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Elly Roberts reviews
Wienerworld
- Cat.no: WNRD2379
- Released: June 2006
- Format: DVD 9
- Rating: 6/10
- Running time: 60 minutes
- Region: All, PAL
- Fullscreen: 4:3
- Sound: Mono
- Classification: E (Exempt)
- Languages: English, German
- Retail price: £9.99
- Extras:None
The 1950s was a patchy period for Judy Garland.,
A divorce, a marriage, and a near suicide attempt all proved a rollercoasterride for the waif-like star. Thrust onto the international scene as a 16-year-oldin the role of Dorothy in the 1939 film, The Wizard Of Oz, Garland,born Frances Ethel Gumm, came from a musical family.
By the early ’60s her stardom was renewed via guest TV appearances and acritically acclaimed show at Carnegie Hall on April 23 1961, often referred toas the “greatest single night in show business”. On the back of thesesuccesses, CBS offered her $24 million for a weekly TV series called TheJudy Garland Show, then considered “the biggest talent deal in TV history.”
It ran for 26 episodes, being critically acclaimed with four Emmy nominations,but only lasted one season and was pulled, which proved to be both personallyand financially devastating, from which she never fully recovered. This showwas taped on October 4, 1963 at Television City, Hollywood.
The DVD, originally part of Vols 1-3 released in 2005, shows her at hersparkling best. Along with some of her finest vocal moments, we see herlegendary charming wit and great sense of humour. Even the dreadful cigaretteadverts have been included.
Musically, theres some impressive show – stopping numbers particularly whenshes joined by Streisand and Merman for a belting rendition of TheresNo Business Like Show Business.
Also included are: comedian brother of Dick van Dyke, Jerry, the outstandingsinging comedy duo The Smothers Brothers. Guest star, a chic looking 21-year-oldBarbara Streisand sings several songs, including Down With Love, Bewitched, Botheredand Bewildered and the medley sequences.
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Comes Once In A Lifetime
2. Be My Guest
3. Just In Time
4. I Talk To The Trees / Dance, Boatman, Dance
5. Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered
6. Down With Love
7. Medley Get Happy / Happy Days Are Here Again
8. Tea For Two segment
9. Theres No Business Like Show Business
10. (Howdy Neighbour) Happy Harvest
11. Hooray For Love medley
12. Medley You Made Me Love You / For Me And My Gal / The Trolley Song
13. Maybe Ill Come Back
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.