Starring Jane Powell, Wallace Beery, Elizabeth Taylor, and Carmen Miranda
Directed by Richard Thorpe
Music and Lyrics by various
With many schools starting to wind down this week or already done for the year, we're going to hang out with California teens from an earlier time. A Date With Judy began life as a popular radio show for teenagers, running from 1941 to 1949 on NBC and ABC. It was such a huge hit with its audience, MGM turned it into a vehicle for many of their own teenage stars. Elizabeth Taylor and Jane Powell were child stars on the verge of growing old enough for more "mature" roles. Taylor, in fact, had already started appearing as a teenager in movies like Life With Father. How do the adventures of a typical teen and her friends and family look today? Let's begin at Judy Foster's (Powell) school, as she and her boyfriend Ogden "Oogie" Pringle (Scotty Beckett) audition for their high school dance, and find out...
The Story: Oogie's older sister Carol (Taylor) isn't impressed with their chirpy song. She's already hired Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra to play at the dance. Judy's getting a tad fed up with both Pringles. Oogie won't take her to the dance, and Carol is interested in Stephan (Robert Stack), the handsome nephew of soda fountain owner Pop (Lloyd Corrigan) whom Judy has her eye on. Judy's so infatuated with Stephan, she tells her parents she intends to marry him. Meanwhile, her father's been spending a lot of time with Brazilian dancer Rosita Cochelles (Miranda), leading his daughter and Carol to believe he's having an affair with her. It's a lot more innocent than they suspect, though...
The Song and Dance: Yes, the story really is that simple. It's pretty easy to tell it's based after a sitcom. It feels more like something that would have happened to the teens on The Donna Reed Show or Father Knows Best a decade later. Powell and Taylor are the ones who really make it work. No matter how silly it gets, Powell in particular keeps it believable as a smart teen in the middle of her first crush on a (slightly) older man. Miranda has a great time too trying to teach Beery the ins and outs of dancing the rhumba; he has just as much fun in one of his last roles. Taylor looks ravishing in her fashionable wide skirts as the older, snobbier teen who competes with Judy for Stephan, yet is loyal enough to help her spy on her dad when she thinks something is going on with him near the end.
Favorite Number: The big one here is the hit "It's a Most Unusual Day." Powell sings it twice, in the beginning when she and Scotty are auditioning for the dance, and in the finale at her parents' anniversary party. Powell gets two cute songs with her mother Dora (Selena Royale) and her brother Randolph (Jerry Hunter), "Love Is Where You Find It" and "Home Sweet Home." Powell and Beckett claim "I'm Strictly On the Corny Side" when they perform for the unimpressed Stephan and Carol at Judy's house after dinner. Miranda gets two nifty numbers, "Cuanto Le Gusta" during a rehearsal with Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra, and the more elaborate "Cooking With Gas" at the Foster's party in the end.
Trivia: A Date With Judy moved to early TV off and on from 1950 through 1953. It was so popular, it inspired other teen sitcoms on radio and TV like Meet Corliss Archer.
Powell was very jealous that Taylor got to wear more mature clothing and green eyeshadow, something she longed to do in her films.
Selena Royale replaced Mary Astor as Judy's mother after she became ill and had to drop out.
What I Don't Like: Did I mention that this is basically a musical sitcom, and in fact, is based after a real radio and early TV show? The plot is pretty much piffle, not far removed from some of the goofier teen comedies on Nickelodeon or The Disney Channel today. Obviously, this isn't for someone looking for a darker take on late 40's teen life. As enjoyable as her numbers are, Miranda is a bit out of place as the South American dancer who shows Beery the delights of doing rhumbas with someone besides his wife.
The Big Finale: Truly adorable with some really enjoyable numbers if you're a fan of Miranda, Taylor, Powell, teen sitcoms, or the big bold MGM musicals of the 40's and 50's.
Home Media: Easy to find on DVD and streaming, the former from the Warner Archives.
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