"Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows" (2001) TV mini-series

Director:

Robert Allan Ackerman

Writers (WGA):

Lorna Luft (memoir)
Robert L. Freedman (teleplay)

Release Date:

25 February 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Music

Tagline:

Dorothy found the end of the rainbow. Judy spent her life looking for it.

Plot:

The Judy Garland story from the 1930s until her death.

Plot Keywords:

Fame | Comeback | Based On Autobiography | London Palladium | Movie Studio

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 16 wins & 19 nominations

Cast

Judy Davis	...	Judy Garland
Victor Garber	...	Sid Luft
Hugh Laurie	...	Vincente Minnelli
John Benjamin Hickey	...	Roger Edens
Sonja Smits	...	Kay Thompson
Jayne Eastwood	...	Lottie
Daniel Kash	...	Arthur Freed
Alison Pill	...	Young Lorna Luft
Aidan Devine	...	Frank Gumm
Stewart Bick	...	Artie Shaw
Tammy Blanchard	...	Young Judy Garland
Amber Metcalfe	...	Lorna Luft, age 6
Al Waxman	...	Louis B. Mayer
Marsha Mason	...	Ethel Gumm
Krista Sutton	...	Lorna Luft, adult

Also Known As:

Judy Garland: L'ombre d'une étoile (Canada: French title)
Me & My Shadows (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

170 min

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:LH | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Parkwood Estate, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Alliance Atlantis Communications

Trivia:

The character of Lottie was a combination of two people: Carlton Alsop (then husband of actress Sylvia Sidney) and Sid Luft's business partner Vern Alves.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Fake issue of Variety with news stories on back cover. Real issues of that publication always have ads on back cover.

Quotes:

Judy Garland: Since I was twelve years old they've been taking me out the closet and winding me up to sing and stuffing me back in again. Well maybe I don't feel like singing.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The View: (2007-05-31)" (2007)

Judy IS Judy!

What starts out as a slightly better-than-average Hollywood biopic becomes sheer dynamite when Judy Davis takes over the role of the talented, tormented "Rainbow Girl" herself, Judy Garland. She perfectly conveys all the professional and personal highs and lows of a unique show biz legend. Garland herself was always something of a dichotomy. Professionally, at her best ("Oz," the Palace, Carnegie), no one could touch her; as a human being, no one in their right mind would want to BE her. Davis conveys this every step on the way. Even when her vocals are dubbed by the original Garland recordings, you're watching a true pro at work.

Not that she's the only reason for seeing this film by any means. Victor Garber brings his usual understated but powerful presence to the role of Sid Luft, Hugh Laurie is a solid Vincente Minelli, and the late Al Waxman, who died just before the film was aired, makes a good L.B. Mayer.

It would seem that Judy Garland would be just too big of a subject to bring to the screen. But the producers, and a lady named Davis, have done so, brilliantly.