The Films of Judy Garland

Judy Garland was an entertainment icon whose performances on stage, screen and television had a tremendous impact across decades and media. This film-by-film study of her work follows her progression from pig-tailed child to a top motion picture star, with such timeless classics as The Wizard of Oz, Meet Me in St Louis, and A Star is Born.  Garland’s talent and versatility as an actress are explored through each of her movie roles. More than just a reference filmography, this work examines how Garland’s talents were realized and understood by producers and the world. It analyzes the star’s relatonships with various co-stars and directors and details how she balanced her painful insecurities with her often focused and driven approach to her work. Through the context of her work on film, Judy Garland’s innate and enduring star power is readily appreciated and acknowledged.

James L. Neibaur is a film historian and scholar with more than 30 books and hundreds of articles appearing in Cineaste, Classic Images, Film Quarterly, Films in Review, Filmfax, and Encyclopædia Britannica.

James L. Neibaur

Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 202
Bibliographic Info: 61 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2022
pISBN: 978-1-4766-8595-3
eISBN: 978-1-4766-4702-9
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments  vi
Preface  1
The Early Years: From Frances Gumm to Judy Garland  3
Pigskin Parade  5
Every Sunday  10
Broadway Melody of 1938  13
Thoroughbreds Don’t Cry  18
Everybody Sing  22
Love Finds Andy Hardy  26
Listen, Darling  30
The Wizard of Oz  33
Babes in Arms  48
Andy Hardy Meets Debutante  55
Strike Up the Band  58
Little Nellie Kelly  64
Ziegfeld Girl  69
Life Begins for Andy Hardy  76
Babes on Broadway  79
For Me and My Gal  83
Presenting Lily Mars  89
Girl Crazy  95
Meet Me in St. Louis  100
The Clock  109
The Harvey Girls  116
The Pirate  123
Easter Parade  129
In the Good Old Summertime  137
Summer Stock  142
Back on Stage: 1951–1954  150
A Star Is Born  153
Returning to the
Concert Stage  161
Judgment at Nuremberg  163
Gay­Purr-ee  166
A Child Is Waiting  171
I Could Go on Singing  175
The Final Years  182
Chapter Notes  185
Bibliography  189
Index  191

• “It’s an engaging read which balances providing useful background facts with critical analysis…The book works as both an excellent introduction to Garland for new fans and an enjoyable review for those who have loved her work for years.”—Laura’s Miscellaneous Musings