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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Ethel Merman
metalman091 — 18 years ago(January 27, 2008 05:30 PM)
Although I have "known" Ethel Merman for ages, it was not until recently that I became interested in her and her work. I am looking foreward to seeing 'Call Me Madam and There's No Business Like Show Business'. So far I have seen
Kid Millions
Strike Me Pink
Anything Goes
Alexander's Ragtime Band
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (wonderful performance)
and who could forget her remarkable cameo in 'Airplane'?.
When she teamed with Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand for 'The Judy Garland Show' they made show biz history. -
Mickorola — 18 years ago(March 16, 2008 01:09 PM)
She is great. Sadly though, I haven't seen very many of her performances on film. I have seen her in both "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" and "Airplane!". Her cameo in the latter was ridiculous and one of the funniest moments in it.
I also agree with you that her appearance with Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand was unforgettable. I was watching a biography ab5b4out Judy one night, and it showed archive footage from her too-short-lived variety show, about which I knew nothing prior to then; one of the clips was the performance you mentioned. I couldn't believe that three of the greatest female vocalists of all time were performing together.
Just as good was Judy and Barbra's duet, where Barbra sang Happy Days are Here Again and Judy sang Get Happy. Have you seen that?
"What did we do to deserve this? Were we those guys who killed Jesus in a past life?" -
Harold_Robbins — 18 years ago(March 17, 2008 07:08 AM)
The Garland/Streisand/Merman "Show Business" is indeed show business history, and just about the only time you'll ever see Streisand at a disadvantage. She more or less just gives up, and even Garland, no slouch in the lung-power department herself and a far more seasoned performer than Streisand was at the time (as well as a long-time pal of Merman's) is almost relegated to a part of the scenery in the wake of Hurricane Ethel.
"Stone-cold sober I find myself absolutely
fascinating!"
Katharine Hepburn -
Mickorola — 18 years ago(March 17, 2008 03:16 PM)
Ethel Merman was an unstoppable star. I hope someday we find more performers like her. It's good, though, that we still have singers like Tony Bennett and the afore mentioned Streisand left.
"What did we do to deserve this? Were we those guys who killed Jesus in a past life?" -
metalman091 — 17 years ago(April 30, 2008 05:16 AM)
I did see Judy and Barbra do their duets together on the show. I own it on a Judy duets CD (which has Judy with Liza, Ethel, Barbra, Peggy Lee, Jack Jones, Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin).
Ethel had known Judy since the late 1930's and became friends. Ethel said that the image of Judy being a poor tragic woman was nonsense. -
Mickorola — 17 years ago(August 15, 2008 02:15 PM)
It was great. Too bad her show sunk so quickly. It could have been a classic like the "Dean Martin Show" and other musical sketch comedies.
"What did we do to deserve this? Were we those guys who killed Jesus in a past life?"