Judy Garland

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