The Judy Garland Show, Vol 03 - The Christmas Show (Show 15)
Spend a December evening with Judy Garland! This episode from her CBS- TV show, recorded December 6, 1963, and aired on the 22nd, captures the great entertainer and her kids, Liza Minnelli and Lorna and Joe Luft, in a one-hour songfest taking place in the family living room (one large enough to accommodate 12 crooning carolers, six strutting Santas, three charming children, two pop stars, and a film legend named Judy--well, you get the idea). Garland is mostly a spectator, encouraging the 17-year-old Liza (who appears somewhat uncomfortable when not singing or dancing) and the younger kids,Lorna(who displays a big voice on "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" and went on to have her own performing career) and the less-assured Joe (who sings one of the many nonseasonal selections, "Where Is Love," during which an anxious Garland can be glimpsed mouthing the words along with him). But she does sing two of her most memorable film songs--"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "Over the Rainbow"--plus "Little Drops of Rain" (fromGay Purr-ee) and she can still kick up her heels. Even one of her flubs produces one of the best moments: she joins Mel Tormé at the piano for his "Christmas  Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)," and when she botches the lyric, he gently chides her, "Close!"  Also on hand are Liza's "beau," Tracy Everitt, a dancer on the series, and clean-cut pop star Jack Jones, who sings his Grammy-winning hit "Lollipops and Roses" as well as a nice a cappella version of "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" with Tormé. The remastered DVD allows the original black and white to shine, and a new 5.1 surround sound track is available along with the original mono track.--David Horiuchi