So many negative things have been going on this week that I needed to get outside of the social media bubble and go back to a simpler style of entertainment. Before the world of the internet if you were not reading something or going to the theater you could find enjoyment in film. I love movies. Nothing compares to live theater but a close second to me is a nice old musical.
I’m not really sure where I came from in my family. None of my other families members enjoyed the same things that I did. When I started college Netflix became a thing. This was the absolute best thing for me because I could get my hands on the wonderful films I was so interested in. There were so many I had heard of but never seen and I loved them all. The more I watched the more I fell in love with Judy Garland. She may be the most amazing entertainer ever….at least in my book. For my birthday Terry bought me a TCM Judy Garland collection. I decided today was the kind of day that needed to be spent with Judy.
The first one I started with was called For Me and My Gal. I was absolutely delighted when I realized that Gene Kelly was in this movie. In fact this was the first movie he was ever in. This may very well end up being my favorite one from the group. Its the kind of movie that makes you want to fall in love. Its the kind of movie that makes you want to get kissed like those that only happen in movies of the Golden Era. I just want to dance with Gene Kelly. I just adored the line “why didn’t you tell me I was in love you?”
The next one I got to was called the Harvey Girls. It was based on the real story of women that worked at Fred Harvey restaurants along the railway. These ladies brought about charm and civility to towns that were just forming. Judy started off this movie as a mail order bride going to meet her beau. When it turns out neither one of them like each other enough to get married she becomes a Harvey Girl. They had some very catchy tunes in this one. My favorite part though was surprisingly not Judy in this one. A young and amazingly beautiful Angela Lansbury was a saloon girl and she was stunning. This one also had those great kisses that leave the women weak at the knees.
The next on my list was wonderfully another one with Gene Kelly. This one had some really great dancing and a fun story. I especially loved one of the scenes with Gene on the stage by himself where he uses a creaky floor board and a newspaper to do a lovely tap dance. This one did make me a little sad though. Judy didn’t seem herself as much in this one. I went on to read that this was her last film with MGM because they fired her. She was at the height of her addiction and stopped showing up to work. This just breaks my heart. Just think if things had been different what a great talent we would have had for so much longer.
My last one for the day and one that I’ve seen several times is called the Good Old Summertime. This is one of my favorite stories. It started out as the Shop Around the Corner. Then it was turned into this movie musical. Its also a Broadway show called She Loves Me and most recently another movie called You’ve Got Mail. I’ve loved this story since the first time I saw The Shop Around the Corner. I’ll have to write another post someday about how it influenced one of my favorite gifts I ever gave to my husband. This time the shop is a music store so it gives you lots of chances to hear Judy sing. And oddly enough just like the first movie it contains the line “We didn’t you tell me I was in love with you?”
A morning with Randi bowling and a day with Judy made for a good day for me. I pray that things will change for the better for everyone soon. Until then all I can do is pray for all those hurting right now.
Tales of a Crazy Person 