Summer Stock

Buy This Item Summer Stock by MGM (Warner)  Available from Amazon  $19.98  on 10-31-2008     Judy Garland managed to subdue her ongoing medical problems long enough to make <I>Summer Stock</I> in 1950, her last film with MGM and longtime collaborator Gene Kelly. In a throwback to Garland's "let's put on a show" films with Mickey Rooney, Kelly plays a theater director who sets up in Garland's barn to prepare his musical, but Garland has other ideas. Romantic entanglements ensue, of course, and Eddie Bracken, Phil Silvers, and Marjorie Main are on hand to lend comedic support. Following his mostly forgettable score in 1949's <I>The Barkleys of Broadway</I>, Harry Warren contributes another mostly forgettable score, though it's complemented with a few ringers from other songwriters. There are many enjoyable moments, however, including a lot of tap from Kelly. He and Garland share a tap duel at a square dance turned lindy hop, and Garland performs her classic "Get Happy" routine in a black jacket and fedora. Kelly also performs a solo number to "You Wonderful You" with no gimmicks--just a darkened stage, a squeaky floorboard, and a sheet of newspaper. <I>--David Horiuchi</I> Reader Reviews In her last musical for MGM and her final film with Gene Kelly, Judy Garland plays Jane Falbury, a struggling farmer. Originally intended as a vehicle to re-team Judy Garland with Mickey Rooney, the studio decided, instead, to use Gene Kelly in the role of Joe Ross, as Mickey Rooney was no longer the box-office draw he had been. Of course, Gene was the perfect choice to replace Mickey Rooney, as he and Judy had been good friends since their first movie together in 1942's "For Me and My Gal." When Jane Falbury's (Judy Garland) younger sister Abigail (Gloria DeHaven) invites her boyfriend Joe Ross (Gene Kelly) to rehearse the Broadway show he is producing in their barn, Jane isn't thrilled! Especially after one of the cast members crashes her brand new tractor (oops)! However, she soon changes her mind and lets them use the barn if they help out with the farm chores. Well, Abigail ends up running away with an actor, Jane and Joe end up falling in love and she takes Abigail's place as the show's lead and turns it into a smash! So watch "Summer Stock," listen to some "Heavenly Music" and "Get Happy"!

Summer Stock Available from Amazon Price: $19.98 Updated on 10-31-2008.

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