Judy Garland
The early years
Born Frances Ethel Gumm, Judy Garland started her career as the youngest member of the Gumm Sisters in 1924. Baby Gumm, as Judy was affectionately called can be seen on some early MGM footage, including one early technicolor reel. While on tour in 1934, the group had renamed themselves the Garland Sisters while on tour with George Jessel (who is sometimes credited with dubbing them with their "new" surname). In 1935, however, Judy left the Garland sisters and signed a contract with MGM. At first, studio executives weren't sure what to do with her. However, her singing voice had started to turn heads.
Judy as the girl next doorMGM studio heads paired Judy Garland with Mickey Rooney in a series of musicals and Andy Hardy films between 1937 and 1941. Her costumes were fitted and publicity shots taken to disguise her budding figure, as the studio wasn't sure that they were ready for her to become an adult. In each of her roles to this point, Judy had played either a child, or the girl next door. The "Hey kids, lets put on a show" films - Babes in Arms, Babes on Broadway, Girl Crazy and Strike Up the Band had been quite a success, and by 1941, Mickey Rooney was the top box office star, with Judy starting to gain recognition. When MGM gave Judy Garland the role of Dorothy, they publically announced that she was 14. However, in reality, when the Wizard of Oz was released in 1939, Judy was 17 years old. Little Nelly Kelly, in 1941, was Judy's first adult role and the studio's litmus to see if she could be cast in a romantic lead. | 
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Interesting Fact : Judy chose her first name from a Hoagy Carmichael song called Judy. "If her voice can bring every hope of the spring, that's Judy, my Judy. If her eyes say yes but you're wrong in your guess. That's Judy, my Judy. If you hear her call in a soft southern drawl, Hi! Stranger!, That's danger. If you're smart, watch your heart. Shell upset most any fellow's apple cart. In a hundred ways you'll be shouting her praise, she'l let ya, she'll get ya; when she ses you fall, she will tell you, that's all, you bet you. Then you'll know all the heartaches of a fool just like me. If she seems a saint and you find that she ain't that's Judy, sure as you're born. "
Judy Garland and the MGM Musical Factory
During her career, Judy Garland made more than 30 movies and musicals, mostly under MGM, including:
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1954 |