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7.9/10
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The Judy Garland story from the 1930s until her death.The Judy Garland story from the 1930s until her death.The Judy Garland story from the 1930s until her death.
- Won 5 Primetime Emmys
- 19 wins & 34 nominations total
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Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe film began as a project for Annette Bening to star in.
- GoofsJudy sings the wrong "Eli Eli" to Louis Mayer. We hear her sing an Israeli song that begins "Eli Eli" but had not yet been written at the time. (It's more properly known as "Walking to Caesaria.") An entirely different "Eli Eli," one of the most popular Jewish songs in the early days of the phonograph, is what we should have heard.
- Quotes
Judy Garland: Uninsurable? Uh-huh?... of course I can do eight shows a week, I did eight shows a day in vaudeville... well even the greatest performer in the world can occasionally catch a cold and miss a performance! Let me tell you something: I have been in show business for forty years. That's thirty-five movies, six hundred radio shows, seventeen hundred concerts...! Difficult? Yes, I've heard how difficult it is to work with Judy Garland, do you know how difficult it is to *be* Judy Garland? I've been trying to be Judy Garland all my life!
- Alternate versionsThe DVD version of the film has a number at the Palace theatre removed from the body of the film, but is retained as an extra feature on the disc.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The 53rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (2001)
- SoundtracksZing! Went the Strings of My Heart
(uncredited)
Written by James F. Hanley
Performed by Tammy Blanchard (singing dubbed by Judy Garland)
Featured review
Probably the Closest Thing We Will Ever Have to a Definitive Biography of a Show Biz Legend
There have been a lot of show business biographies put on film, but for the most part, they are sketchy and fictionalized. Judy Garland was a show business legend, who even though much has been written about her, a definitive film biography has alluded us. An NBC TV movie was made in the 80's called RAINBOW, but it only covered Garland's childhood to the time she was cast in THE WIZARD OF OZ. At long last, we finally were gifted with a surprisingly factual and lavishly produced TV movie called LIFE WITH JUDY GARLAND: ME AND MY SHADOWS, a two-part mini-series which chronicles Garland's life from her first audition for MGM to her tragic death in 1969. Most show biz biopics tend to fictionalize material for dramatic effect or lack of knowledge of the facts, but I trust the facts presented here because there are several events recreated here that I have actually heard Garland herself talk about in interviews. Some things are omitted and/ or glossed over (Her first marriage to David Rose is barely mentioned), but when you only have 2 hours and 45 minutes to tell the story, some fact-trimming is necessary. The filmmakers wisely chose two actresses to play the teenage and adult Garland. Tammy Blanchard and Judy Davis both won Emmys for their work as young Frances Gumm and the adult Judy Garland. Davis, in particular, is astonishing in a powerhouse performance that just gets richer and more complex upon repeat viewings. Another wise decision to dub original Garland recordings for Davis' singing voice further enhances the power of the piece. I read that prior to shooting, Davis watched every movie Garland made and as much concert footage as she could get her hands on and her homework pays off in spades here. Her recreations of "The Trolley Song" from MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS and "The Man that Got Away" from A STAR IS BORN are positively spooky. Victor Garber gives the performance of his career as Judy's volatile third husband, Sid Luft. Hugh Laurie is a little too masculine as Judy's 2nd hubby, Vincente Minnelli, whose rumored bisexuality prior to meeting Judy is part of Hollywood folklore. There is also solid work from Sonja Smits and John Benjamin Hickey as Judy's good friends, Kay Thompson and Roger Edens and by Dwayne Addams as a young Mickey Rooney. There is also a memorable turn from Marhsa Mason as Ethel Gumm, Judy's hard-nosed mother. A hauntingly accurate look at the tragic life of, arguably, Hollywood's greatest creation, whose very human troubles never allowed her to live up to the creation.
helpful•263
- Isaac5855
- Oct 6, 2006
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- Me & My Shadows
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- Runtime1 hour 25 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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What is the Spanish language plot outline for Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows (2001)?
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