‘Judy Garland Collection’ Blu-ray Review (Warner Archive)
Judy Garland burst onto the cinematic stage as Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz, a role that made her an instant icon. She essentially grew up on camera, shining in a string of musical comedies alongside Mickey Rooney. While many child actors struggle to transition into adult careers, Garland not only made the leap, she thrived, starring in a remarkable run of beloved musicals. Now, the Warner Archive Collection has gathered six of her finest classics into a single Blu-ray set, celebrating her enduring legacy.
- Strike Up the Band (1940) – A high school boy wants to become a professional musician, and his gal pal wants to become his best girl. They work together staging big band shows with fellow classmates in the hopes of hitting it big. ***
- Girl Crazy (1943) – A philandering young playboy is sent to college somewhere in the American West, and organizes a show, together with his sweetheart, to save the college from closure due to falling enrollments. ***
- Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) – Young love and childish fears highlight a year in the life of a turn-of-the-century family. ***
- In the Good Old Summertime (1949) – In turn-of-the century Chicago, Andrew and Veronica are co-workers in a music shop who dislike one another during business hours but unwittingly carry on an anonymous romance through the mail. ***
- Summer Stock (1950) – A small-town farmer, down on her luck, finds her homestead invaded by a theatrical troupe invited to stay by her ne’er-do-well sister. ****
- A Star is Born (1954) – A fading matinee idol helps a young singer and actress find fame, even as age and alcoholism send his own career on a downward spiral. ****
Warner Archive Collection put together a nice collection of early Judy Garland films, and we get to see her perform alongside legendary names such as Mickey Rooney, James Mason, Van Johnson, Gene Kelley and the hilarious Phil Silvers. Each of the movies in this set is given its own Blu-ray disc, which have been transferred to Blu-ray in 1080p. The films are presented in 1.37:1 aspect ratio, except for A Star is Born, which is in 2.55:1 aspect ratio. The audio tracks are English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and A Star is Born is an English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Each of these films have the option for English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing.
Each of these Blu-rays have been released individually before, but this set gives you everything the individual Blu-rays have; this just takes up less space. Let’s take a look at what each of these Blu-rays includes as bonus features (sadly, A Star is Born doesn’t include any extras):
Strike Up the Band Bonus Features:
- Introduction by Mickey Rooney
- Wedding bells
- Cartoon: Romeo in Rhythm
- Do the La Conga” Stereo Version
- 10/28/194 Lux radio Broadcast
- Leo is on the Air Radio Promo
- Millions for Defense Radio Excerpt
- Theatrical Trailer
Girl Crazy Bonus Features
- Introduction by Mickey Rooney
- Commentary by John Fricke
- Hollywood Daredevils
- Cartoon: The Early Bird Dood It!
- I Got Rhythm Stereo Number
- Bronco Busters Audio Outtake
- Theatrical Trailer
Meet Me in St. Louis Bonus Features
- Introduction by Liza Minnelli
- Commentary
- Meet me in St. Louis: The Making of an American Classic
- Hollywood: The Dream Factory
- Becoming Attractions: Judy Garland
- Meet Me in St Louis 1966 TV Pilot
- Bubbles
- Skip to my Lou
- Audio Vault
- Theatrical Trailer
In The Good Old Summertime Bonus Features
- Introduction by Judy Garland biographer John Frickle
- Vintage Fitzpatrick TravelTalks shorts: “Chicago, the Beautiful”
- Vintage Fitzpatrick TravelTalks shorts: “Night Life in Chicago”
- Theatrical trailer
Summer Stock Bonus Features
- Featurette: Summer Stock: Get Happy!
- Cartoon: The Cuckoo Clock
- Short: Did’ja Know?
- Fall in Love – Audio Outtake
- Theatrical Trailer
After years in the spotlight, Judy Garland faced profound struggles with depression and addiction, and tragically passed away at the young age of 47. Yet the legacy she left behind is unmatched, her body of work continuing to inspire generations. Which means that everyone will have their own favourites in this collection. For me, Summer Stock stands out every time. Its blend of lively music, charming comedy performances, and an effortlessly engaging story makes it a genuine delight. When this set was announced, I hoped Summer Stock would be included, and thankfully, it didn’t disappoint.
If you love the films of Judy Garland as much as I do, then this Warner Archive Blu-ray is an absolute must-own! Order your copy at Amazon now.
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