Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows (2001) (TV)

Director:

Robert Allan Ackerman

Writers (WGA):

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

Release Date:

25 February 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

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:

Husband Wife Relationship | Drug Addiction | Showbiz | Marriage Problems | Icon

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:

Australia:M | Iceland:LH

Filming Locations:

Parkwood Estate, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Alliance Atlantis Communications

Trivia:

Tammy Blanchard was 23 years old when playing 'Judy Garland' as a teenager.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Judy 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:

Young Judy Garland: Do you think I'm pretty, Mr Edens?
Roger Edens: Pretty doesn't come from the outside, Sugar. It comes from right here...
[points at Judy's chest]
Roger Edens: ...and what you've got in there is beautiful. You're Frances Gumm.
Young Judy Garland: I'm not Frances Gumm, I'm Judy Garland!
Roger Edens: Well, when you sing, I wanna hear Frances Gumm, that's who Judy Garland really is... and Frances Gumm has one of the best voices I've ever heard.
Young Judy Garland: I get so scared sometimes, Mr Edens. I don't know where that voice comes from.
Roger Edens: It's a gift.
Young Judy Garland: But...
[whispers]
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 59th Annual Golden Globe Awards (2002) (TV)

Remarkable Achievement

No one can capture the true Garland essence, but Tammy Blanchard and Judy Davis come as close as humanly possible, and I'll settle for that. While I'm still conflicted over daughter Lorna's motives for writing the book upon which this film is based (and would Judy have approved??), and knowing there are gaps in the story, I was nonetheless astonished at the total virtuosity of this film. Wisdom prevailed when electing Blanchard and Davis to lip-sync to Judy herself, although this undoubtedly created more of a challenge for the actors portraying her. Both rose to the occasion. Ms. Blanchard's performance is little short of incredible--she captures the young Judy with a brilliance that is exceeded only by the subject herself (the "Oz" sequence is almost spooky). Judy Davis performing "The Trolley Song" is a bit jarring (perhaps Ms. Blanchard exited the film a bit too soon), but as the film moves ahead, the perfection of her casting is obvious. She vocally and physically mimics the great Garland in another "tour-de-force" performance. The supporting cast also shines, in particular John Benjamin Hickey as Roger Edens, Judy's vocal coach, mentor, and dear friend. Mr. Hickey's quiet strength matches that of Mr. Edens, a lovely, warm glow in the background. Even Legends have their anchors--Roger was Judy's for many years, and Mr. Hickey's silent presence in this regard is perfect. Garland fan or not, this is captivating show(man-and-woman)ship of the first order. I repeat . . . "virtuosity". In keeping with the great and wonderful Judy Garland.