Becoming Attractions: Judy Garland (1996)
** (out of 4)
This short-lived Turner Classic Movies series has host Robert Osbourn hosting what is basically a 30-minute film where we get to see the trailers to Judy Garland. The trailers are shown two at a time and in between we get Osbourn talking about certain facts going on in Garland's life at the time and he also comments on the way studios were trying to market her. EVERYBODY SINGS promises a "big star" while LOVE FINDS ANDY HARDY shows off the Hardy clan and then we get the three female leads with Garland being the first shown. Then comes THE WIZARD OF OZ with MGM pushing down the viewers throats how large of a production it was and this is followed by BABES IN ARMS, which the studio claims they've never been more proud of a musical. FOR ME AND MY GAL tries to show Judy as an adult that "guys want" and this is followed by PRESENTING LILY MARS, which once again tries to show her as an adult. MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS is next followed by THE CLOCK, which MGM makes sure people know it's from the same director as LOUIS. It's also funny to know how they sold the movie by saying the entire cast is giving their "finest" work. From here we get THE PIRATE and EASTER PARADE, which is called the greatest musical from MGM. SUMMER STOCK, we're told, was edited in a way that the trailer wouldn't show how many issues Garland was having with her weight. Apparently her weight jumped around 25-pounds so the studio had to try and hide this. A STAR IS BORN, Garland's comeback, is next and we're told it's the most awaited film in the history of Hollywood. Finally, we get the trailer for I COULD GO ON SINGING and as Osbourn points out, it seems the studio was trying to sell it as the tragic life of its star. Overall, this is decent enough as a way to see how the studios marketed Garland throughout her life but I'm not one of those who enjoy watching trailers. The marketing side kept me interesting but if you're a fan of trailers then you should enjoy this much more.
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