BEST JUDY GARLAND MOVIES
“The Wizard of Oz” (1939) Well, of course. Generations continue to regale in the adventures of Dorothy Gale, Garland’s character who is whisked from a Kansas farm – along with Toto, of course – into a magical land where she makes fast friends with the Tin Man, the Scarecrow and the Cowardly Lion (Jack Haley, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr).
“Babes on Broadway” (1941) One of the best of the variations on the “Let’s put on a show!” theme well-covered by Garland and Mickey Rooney, this musical-comedy finds their characters staging a charity benefit. This is one of the attractions as Turner Classic Movies launches a Star of the Month tribute to Garland on Friday, June 3.
“For Me and My Gal” (1942) Garland and Gene Kelly are expectedly terrific together as a performing team whose act – and budding romance – may be bashed by wartime obligations.
“Meet Me in St. Louis” (1944) The duet of “Under the Bamboo Tree” by Garland and Margaret O’Brien is an irresistible part of this tale of four sisters who resent their father’s job transfer to New York – which means they’ll have to move from their beloved St. Louis with him.
“The Harvey Girls” (1946) Musical highlights including “On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe” help fuel this great Garland musical about several train passengers headed West to open a restaurant.
“Easter Parade” (1948) You surely know on which holiday this picture always makes a television appearance. Irving Berlin’s score fuels this saga with Garland, Fred Astaire and Ann Miller as performers whose career choices largely are dictated by their romantic ties, past and present.
“In the Good Old Summertime” (1949) The premise of unidentified loves that also has driven “The Shop Around the Corner” and “You’ve Got Mail” services this great musical, which – as Liza Minnelli points out in “That’s Entertainment!” – features her, at a very young age, with mom Garland in the closing scene.
“Summer Stock” (1950) Reunited with Gene Kelly, Garland is highly enjoyable as a farmer who lends her barn to a theater troupe, with typical MGM-musical romantic complications following in 3 ... 2 ... 1.
“A Star Is Born” (1954) Garland is the main factor setting this version of the much-told tale apart as she plays Esther Blodgett, whose showbiz career rises – under the stage name Vicki Lester – as that of the man she loves, Norman Maine (James Mason), sinks. Standout musical performances by Garland include “The Man That Got Away” and “Born in a Trunk.”
“Judgment at Nuremberg” (1961) Garland hadn’t made a movie in several years when she became part of director Stanley Kramer’s all-star cast in this gripping drama about war-crime trials.
“Gay Purr-ee” (1962) The vocals by Garland as Mewsette, a French feline who wants to experience city life in Paris, are key to the success of this animated treat.