Review of I Could Go on Singing (1963) by Keith C — 15 Jun 2010

With out a doubt this film is for JUDY lovers. The story is dripping with drama and soap opera overtones. However, this is Judy's last film and while it's been noted that some scenes are often biographical for her, there is a story here about a mother returning to claim the child she gave up to persue a career on the stage.

Judy played this part to the hilt and her acting and singing chops are in full force here. Without a doubt the dramatic scene in the hospital emergency room goes down as one of her finest acting triumphs on film.

In an unbelievable one take scene (claimed to be rewritten with Bogarde) she performs in such a way that you do not know where Jenny Bowman starts and Judy Garland finishes. No one can pull this off the way Garland can.

Bogarde is equally moving in this scene. They play off of each other very well throughout the film. Jack Klugman who plays Jenny's manager has some good scenes with this marvelous legend. The musical scenes are Judy at her best.

Her numbers are all performance pieces which make this movie spectacular and most interesting. The song "Hello Bluebird" reaches a climax that makes you want to jump out of your seat and applaud with the audience at the Palladium in London.

"By Myself" is sung with gutteral emotion and dramatic perfection that ends with Garland whipping the curtain behind her as she exits the stage. "It Never Was You" filmed also in a one take shot is pensive and reflective and gives Judy a chance for an emotional ballad one more time on film.

Title and end song "I Could Go On Singing" allows Judy to put the exclamation point on the end of this movie as well as her movie career. Sadly this was her last film. While to me the movie "A Star is Born" is Judy's tour de force in her career, "I Could Go on Singing" is a fitting swan song.

I recommend this film to anyone who has any interest in Garland and seeing on film what her concerts were like in the 60's. It will move you to tears on many levels.