MovieChat Forums > Annie Get Your Gun (1950) Discussion > The Garland Outtakes

The Garland Outtakes

posted 14 years ago by SilverCreedWolf
13 replies | jump to latest

I just got a DVD of Annie Get Your Gun, and it has the Judy Garland outtakes. I must say, they were hard to watch, and I was thoroughly unimpressed with Garland's interpretation of the character. Now, before you crucify me for saying that, allow me to explain.

Eyes say a lot. Judy Garland's eyes looked glazed over, she seemed genuinely out of it. She was struggling with a drug problem at the time, we all know it, and I'm afraid it really shows in the outtakes.

A super high energy level is essential to the role of Annie Oakley in this musical. Betty Hutton gives it in spades, where as Judy Garland throws away punchlines, and gave such a laid back delivery that she appears to just be going through the motions (which she likely was at that point in her career, in all honesty).

I think this musical is one of the rare cases where you don't want a very sophisticated singer in the lead, and I'm talking sophisticated vocally. Judy Garland had the typical pop singer's voice for 1950, whereas Betty Hutton almost gives an exagerated country music style performance, but she also gives soft and dreamy vocals where necessary.

Judy Garland was a great actress and singer, but she was sorely miscast in this film. I don't agree with the way that MGM fired her - they ought to have given her a leave of absence to get herself straight - I'm just saying that Betty Hutton was probably the best choice for that time.

Now, should they ever make a new movie or TV version of this musical, I would not be opposed at all to Reba McEntire in the lead. She's got the pipes, for sure, and she sure handled the acting requirements well on Broadway.

JOE TYRIA
http://www.youtube.com/user/SilverCreedWolf

[–] dmnemaine 14 years ago

I think had Judy Garland been well, she would have certainly been able to handle the role of Annie without a problem. It does not have to be performed in the boisterous Mermanesque fashion to be effective. In fact, the original touring company of the stage production starred Mary Martin, who was a much different Annie than the boisterous Merman or Hutton, and she won raves for her performance in the role. With all that said, I thoroughly enjoy Betty Hutton's performance in the film version, but it is by no means the only viable approach to the role.

[–] tsrts 11 years ago

The first one on the DVD wasn't that good, but the Indian number was really well done.

[–] greenbudgie 9 years ago

I've seen Judy's Indian number in one of the MGM 'That's Entertainment' movies. She did a good job on that song without being quite so zany as Betty Hutton.

[–] rebekahrox 11 years ago

I have not seen the outtakes, and I loved Betty's performance the first time I saw the movie, when I was a child. However, I saw it again this morning and this time, I found her performance too hammy. Her constant mugging for the camera was very distracting. Her singing voice is very weak as well; especially next to Howard Keel's. That said, there were a few scenes, I did enjoy her in. Mostly in the beginning. I would have liked to see Doris Day in the role; She certainly did a great job as Calamity Jane!

[–] Postieman 9 years ago

https://youtu.be/LzrOMXOJwjE

https://youtu.be/inSsyLxKDww

[–] enfilmigult 11 years ago

I get what you're saying, but since you know full well why her performance was the way it was, it seems kind of tacky to me to talk about how "unimpressed" you were, like she could have done better under those circumstances but just didn't feel like it.

[–] lnoft97 11 years ago

I think Reba McEntire would have been great, too, but of course she's WAY too old now. I think such movies are out of fashion and they would never spend the money dredging up an old musical. More's the pity. I also think Betty Grable did an energetic, though hammy comic job, and don't worry whether Judy Garland would have been better or not.

[–] calrich 10 years ago

Do you mean Betty Hutton?

[–] stevenscottoddballz 9 years ago

How did you make the text purple?

Eight divided by one-half equals four squared!

[–] Robbmonster 9 years ago

When you click reply, there is a drop menu directly above the top right corener of the text box. Click it, chose purple, and type in the middle of the words.

Never defend crap with 'It's just a movie'
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[–] stevenscottoddballz 9 years ago

Oh! I found it! Thank you VERY much!

Eight divided by one-half equals four squared!

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] liscarkat (19418) 5 years ago

The Garland footage shows that Hutton was a far better choice for the role.