It took three days to shoot the scene in which Judy Garland performs Harold Arlen and Ira Gershwin’s haunting and highly unusual (in form) torch song ‘The Man That Got Away’, for the 1954 version of ‘A Star Is Born’. Above is a nifty split screen demonstrating two of the takes. You can compare/contrast her performances–the changes are subtle yet important. Each take grew progressively more pointed and emotional. Below I reprint comments by the YouTuber who posted this fine video.

October 29, 1953: Filming on the second, and ultimately deleted, version of “The Man That Got Away” continued. This day was focused on medium close-up shots. The original version shot on October 20 featured Judy in a pink blouse. For this second version, she was filmed in a brown dress designed by Mary Ann Nyberg. Judy arrived on set each of these three days at 10 a.m. she finished at 5:50 p.m. on October 27th; 4:45 on October 28th and 6:15 p.m. on October 29th. The final film version, with the dark blue dress, was filmed in late February 1954. A total of 27 takes were filmed over those three days. Each time the number was filmed in one long continuous take. According to assistant director Earl Bellamy, Judy would give her all, then rest for 15 minutes, then do it all over again. Every take was brilliant.