A Date with Judy

A Date With Judy was one of those classic musicals that MGM was turning out seemingly effortlessly in the 40's and early 50's. In this case it was a smaller musical aimed at a young audience and not one of their mega-productions like Meet Me In St. Louis. Still, with all the skill and talent available at MGM they made a musical that was a notch above the usual.Based on a radio show that had been popular since the early 40's, this starred Jane Powell, a young singer who was getting very big in films and recordings and who would soon be so popular with high school girls that she would even have a "Dear Jane " advice column aimed at them. The role of Judy Foster was simply made for her. The rest of the cast is full of surprises with enough disparate elements that it's a wonder it all held together.For one thing, musicals aimed at the youth audience were usually swing musicals and needed a big band. This was especially true because Jane Powell had an operetta voice and often recorded the repertoire of Jeanette MacDonald, and was no swing singer by any means. So they brought in Xavier Cugat and his orchestra, as Latin rhythms were becoming increasingly popular by the late 40's. They went even further and brought in Carmen Miranda, who did not play herself (which would have been usual), but proved herself to be sweet and funny in the role of Rosita, the local dance teacher, and had her biggest hit with Cuando La Gusta.Scotty Beckett, who had been in juvenile roles in MGM films as long as anybody could remember plays her bemused and confused boyfriend Ogden "Oogie" Pringle convincingly. Then there's his sister and Judy's best friend Carol, who is played by Elizabeth Taylor, whose presence is responsible for more interest in this little film than it would ordinarily have. MGM had noticed that she was maturing early into a very beautiful woman, and seemed to want the world to notice this too. This role and her role in Father of the Bride would be breakout roles for her in this respect. As Carol, she looks absolutely amazing and steals the spotlight in almost every scene she's in. However, MGM put so much makeup on her and dressed her in such fashionable clothes that she seems to be from some other movie altogether and not this little high school comedy. At best you'd think she was someone's college age sister.Then there's Robert Stack. I've never figured out just what he's doing here as the love interest of both Judy and Carol, as he's more than ten years older than them. He plays the nephew of the owner of the local soda fountain who agrees to take Judy to the big dance as a favor to his uncle. Even then he resists taking "a kid" to a dance. Later, he seems to be falling for Carol, and has to tell her that maybe he'll see her "in a few years". All this seems rather awkward when all the studio had to do was use a younger actor. I imagine the studio was out to promote Stack and that's why he got the role.The rest of the cast is a great bunch of old hands like Wallace Beery,Leon Ames, George Cleveland and Selena Royale. The hit song is It's a Most Unusual Day. Everyone works well together in this one, and it was a huge hit in its day and definitely worth checking out.

Liz Tayor

Saw this movie in the past and I wanted to own my own copy of it.

Funny and poignant snapshot of teenage life in the '40's (if you had money). Outstanding cast. Elizabeth Taylor is stunning. The late Jane Powell is fetching. Robert Stack is just Robert Stack and Carmen Miranda is hilarious. Wallace Beery is a delightful, boring middle aged businessman. Scotty Beckett is almost unrecognizable from Little Rascals days. Leon Ames plays an absent single father who ignores his beautiful daughter in pursuit of money. Lavish technicolor and good music tend to mask a light plot about teenagers falling for an older man, parents ignoring their children, and implied infidelity of middle aged parents. I think that MGM made something good that could have been trite.

Undeniably adorable ingenue/singer Jane Powell flaunts her teenage stuff supported by Elizabeth Taylor, Robert Stack, Scott(y) Beckett, Wallace Beery, and Xavior Cugat in this thin on plot cinema outing. My best thought on the reason this movie was made was because MGM had all this talent under contract and wanted to utilize it. Powell was hitting it big with audiences, Taylor was transitioning from teen to voluptuous ingenue, Robert Stack was back on the home front, and the audiences were clamoring for light hearted fare.Admittedly, I probably shouldn't be a sap for this film but I am. Powell's singing is infectious, Taylor segues from pretty to va voom, Cugat injects lounge lizard heat in his performances, and perenially grouchy Beery gives a nice performance as the cranky and misunderstood father who inadvertently lets his kids think he has more than learning how to dance to please his wife on his mind. The end result is a chaste comedy of errors that is a perfect post WWII piece of entertainment that doesn't try to get it's viewer to think as much as to be entertained on a very concious level.No hoodwinking here; this is fun entertainment with very little message.Still, I love it for its innocent humor and focus on family values and Jane Powell.

Just a delightful 1948 film with great MGM stars in their early careers. Just wish they would issue this in Blueray!

I bought this DVD for the scene where Jane Powell sings "Love is Where You Find It", with Elizabeth Taylor looking on, and both flirting with Robert Stack. Not to be missed! Sensual as '50s musicals get without T & A.

A Date With Judy 1948 stars teenagers Jane Powell and Elizabeth Taylor who experience all the pains of growing up in a time of innocence. The story line has some very interesting similarities to Doris Day's By The Light Of The Silvery Moon (1953). Grumpy Wallace Beery plays Jane's father (how is that possible with his mug?) who becomes innocently involved with Carmen Miranda, who stirs things up a bit in the music and laughs department. Also appearing are Xavier Cugat and his Orchestra, a young Robert Stack and Scotty Beckett. Add some great songs and breathtaking color by Technicolor, and you have a totally enjoyable musical comedy for the entire family.

I saw this film when I was 10years old and have never forgotten it. I have searched the internet for three years trying to find this innocent and charming film. It lived up to all my expectations. I was delighted.

The quality of this movie is great and I enjoyed it immensely! Just as I remembered it. I recommend it highly to any fan of Jane Powell.

love all the old MGM musicals. They don’t make them like that any more but that isShowing my age!!!Happy with

Très bonne qualité très bon film vintage avec excellente soprano jane Powell et LIZ Taylor a 15ans sublime