Sid & Judy

Let's face it, there is no denying the woman's talent, I had goosebumps just listening to a fraction of a song. I could only wish I have a voice even a third as good as hers.

However, what a tortured and horrific life this poor woman had to lead? It does seem that she might have been a bit of a bug@er too, but probably more as a result of the abuses she had faced and from a lack of control over her own life, than out of nature.

This film focuses on Sid Luft's experiences with Judy and takes excerpts from his memoirs, along with recorded phone conversations and snippets of other elements, played over clips and photos in such a clever way that allows you to easily get a look at the legends life during that time and understand what went wrong and how.

It's not often that I watch documentaries, but having recently watched Renee Zellweger in 'Judy' I found that I wanted to know more about Miss Garland and see how much of the biopic was true. I definitely preferred this interpretation of her time, even though it wasn't a story as such. There was just something about it that gave great clarity.

I wonder if she would have been the icon she is today if she hadn't been forced to do all those horrible things. Did they make her the star she is that way or would she have been just as magnificent if she had been able to diet sensibly and was at ease to drink more carefully? We will never know and that's a great shame, because we lost something amazing when she went and there aren't many that even come close to her talent today.

The title of this documentary grated on me, with Luft taking first billing, but I stuck with it as a huge fan of Judy. What can't be disputed is Luft, in a way, did reignite Judy's career. She received her first Oscar nomination, and played to millions live. However, Judy was born with a God given talent ,which even when she duets with Barbra Streisand, who went on to star in an inferior version of A Star is Born, it is Judy you are drawn to. What I learned was how funny Judy was. When she describes the media frenzy when she is nominated for Star at her hospital bedside it is genuinely hilarious! I also learned Luft was a two faced chancer who promised to look after and not hurt Judy, but like most in her life, milked her for funds and kept her on pills to perform. Judy couldn't respond to how Luft rewrote her history but it is she who will be remembered forever. Watch this for Judy and take Luft with a giant pinch of salt. Best thing about him is he was voiced well by Jon Hamm.

This is mostly about Judy and not that much about Luft. Which is fine with me. It also has, perhaps, a little too much singing from Judy, even though it's her singing that we remember most, although it has to be said that she could be an excellent actress and this isn't explored more deeply. But the rarely seen footage across her entire career is just too precious. Not perfect, but wonderful nonetheless. Judy we miss you.

This is a fascinating documentary on Judy Garland's career and marriage to Michael Sidney Luft. What I most loved about this documentary was its presentation of rare, rare, rare footage showing Judy from A Star is Born and her 1963-1964 tv series not shown before. For example, alternate takes of Judy's second attempt (wearing a brown dress) singing "The Man That Got Away" were shown. Also shown was with an alternate take and the final version of the song where she is wearing the black dress. There are also scenes of Judy on the set of A Star is Born interacting with the crew or getting ready for a take.

As for her tv series, there were scenes of her not shown presented here that might be found on the dvds of her tv shows as shots edited out from the televised sequences. Some with guests Martha Raye, Lena Horne, and herself solo are examples.

Also presented are color home movies of Judy at her Hollywood home with Sid at the time, one of Liza as a child, and one of Judy getting out of a car she was driving and then greeting some fans.

Judy was a genius when it came to her singing talent, acting ability, and dancing skills as well. She was one of the most talented people the world has known. She was a bright woman with great incite, but she was also a woman who never seemed to grow up and face reality and accept responsibility. She allowed her mother, business managers, agents, and husbands to manage her affairs. Now I totally understand that she was busy with everything she had to do and dealing with her drug habit which kept her health in jeopardy. Emotionally, at many times in her life, she seemed to remain a child, despite being a grown adult.

However, after being burned a few times, one would think she would herself take a look at contracts, for example, and make demands on her own without anyone else there. Sid, it seems, did try to help and run her career, but what is not mentioned in this documentary is that Sid and Judy didn't file income taxes during some of those years. It has been written that Sid often spent lots of time at racetracks, but if he were really as astute and caring as he claims, how come he didn't stay on top of that? We will never know since so many people who knew them are gone forever.

In the documentary, it was stated that in 1959 Judy was told to get to a hospital immediately when she was extremely bloated and overweight with a damaged liver. If the story is true, Judy stated she would not go to the hospital without first stopping at their hotel to have a triple vodka with water. If she didn't get it, she wouldn't go. Sid gave in to her so that she would enter the hospital. As much as I admire and adore Judy's talents, I have a difficult time respecting this kind of puerile behavior. Judy was in many ways from the many, many bios I have read about her a wonderful person who loved life and laughed often. However, she turned a blind eye to things she didn't want to deal with. From Sid's words (taken from his book which I have read), he said Judy claimed she didn't want to be bothered with worrying about money. If she had had a more mature nature, perhaps she would not have ended up in the sad financial state she was in towards the end of her life.

I did learn a lot about Sid Luft and his marriage and his managing Judy's career, but I suspect that some of the more unflattering things about Sid were left out in an attempt to make him appear more faultless.

Overall, this is an excellent documentary worth seeing and buying and adding to one's own library. I recommend it without hesitation.

This is an alternately heartbreaking and fascinating account of the life and times of the immensely gifted Judy Garland - in her own words, on tapes destined to be made into a book which were all but forgotten until recently. And also portrayed by actress, Jennifer Jason Leigh in voiceovers, who for some odd reason affects an awful mid-Atlantic accent - what?! Did she think she was still portraying Dorothy Parker? To agree with another reviewer, it's the only downside to the documentary. At first I thought it was Bobby Cannevale as Sid Luft, but Jon Hamm acquits himself exceptionally. Well-researched with archival footage and interviews.