Judy Garland

Judy Garland was one of the most beloved and tragic movie stars of Hollywood's Golden Era. Known for her warmth, spirit, and rich voice, she became a staple in musical films. Born Frances Ethel Gumm on 10 June 1922 in Minnesota, she was the youngest daughter of vaudevillians Ethel Marian (Milne) and Francis Avent "Frank" Gumm. Of English, Scottish, and Irish descent, she showed an early talent for singing, particularly "Jingle Bells," which led her mother to include her in a dance act called "The Gumm Sisters" with her older sisters Mary Jane and Virginia. Ethel soon removed Frances from the act and began promoting her as a solo performer in nightclubs, cabarets, hotels, and theaters. Her family life was troubled, partly due to her mother's ambition and her father's closeted homosexuality, which led to frequent relocations and, at times, living out of their car. In September 1935, Frances was signed by Louis B. Mayer of MGM after he heard her sing, and her name was changed to Judy Garland in honor of a popular song and a film critic. Tragedy struck soon after with her father's death from meningitis in November 1935. Initially assigned only to sing on radio, Judy faced the threat of losing her job with the arrival of Deanna Durbin. MGM created a short film, Every Sunday (1936), as a screen test for the two. Though Judy won the test and was retained, her career did not take off until she performed "You Made Me Love You" at Clark Gable's birthday party in February 1937, drawing Mayer's attention. Her film debut in Pigskin Parade (1936), where she played a teenage hillbilly, had left her career uncertain. Following the birthday performance, MGM began preparing musicals for her. The studio provided her with pills to combat fatigue and amphetamines to manage her weight, which contributed to her lifelong drug addiction. In 1939, she gained stardom with her role as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz (1939), a film in which she delivered a poignant performance and sang her signature song, "Over The Rainbow." For this role, she received a special juvenile Oscar on 29 February 1940 for Best Performance by a Juvenile Actor. As she matured, Judy sought more adult roles, moving away from the virginal characters she had played since age 14. After her final juvenile performance in Ziegfeld Girl (1941), she married bandleader David Rose in July 1941. However, after discovering she was pregnant in November 1942, David and MGM convinced her to have an abortion to maintain her image. The experience haunted her for the rest of her life, and the couple separated in January 1943. During this time, Judy played her first adult role as a vaudevillian in For Me and My Gal (1942). Soon after, she began an affair with actor Tyrone Power, who was married, and later with producer Joseph L. Mankiewicz, who introduced her to psychoanalysis and helped her make independent career decisions. Their affair ended in November 1943, and Judy began filming Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), which was a major success. Director Vincente Minnelli highlighted her beauty in the film, marking her first color film since The Wizard of Oz (1939). After filming ended in April 1944, a romantic relationship developed between Judy and Minnelli, and they began living together. Minnelli helped shape her career and public image, directing her in The Clock (1945). The couple announced their engagement on set on January 9, 1945. Judy's divorce from David Rose was finalized on June 8, 1944, after nearly three years of marriage. During this period, she also had a brief affair with Orson Welles, who was married at the time.