when she fired Mel Torme. Musical director replaced and show revamped for the fifth time, Judy still ended the series looking and singing like a million bucks.
The Show: The Judy Garland Show Episode 22
The Songwriters: Charlie Chaplin (original score), John Turner & Geoffrey Parsons
The Cast: Judy Garland, directed by Dean Whitmore
The Story: The style the show settled on was one with which Judy was familiar, and which had inspired the series to begin with: the concert. Guests were winnowed down to one or two (or none) per episode, sketches were cut, and instead the series focused on producing mini-concerts beamed directly to American living rooms. No longer needing to memorize lines or force interactions, Judy instead used the format to let her talent and the emotion of the songs carry her away, as she did in this bittersweet version of "Smile." Though the show would not go off the air until late March, it left a lasting impression on fans. A fan-led write-in protest was even started to try to resurrect it. The series had an effect on Judy, as well. With her third marriage and her television career over, Judy turned back to tours to spend time on the two things she loved most: her children, and her fans.
Judy Garland, TV, musicals
Reader Comments (6)
SAG'S are in Streep just stepped closer to her 20th,Bening,Negga and Huppert just got worried.Nat looks like Adams is getting her 6th nomination please don't jump off a building,as thought all season it's a Stone/Portman show down.
The supporting categories look locked in good call on Spencer all season and I feel it's Mortensen vs Edgerton for the last spot with Viggo having a slight edge.
Wasn't "Smile" written by Charles Chaplin for the score of "Modern Times"? The lyrics were added later... but not by Harold Arlen. Or are you referring to a different (and far less well known) song?
Just beautiful. I know that Chaplin wrote the tune for Modern Times and the lyrics were added later and in no way was Judy involved but the song is just so suited to her. Her styling made it her own of course but the song itself fits both her public and private persona so aptly.
While I enjoy the entire series, though some of those skits are groaners, the later concert set-up is the best iteration of the show. Apparently that is what Judy wanted and had envisioned walking in but she wasn't listened to. I doubt whatever form it had started in it wouldn't have stood a chance against Bonanza, a real lunkhead movie by the network in the first place, but it's wonderful it exists regardless.
Doctor Strange & joel6 - You're right. This is what happens when I forget to properly update the Big Spreadsheet of Judy Numbers. Updated & Fixed!
I also agree that the later concert iteration was an improvement for Judy. I don't know how sustainable it would have been as a format for television at that time, though, even without competition from Bonanza.
I believe the concert version would have been a success if broadcast on Friday or Saturday evenings, or even in an earlier time slot on Sundays. Especially if they changed it up from time to time with high-powered guests joining her in concert such as Sinatra, Streisand, Tony Bennett, Liza etc.
To me, this song is always bittersweet. Judy's performance here makes me want to cry. So good.