Summer Stock (1950) coming from WAC

[Dailyan]

SUMMER STOCK (1950)
NEW 2019 1080p HD MASTER
Run Time 109:00
Subtitles English SDH
Sound Quality DTS HD-Master Audio 2.0 - English
Aspect Ratio 4 X 3 FULL FRAME, 1.37:1
Product Color COLOR
Disc Configuration BD 50
Special Features: Get Happy:The Making of Summer Stock (featurette); Vintage Pete Smith Specialty Short “Did’ja Know” (SD); Vintage Tex Avery cartoon “The Cuckoo Clock” (HD)Theatrical Trailer (HD)

There’s an unusual harvest at Falbury Farm: beans, hay…show tunes. It’s a bumper crop, too, with Judy Garland and Gene Kelly leading all the hoofing, singing and sparking. In her final MGM musical, Garland plays Jane Falbury, a farm owner more than a bit riled when her aspiring-actress sister (Gloria De Haven) shows up with a theatrical troupe that wants to stage a musical in the family’s barn. Any guess who becomes the show’s sudden star after its lead runs off with a Broadway actor? Highlights include Kelly’s shuffle-and-squeak “You, Wonderful You” dance solo making use of loose boards and newspaper on the floor, tuxedo-topped Garland’s leggy, joyous “Get Happy” and a Kelly/Phil Silvers country-bumpkin bit of “Heavenly Music” backed by woofing canines. After a show like this, how’re you gonna keep these kids down on the farm?

[javi92]

Certainly not Garland or Kelly's best musical, but I'll take what I can get with classical Hollywood musicals. Day 1 for sure.

[Ned Brainard]

I wonder if this is the three-strip MGM musical that Feltenstein referred to in that WAC podcast a few weeks ago. This wouldn't be my first choice out of the MGM musicals. That's not to say that this is a bad film though (far from it), and I'll pick it up to support the effort of getting WAC to release more pre-widescreen era films.

[GeoffOliver]

I saw this on TCM about a decade ago and remember enjoying it. Glad its finally coming out on Blu-Ray.

[The Mad Kiwi]

While I admit that objectively, Summer Stock isn't a great film and that it plays things too safely, I also have to confess that I find it highly entertaining all the same. I've been waiting forever for this to hit Blu. Hopefully other Judy Garland musicals are on the way. I'd especially like to see The Harvey Girls, and some friends of mine are itching for The Pirate, though I realize that one's more of a cult film and will likely take longer.

Summer Stock already looks really good on DVD, and that didn't even get an ultra-resolution restoration like The Wizard of Oz, Meet Me in St. Louis, and Easter Parade did. I guess it's just been well taken care of, so I can only imagine how much it'll pop on Blu.

[abudgell]

It's really encouraging to see WAC release another Technicolor film (and more Judy Garland is always a great thing). It gives me hope that we still might see National Velvet at some point. It's celebrating its 75th anniversary this year!

[Leviathan]

It's good to see more vintage material, even if they're still mostly avoiding pre-1950 material.

The Tex Avery cartoon is very interesting, if it is indeed going to be presented in HD. Could this be the first glimmer of hope of a complete set of his cartoons?

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by Ned Brainard

I wonder if this is the three-strip MGM musical that Feltenstein referred to in that WAC podcast a few weeks ago. This wouldn't be my first choice out of the MGM musicals. That's not to say that this is a bad film though (far from it), and I'll pick it up to support the effort of getting WAC to release more pre-widescreen era films.

I think it might be, it was certainly my guess when I heard that news so I’d like to think I was right. I agree it’s not top notch Kelly or Garland but it does contain two numbers that are absolutely iconic - the floorboard/newspaper number with Kelly, and Judy singing Come On Get Happy.

[octobercountry]

Plot-wise, this is surely one of the silliest of the colour films Judy made while at MGM. But, in my opinion it's also one of the most entertaining; I've re-watched it many times over the years. It also contains several songs that are catchy and a lot of fun, like "Howdy Neighbor." And while "Get Happy" is the most famous and best-remembered number here, I've always loved the very touching "Friendly Star."

Interesting, that Judy's look was in transition here. She was heavier than in any of her other MGM films, and that fact, combined with her new short hairstyle, made her look almost matronly at times. However, conversely it could also be said that this is the last film she made in which she displays any qualities of the ingenue. Yes, she's heavier, but she looks quite pretty and has a fresh-faced appearance. By the time of her next film, four years later, the ups and downs of her personal life really were becoming visible in her appearance.

