Simply A Masterpiece

The first must-see film of the year.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

And so sings Jane Powell, the Judy in the story, entertaining her friends in the Foster family parlor. The MGM Hollywood "dream factory" is in full form here providing yet another idealized view of "typical" American life post World War II. The families are affluent, in comfortable homes and the inhabitants always appear freshly pressed. This is enjoyable movie fluff, reaffirming the mythic idyll of small town USA, a celebration of the American character and way of life. Jane Powell is the perky teen-ager Judy Foster whose dating anxieties, insistence on self- assertion and dealing with the annoying teasing to which her younger brother subjects her--- is what amounts to the sum total of her problems. Love those old time drug store soda fountains so ubiquitous generations ago! Robert Stack appears playing a character with a job description long obsolete; he is the town "soda jerk." Stack, as Stephen Andrews, however, is just a little too mannered and poised to be believable behind the counter of a soda fountain. The job does afford him special privilege, an unobstructed view of the town girls. Beautiful eye-fulls like Elizabeth Taylor, playing rich girl Carol Pringle, frequent the counter ordering humongous chocolate whip cream sundaes as a matter of course. Wallace Beery, a screen veteran and highly gifted actor is the paterfamilias of Judy's family. Beery reputedly was a terror of a man and not shy about his virulent dislike of children. This role where Beery plays Melvin Foster, a husband and father of two, in essence a devoted family man, certainly stands as a testimonial to his acting skill; it is a character diametrically opposed to what he himself was off screen. His Melvin Foster is the epitome of respectability, a solid citizen and businessman who tampers with his reputation by daring to learn to dance the rumba. His teacher is the Latina chiquita, Carmen Miranda, who appears here true to form, showcased in an energetic solo number. Not the best example of the MGM musical genre, but worth watching for nostalgia value.

This is a fine musical from the late 1940's starring Wallace Beery and the wonderful Jane Powell. She blows away Elizabeth Taylor in every way. I'm not sure how she became the bigger star than Jane did.Jane plays Judy and she is getting ready to go to a high school dance. She listens to her friend Carol(Elizabeth Taylor) about how to sing a song and what color of dress to wear. She does not know she is giving her advice to hurt her and not help her. She also gives advice to her brother Oogie(Scotty Beckett) to arrive late and wow Jane at the dance. Jane is furious when his little brother shows up to take her to the dance. She storms out and sees Stephen(Robert Stack) at the ice cream parlor. He is the nephew of the owner and he sets up Stephen to take her to the dance. She falls for him and he falls for Carol. Oogie is left looking on as he sees her kissing Stephen.Wallace Beery plays Jane's father and he has some funny scenes. He learns to dance the rumba from Carmen Miranda. he also has a good scene with Oogie where he gives him advice on how to get back Judy. Judy decides to give up on men because nothing is working out. Carol falls for Stephen, but he thinks she is spoiled and tells her father about it and blames him for ignoring her. He tries to do better. Judy gets help from Carol to spy on her dad. Judy thinks he is seeing another woman. She finds out he was only taking dancing lessons from Carmen Miranda. He dances at their wedding anniversary and Stephen ans Carol get together. Judy and Oogie are left up in the air. This is a good movie, but it could have been 20 minutes shorter.

I found it interesting that MGM's two leading sopranos (Kathryn Grayson and Jane Powell) performed the same song ("Love is Where You Find It")in two different movies that were released in 1948. I had first heard the song sung by Kathryn Grayson in "The Kissing Bandit" and the first thing I thought of was how the song would sound if sung by Jane Powell. When I saw "A Date with Judy" 5 days ago for the first time, I got my answer! I thought Elizabeth Taylor was a hoot as a sultry "come-hither" sophisticated type against Jane Powell's perinnial "good girl". It's a wholesome corny flick, but boy, they don't make them like that anymore! As always I wish there had been more singing. Can anyone tell me where to get song lyrics from all the great old MGM musicals. I would love to have the words to "Love is Where You Find It".

"A Date with Judy" was a typical entertainment that MGM produced over and over as a way of showing its contract players. This film was a showcase to present Jane Powell and Elizabeth Taylor, two of the popular young actresses at the time. While the movie will not add anything to either one of the stars resumes, it's a pleasant way for watching how times have changed. The film was directed by Richard Thorpe, and produced by Joe Pasternak.Judy and Carol are friends from school. Judy is the talented singer who is going to perform at a school party. Carol is the spoiled rich girl who is jealous of Judy. Oogie, Carol's brother, the band leader, is in love with Judy. To complicate things a newly arrived young man, Stephen, has come into town to work for the summer and he is the object of both Judy's and Carol's attention.Wallace Beery is the best thing in the film. He plays Melvin Foster, Judy's father. He refuses to dance at the party with his wife, and thanks to Xavier Cugat's suggestion, he decides to engage Rosita, the voluptuous Carmen Miranda, to give him private lessons. Since the tutoring takes place in his office, and it's surrounded by a cloud of mystery, it appears Melvin and Rosita are having an affair. But the biggest surprise comes at the end of the film when the Fosters are celebrating their 20th anniversary and we watch Melvin, who by now is an experienced dancer, shows off on the dance floor. A delicious moment, indeed.Jane Powell and Elizabeth Taylor are charming in their roles. Robert Stack and Scotty Beckett are also good. Leon Ames, Xavier Cugat, and the effervescent Carmen Miranda make excellent contributions, but it's Wallace Beery, who steals the show."A Date with Judy" will delight viewers looking for a nostalgic look at an uncomplicated time in America.