I've never been a Garland fan per se but as a lover of classic films you can bet she crossed my radar MANY times. From those silly teeny bopper Andy Hardy flicks and Strike Up the Band to Meet Me in St. Louis which has hands down the best rendition of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" IMO. Original and best I suppose. Garland was with no question one of the greatest talents of the 20th century but also one of the saddest. She remains to this day, the prime example of why the abolition of the studio contract system that existed during the golden age of Hollywood and much earlier was the greatest thing for performers. They used to scoop up fresh talented faces off the bus stops and make them sign the deal with the devil to where these poor people were pumping out sometimes 6 or 7 movies a year! It was legal slavery, pure and simple. They used to give her uppers, downers, sidewayers, just about anything to keep her going and completely burned her out by the time she hit her 40s. I'm sad Garland died at such a young age and you can tell she was very bitter but even though she still had it at the end as per this video in her later life Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries.

Fabulous performer. RIP

Excellent comments you made, and terrific performance clip, @movie.

From the 48 seconds point, this sweet, lovely, endearing performance by Judy, a year (1938) before The Wizard of Oz, expresses, in the lyrics, how also so many have always felt about her. Judy sure did convey sensitivity and caring beautifully and sincerely. The public couldn't help but love her.

Indeed, how the studio system messed Judy up during her teens - which the effects of then lasted throughout her entire remaining lifetime - is tragic.

Her rendition of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" is a holiday staple I play a few times every holiday season. It's always bittersweet to hear: both beautiful and wistfully sad. Here (from the 46 seconds point) it is. Listening to it sure does effortlessly induce nostalgic (ultimately a little moist-eyed, always reminding me of the various family loved ones who have passed on) memories.

Yikes: Playing that song just now, it "got" me just that fast.....

Judy was a performer and star who had something truly special about her, that viewers and listeners readily emotionally connect to.

@genplant29 said:

Her rendition of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" is a holiday staple I play a few times every holiday season. It's always bittersweet to hear: both beautiful and wistfully sad....Listening to it sure does effortlessly induce nostalgic (ultimately a little moist-eyed, always reminding me of the various family loved ones who have passed on) memories.

Yikes: Playing that song just now, it "got" me just that fast.....

Yep. Love that song and her performance of it. I totally get the "got" me feeling. That entire film has some really good tunes actually. I recommend it to anyone who is only familiar with her TWoO performance.

@Invidia said:

[From Wikipedia:] Her physical appearance was a dilemma for MGM. She was only 4 feet 11.5 inches (151.1 cm), and her "cute" or "girl-next-door" looks did not exemplify the most glamorous persona then required of leading female performers. She was self-conscious and anxious about her appearance. "Judy went to school at Metro with Ava Gardner, Lana Turner, Elizabeth Taylor, real beauties", said Charles Walters, who directed her in a number of films. "Judy was the big money-maker at the time, a big success, but she was the ugly duckling ... I think it had a very damaging effect on her emotionally for a long time. I think it lasted forever, really." Her insecurity was exacerbated by the attitude of studio chief Louis B. Mayer, who referred to her as his "little hunchback".

So perhaps it was the INSULTING kind of NICKNAMES that Mayer called her that also leads to the DOWNFALL later on in life???

Hi Invidia!

OMG that was just awful and she was beautiful! People can be really insensitive sometimes and to think she had more talent in her little pinky than all of those girls. SMH Liz Taylor couldn't sing and Ava and Lana could barely act.

Judy sings Smile - 1963