At any rate, this is certainly one I'll be purchasing on blu-ray.

Friendly Star

[KMR]

Originally Posted by octobercountry

Interesting, that Judy's look was in transition here. She was heavier than in any of her other MGM films, and that fact, combined with her new short hairstyle, made her look almost matronly at times. However, conversely it could also be said that this is the last film she made in which she displays any qualities of the ingenue. Yes, she's heavier, but she looks quite pretty and has a fresh-faced appearance. By the time of her next film, four years later, the ups and downs of her personal life really were becoming visible in her appearance.

It's kind of hard to believe that she turned 28 just a couple months before this movie was released!

[Swissangel4616]

entertaining movie. can't wait to get it. any of Judy Garland or/and with Gene Kelly and MGM Musical is landing in my collection.

[f451]

Fun Garland musical with a great end song! Now, please, bring on The Harvey Girls (last seen on DVD)! Thank you.

[Dailyan]

Site review up:
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Summe...238793/#Review

[roxy1927]

So discouraging. So many great Warner Brothers and MGM technicolor musicals yet to be transferred and they choose one of the most disappointing. My goodness the list goes on and on of better titles.

You really want to know who and why they make these bone headed decisions.

[Matt89]

Originally Posted by roxy1927

So discouraging. So many great Warner Brothers and MGM technicolor musicals yet to be transferred and they choose one of the most disappointing. My goodness the list goes on and on of better titles.

You really want to know who and why they make these bone headed decisions.

It is a pretty iconic musical, Get Happy is one of Garland’s most famous numbers and this was her last film at MGM. It’s not a total waste. There are much more lackluster MGM musicals out there.

~Matt

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by roxy1927

So discouraging. So many great Warner Brothers and MGM technicolor musicals yet to be transferred and they choose one of the most disappointing. My goodness the list goes on and on of better titles.

You really want to know who and why they make these bone headed decisions.

There's nothing bone-headed about it. Warner Archive have released several Gene Kelly musicals (Les Girls, Brigadoon, It's Always Fair Weather) so clearly the sales figures have been strong enough for them to continue to do so. This film features two of the most iconic musical performances by its stars and was a day 1 purchase for me.

[dig311dug]

somehow my target pre-order was back-ordered...

[Matt89]

Originally Posted by RCRochester

There's nothing bone-headed about it. Warner Archive have released several Gene Kelly musicals (Les Girls, Brigadoon, It's Always Fair Weather) so clearly the sales figures have been strong enough for them to continue to do so. This film features two of the most iconic musical performances by its stars and was a day 1 purchase for me.

Yeah I was really happy to hear that they were releasing this. I just hope For Me and My Gal isn't too far off. Would love to see that in HD. Hell, I'd even take The Pirate.

~Matt

[roxy1927]

This was a movie rarely done at revival houses years ago when they had MGM festivals. The biggest MGM fans weren't interested. Warners could have done, Harvey Girls, The Pirate or In the Good Old Summertime.

Then there are so many more MGM musicals far superior to this that have yet to make it to bluray. Yes I still think it was a very poor choice. Except for a couple of numbers a waste of talent and silly even for a musical. And seeing Judy so bloated and middle aged is not pretty when she was so young is heartbreaking. Charles Walters after this film begged off having to ever work with her again it was such a nightmare.

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by roxy1927

This was a movie rarely done at revival houses years ago when they had MGM festivals.

This isn't a revival house years ago.

Originally Posted by roxy1927

The biggest MGM fans weren't interested.

Thank you for that completely unverifiable piece of information.

Originally Posted by roxy1927

Warners could have done, Harvey Girls, The Pirate or In the Good Old Summertime.

They could have, but they didn't. They may yet release any or all of those in the future.

Originally Posted by roxy1927

Then there are so many more MGM musicals far superior to this that have yet to make it to bluray. Yes I still think it was a very poor choice. Except for a couple of numbers a waste of talent and silly even for a musical. And seeing Judy so bloated and middle aged is not pretty when she was so young is heartbreaking. Charles Walters after this film begged off having to ever work with her again it was such a nightmare.

Here's an idea then. If you don't like, don't buy it.