Judy Garland

Praised as "undoubtedly the best of the many books on Judy Garland" by no less a critic than John Lahr (the son of Bert Lahr, the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz), Anne Edwards's biography attempts to present a complete picture of the late actress, and not just the boozing, drug-addicted caricature of a woman that is central to lesser biographies. From Edwards's account we learn, for example, that Garland saw it as her duty to provide for her family financially, a generosity that her mother Ethel exploited with disastrous results. A student of great poets-Shelley, Keats, and Browning in particular-she often tried her own hand at verse; surviving poems are reproduced here. Above all Judy Garland sought to please, whether it was an audience or a studio head, and therein lies her powerful and heartbreaking story.

Praised as "undoubtedly the best of the many books on Judy Garland" by no less a critic than John Lahr (the son of Bert Lahr, the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz), Anne Edwards's biography attempts to present a complete picture of the late actress, and not just the boozing, drug-addicted caricature of a woman that is central to lesser biographies. From Edwards's account we learn, for example, that Garland saw it as her duty to provide for her family financially, a generosity that her mother Ethel exploited with disastrous results. A student of great poets-Shelley, Keats, and Browning in particular-she often tried her own hand at verse; surviving poems are reproduced here. Above all Judy Garland sought to please, whether it was an audience or a studio head, and therein lies her powerful and heartbreaking story.

A Definitive Celebration of Hollywood's Iconic Musical Star and Her Legendary Career More than 100 years after her birth, Judy Garland remains the gold standard by which all movie musical leading ladies are judged. She is revered and celebrated by current stars, directors, songwriters, and others in the entertainment industry. She also has a fan base that is as large as that of Marilyn Monroe or James Dean. Her image, especially "Dorothy" in The Wizard of Oz (1939), is an instantly recognized icon. Garland really was the voice of MGM during her tenure and after. No documentary about any aspect of the history of the MGM Studios is complete without Garland's voice on the soundtrack. When people think of MGM Musicals, they think of Garland along with Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire. She's the only female in that exalted "top three." There have been many books about Garland's fabled and troubled life, but none devoted solely to the study (and celebration) of her years at MGM. She entered the studio as a 13-year-old contract player in 1935. She left the studio in 1950 carrying the title "Metro's Greatest Asset." Judy Garland: The Voice of MGM will focus on Garland's films, but it will also delve into her other professional achievements such as her extensive appearances on radio programs, her long association with Decca Records, and her personal appearances, highlighted by her two USO Bond Tours in the early 1940s. This will be the definitive book about Garland's legendary career at MGM, pulling back the curtain to reveal the truths about that career while also presenting previously unknown details and facts that are sure to delight her fans as well as fans of classic film.

A Definitive Celebration of Hollywood's Iconic Musical Star and Her Legendary Career More than 100 years after her birth, Judy Garland remains the gold standard by which all movie musical leading ladies are judged. She is revered and celebrated by current stars, directors, songwriters, and others in the entertainment industry. She also has a fan base that is as large as that of Marilyn Monroe or James Dean. Her image, especially "Dorothy" in The Wizard of Oz (1939), is an instantly recognized icon. Garland really was the voice of MGM during her tenure and after. No documentary about any aspect of the history of the MGM Studios is complete without Garland's voice on the soundtrack. When people think of MGM Musicals, they think of Garland along with Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire. She's the only female in that exalted "top three." There have been many books about Garland's fabled and troubled life, but none devoted solely to the study (and celebration) of her years at MGM. She entered the studio as a 13-year-old contract player in 1935. She left the studio in 1950 carrying the title "Metro's Greatest Asset." Judy Garland: The Voice of MGM will focus on Garland's films, but it will also delve into her other professional achievements such as her extensive appearances on radio programs, her long association with Decca Records, and her personal appearances, highlighted by her two USO Bond Tours in the early 1940s. This will be the definitive book about Garland's legendary career at MGM, pulling back the curtain to reveal the truths about that career while also presenting previously unknown details and facts that are sure to delight her fans as well as fans of classic film.