A few words about…™ In the Good Old Summertime – in Blu-ray

Borrowing a line from Pressburger, I see. Maybe he equated Budapest with heaven?

He'll never see a Rhudapest.
What a transfer. Its always a treat to see such clarity in a film you been watching for 30 years from ho-hum masters. That opening bit of Buster with Van and Judy really sets the tone. Its one of the smoothest of all the MGM 40s Techni-fests.

Love that movie. My copy is on the way from Deep Discount.

Robert Harris said:

In the Good Old Summertime, a delightful M-G-M musical was not only (sadly) the penultimate Judy Garland production for the studio, but the most beloved film that she made in her years at M-G-M along with Van Johnson and Buster Keaton.

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Is this "most beloved" category limited to those that also starred both Van Johnson and Buster Keaton?

One interesting factoid becomes clearer - the participation of Mr. Keaton in designing various gags, such as the cute meet at the post office.

Robert Harris said:

In the Good Old Summertime, a delightful M-G-M musical was not only (sadly) the penultimate Judy Garland production for the studio, but the most beloved film that she made in her years at M-G-M along with Van Johnson and Buster Keaton.

Based upon the earlier Lubitcsh film, The Shop Around the Corner, transferred to Chicago and in Technicolor. They were starved for Technicolor in Budapest.

And for those into facts, the same play, Parfumerie, was the basis for a later film entitled You've Got Mail, which was neither in Technicolor nor based in Hungary.

Yet another typical perfect 3-strip presentation from Warner Archive, which is getting boring.

A beautiful film, and for the Garland collector, yet another step towards Blu-ray completion.

I seemed to notice a dip in the track at a certain point, but it could be my system, so no demerits.

Image – 5

Audio – 5

Pass / Fail – Pass

Upgrade from DVD - Yes

Highly Recommended

RAH

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I respectfully suggest that “The Wizard of Oz” is the most beloved film Garland made st MGM, followed by “Meet Me in St. Louis” and”Easter Parade.”

It looks like RAH has hooked a couple of more members with his "most beloved film Garland made at MGM" He's kidding folks, I think.

Are you sure, Robert? Remember that Judy was only a little child when she did Oz. And maybe the other Robert was attacking our unhealthy fetish or cult of youth, which caused such ghastly travesties as 'Bugsy Malone' which I'm eagerly awaiting from Paramount to replace my worn-out UK edition.
She had many truly great works in front of her.
MAY I respectfully suggest my fellow Forum members take a look at 'Annie Get Your Gun' and 'Singin' in the Rain' to name just two great movies.

AnthonyClarke said:

Are you sure, Robert? Remember that Judy was only a little child when she did Oz. And maybe the other Robert was attacking our unhealthy fetish or cult of youth, which caused such ghastly travesties as 'Bugsy Malone' which I'm eagerly awaiting from Paramount to replace my worn-out UK edition.
She had many truly great works in front of her.
MAY I respectfully suggest my fellow Forum members take a look at 'Annie Get Your Gun' and 'Singin' in the Rain' to name just two great movies.

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Shirley Temple was a little child when she filmed most of her best movies. Garland was just a few months shy of her 17th birthday when filming was complete on Oz. With that said, the filming of Oz wasn't a pleasant experience for Garland as she was subjected to a bunch of crap, if it happen today, would get people fired and most likely put into jail. Just shameful and very disturbing how Garland was treated in her years at MGM.

You're absolutely right of course, Robert, just as I'd expect. Indeed, Judy was only 17. Amazing what those little kids, Judy and Shirley too, could accomplish. And how wonderful that such a transcendentaly beautiful movie as 'Wiz' could emerge from such a real-life scenario, for our eternal benefit.

AnthonyClarke said:

You're absolutely right of course, Robert, just as I'd expect. Indeed, Judy was only 17. Amazing what those little kids, Judy and Shirley too, could accomplish. And how wonderful that such a transcendately beautiful movie as 'Wiz' could emerge from such a real-life scenario, for our eternal benefit.

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Judy wasn't a little kid! She was a young woman well into her teenage years while Shirley was indeed a little kid when she made her best films.

I’ve always enjoyed this film, but it was only after watching this gorgeous new Blu-ray that I realized it is far underrated on so many levels. The cast is excellent, the changes made in the screenplsy to differentiate it from THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER don’t feel forced or inappropriate. If one looks at it on its own, it really was clever and beautifully made.

This Blu-ray is a revelation. Warner Archive is spoiling us with these beautiful Technicolor remasters, and this new release is one which I would heartily recommend this be added to any Blu-ray classic collector’s library.

Robert Crawford said:

Judy wasn't a little kid! She was a young woman well into her teenage years while Shirley was indeed a little kid when she made her best films.

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Pardon me for saying so but I think you're the one getting "hooked" at the present moment.

Will Krupp said:

Pardon me for saying so but I think you're the one getting "hooked" at the present moment.

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Haven’t we all been “hooked” from one time to another?

Robert Crawford said:

Haven’t we all been “hooked” from one time to another?

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I remember Thomas T once telling a story about an aborted Vincente Minnelli version of LOST HORIZON that was so ridiculous he thought no one could ever take him seriously and I fell for it hook, line AND sinker!!

Back in the days of home video rental places (!) when I worked for the Video West stores and made the list of "Holiday Films" each year for a separate section in the stores I'd always put "In the Good Old Summertime" there. Many thought it was a joke.

(I'd also put the film "On Valentine's Day" there. It took place almost entirely at Christmas (?); it's part of a Horton Foote Trilogy of plays made into films: 1918, On Valentine's Day and Courtship.)

Sorry Robert. I wasn't seeking to hook you. Just trying to spread a tiny bit of amusement at this terrible time .. even if I mainly amuse myself.
Now it's time to sprint to the mailbox and check if 'In the Good Old Summertime' has arrived before my beloved wife notices. Then pop it on one night with the blithe comment ... 'we've had it for ages!' Which is true .. of the DVD!

AnthonyClarke said:

Sorry Robert. I wasn't seeking to hook you. Just trying to spread a tiny bit of amusement at this terrible time .. even if I mainly amuse myself.
Now it's time to sprint to the mailbox and check if 'In the Good Old Summertime' has arrived before my beloved wife notices. Then pop it on one night with the blithe comment ... 'we've had it for ages!' Which is true .. of the DVD!

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Which is precisely my position.

I agree. It's my favorite Judy film -- I don't consider Wizard of Oz a Judy Garland film.