Harold Arlen's Home Movies (2005) - Star of the month... Angela Lansbury

'Harold Arlen's Home Movies' is a 2005 montage film of behind the scenes home movie footage shot by composer Harold Arlen on the set of 'The Wizard of Oz' (1939).

The short film runs 4m30s and is introduced by Angela Lansbury.

We Haven't Really Met Properly (2005) - Star of the month... Angela Lansbury

'We Haven't Really Met Properly' is a 2005 video essay discussing the stars of The Wizard of Oz' (1939)

Narrated by Angela Lansbury, we are introduced to:
- the great Frank Morgan
- Ray Bolger
- Bert Lahr
- Jack Haley
- the beautiful Billie Bourke
- Margaret Hamilton
- Charley Grapewin
- Clara Blandick
- Terry the Dog (who played Toto)

An interesting documentary which has lots of interesting trivia, including:
- W.C. Fields was almost cast as The Wizard Of Oz
- Ray Bolger almost turned down appearing in 'The Wizard of Oz' as he was originally offered the role of Tin Man

The Wizard Of Oz Outtakes & Deleted Scenes - Star of the month... Angela Lansbury

'The Wizard Of Oz Outtakes & Deleted Scenes' is a 2005 collection of deleted scenes from the film 'The Wizard Of Oz' (1939).

Each clip is individually introduced by Angela Lansbury.

The following clips are featured:

• "If I Only Had a Brain" - entire song, including Ray Bolger's deleted dance break
• "If I Only Had a Heart" - audio recording by Buddy Ebsen, who was originally cast as the Tin Man; the recording is accompanied by production stills
• "Triumphal Return to Emerald City" - audio recording of this deleted musical number, accompanied by production stills
• "Over the Rainbow (Reprise)" - audio recording of a song intended to be sung while Dorothy is locked in the witches castle, accompanied by production still
• "The Jitterbug" - audio recording of a musical number cut after the first preview, accompanied by production stills and rehearsal footage filmed by composer Harold Arlen

Wonderful Wizard of Oz Storybook (2005) - Star of the month... Angela Lansbury

'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Storybook' is a 2005 short film consisting of an abridged retelling of the L. Frank Baum book, 'The Wizard Of Oz'.

Narrated by Angela Lansbury, with illustrations by W.W. Denslow.

I like how this short film remains faithful to the original book, rather than the 1939 film adaptation:

• The silver shoes, rather than ruby slippers
• Tin Man is known as The Tin Woodsman
• The army of mice rescue Dorothy from the poppy field - in the movie they are rescued by Glinda the Good Witch of the North
• The Wicked Witch of the West has one eye - in the movie she has two
• The attack of 40 wolves, 40 crows & 40 bees - this was not shown in the movie
• Battling through the china pottery people and hammerheads - this was not shown in the movie
• Glinda is the Good Witch of the South - in the movie she is of the North
• To return to Kansas, Dorothy chants "Take me home to Aunt Em" instead of "There's no place like home"

Every Sunday (1936)

Star Birthday... Judy Garland's 90th Birthday

Judy Garland was born Frances Ethel Gumm on 10 June 1922. She began as part of a singing trio with her sisters, The Gumm Sisters. Film studio MGM featured The Gumm Sisters in some musical short films, where the youngest sister (Judy) began to stand out. 


In 1936, Judy was featured in the musical short film Every Sunday, with Deanna Durbin. MGM was impressed with Judy's performance, they decided to keep her on contract. For the rest of Judy's early career she was cast in a number of low budget black and white musicals, such as Everybody Sing (1938) and Listen, Darling (1938). In 1939, history was made when Judy was cast as Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz, after MGM were unable to lease Shirley Temple from FOX. This led to Judy becoming one of MGMs biggest stars.




Throughout the years, Judy was not satisfied with her appearance, and often felt she was fat and ugly. She became reliant on anti-depressants which impacted her ability to attend work each day. MGM tired of Judy's bad behaviour fired her in 1950, while she was filming Annie, Get Your Gun. 


Judy Garland became one of Hollywood's biggest tragedies after dying from an accidental overdose of sleeping pills on 22 June 1969 at age 47. 


I have chosen a rather unusual film for my blog, with Judy's first MGM film Every Sunday (1936). The film runs for just over 10 minutes, and is available to watch on YouTube (refer to the link below). 

Recommended viewing

• Every Sunday (1936 - short film)
• Broadway Melody of 1938 (1937)
• Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938)
• Everybody Sing (1938)
• Listen, Darling (1938)
• The Wizard of Oz (1939)
• Babes in Arms (1939)
• Andy Hardy Meets Debutante (1940)
• Strike Up the Band (1940)
• Babes on Broadway (1941)
• For Me & My Gal (1942)
• Girl Crazy (1943)
• Meet Me In St. Louis (1944)
• The Clock (1945)
• The Harvey Girls (1946)
• The Pirate (1948)
• Easter Parade (1948)
• In the Good Old Summertime (1949)
• Summer Stock (1950)
• A Star is Born (1954)
• I Could Go On Singing (1963)

Every Sunday

'Every Sunday' (1936) is an MGM short film featuring a young Judy Garland and Deanna Durbin. The film was intended to be a screen test for the young actresses, who both went on to become major stars.

It is the story of two girls Edna (played by Durbin) and Judy (played by Garland), who attempt to save a public concert series from being cancelled due to poor attendance.

Although the film runs approx. 10 minutes, the film is a significant entry in Judy Garland's filmography as it was her first screen appearance with MGM.

Watch the film on YouTube: