Comparisons between the movie Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows (2001) and scenes from the movies and life of Judy Garland. Famous People Portrayl in Movies Playlist • Playlist Scenes Comparisons Playlist • Scene Comparisons
I feel like they switched to the Davis too soon. I love her portrayal as older Judy Garland but for Meet Me in St. Louis I feel like they should have kept Tammy as judy.
EmoAnthony91 I just watched the TV movie and I totally agree. She looked too mature for the MMiSL part. Tammy would have been perfect! It was probably because of the Minnelli romance that they introduced Davis. I thought Tammy nailed the part of young Judy!
I so agree. Tammy should have played her through the end of her MGM days (1950) and then Judy Davis takes over. The real Judy’s appearance changed around that time and she lost that youthful edge which had been her look through the 40s. She darkened her hair - going to black and never again would we see the brown or auburn look she had from that time. That was the natural transition point. And yes, Tammy was spot on. Judy Davis did a great job as the older Judy as well. She just entered too soon.
I think Tammy Blanchard's portrayal of the young Garland was so close that it was positively eerie. In some scenes, she was so good that I very nearly cried. I think Judy Davis is a fabulous actor, but she paled in comparison to Blanchard's heartbreaking authenticity.
I think Judy Davis definitely gave the better performance, no disrespect to Tammy. Tammy was brilliant and she definitely physically resembled Judy more, but Davis’ performance was so strong like almost psychic that by the later years she literally becomes Judy and captures her entire essence and energy to where it makes her nearly indistinguishable from Judy at times.
@@stardusth2o I agree but I think they brought Judy Davis in to soon. She was just simply not young enough to do the 1940’s Judy Garland. She was brilliant overall! This was a well done movie!
agreed my theory is that they didn't want a young actress on romantic scenes with and older actor (Hugh Laurie) also, it would seem odd visually to have the same actor side by side with 2 different actresses in a short period of time
@@dimitreze It's the correct theory! According to the DVD commentary, they figured that the beginning of Judy Davis as Garland was the beginning of her adult life, which included her relationship with Vincent Minnelli. And since her relationship began on the set of Meet Me in St. Louis, the change had to happen there. Besides, they always intended on Judy Davis playing Judy Garland, as in, being the star of the movie. So Tammy Blanchard couldn't have had too much of the spotlight.
I'm sorry but nothing can compare to this portrayal of Judy. Blanchard and Davis were freaking fabulous. There is so much love in this film from Lorna to her mom. She wanted to do her mom justice, leave her dignity and legacy intact but also tell the truth of the story. Fantastic.
Should have used the 1st actress for the Meet me in St. Louis scenes, Judy Davies was good at playing the older Judy but doesn’t pass as 22 year old Garland in those scenes at all
I'm going to guess that the reason they didn't use her for the scene was because Judy in RL went through a cosmetic transformation. The makeup artist re-shaped her eyebrows and did something to her nose and she looked older than she did in Wizard of Oz, but I too do wish they would have used the 1st actress for this scene as well.
Agreed, @Mitch G. Though uncertain how Blanchard would have handled the older Judy mannerisms, which could easily deviate into a caricature, instead of an homage. How random (I hate that word, but in this context it fits) it is to see your post. Continue to soar, MG...
They should have kept Tammy up until A Star Is Born, but I don't think she could have carried the whole show. Judy Davis was brilliant as older Judy. Plus Tammy was a fresh face - Judy Davis was well known in movies and tv at that point, she may have felt like a better bet.
Judy had soo much more emotion in whatever she did. Ford star jubilee makes my heart stop. Emotion is pouring out of her whole body. Makes me want to cry, She is soo tired there, And you can feel her voice taking over everyone and eveything. They used her and just threw her away
beach side Ever since I saw the Ford version, the song always makes me cry. It stopped being about Wizard and became all about her desire to be happy and struggles and near death and death.
"Me and My Shadow" did an absolutely incredible job of recreating those musical numbers. The attention to detail. As one of the top Judy Garland impressionists of my day I was very impressed.
I wasn't impressed with the hair for Dorothy Gale both braids, and basket, and then her emerald city hair due, was not that curly, and it isn't like there aren't allot of reference photo from wizard for both the braids the bows the basket and the hair. with Ester smith, her hair was way to orange and not chest nut brown which is how it is in the film, when you look at the comparison her hair sticks out like a sore thumb.
Cydalia Acevedo I agree it was too soon for the other actress to come in , maybe at the live stage performance would have been a good time to bring her into the movie.
Tammy looks almost like Judy's twin. Judi Davis looked considerably older than Judy G. as an adult and to me she didn't look much like her. They should've just stayed with Tammy and made her look older with hair and makeup.
I think she looked enough like her, especially with hair and makeup, and her acting was brilliant. Honestly, I struggle to watch other Garland's because Davis's interpretation was so fantastic. I wonder what Renee Zellwegger will bring to the table...
I couldn't agree more. It's very distracting and very irritating on top of it to watch someone who doesn't look like or sound like Judy after getting the treat of having someone who was the spitting image of her onscreen, not to mention Judy's twin Tammy was so good at getting who Judy was-her personality, her mannerisms-so correct and spot on. No matter how good of an actress Judi Davis was, she could not get any of that correct, even in the scenes where she's filming movies.
The extras in the Trolley Song recreation were AMAZing! They obviously studied the look, movements, and energy of their original counterparts so meticulouslu!
The first actress only played Judy in her teen years, the used a second actress to play the older Judy. She may not look alot like her but she got Judy's voice, mannerisms, everything else down that you believe you are seeing Judy Garland. Also Judy Davis was signed onto the project from the beginning and couldn't really play teenage just so Tammy was brought in to do it. And finally, young Judy is very different from the Judy in her later years. Almost a completely different person. Young Judy was very naive and innocent. Judy Garland the Woman was an alcoholic, drag addict, and a bit of a diva. Seems only right to cast two different actresses. How ever I do believe they changed the actress too early in the film. They should of had Tammy do "Meet me in St Louis"
The director and Lorna Luft did a commentary track on the original DVD release. They explained that the decision of where to switch actresses was especially difficult and required a lot of thought. They ultimately chose the point they did because they saw Meet Me In St. Louis as the beginning of her adult life - where she met Vincente Minnelli. Everyone ultimately felt it would've been to jarring to have Davis take over the role any later. So while Blanchard may have been more age appropriate for some of those earlier scenes, it was an artistic choice in the end, and I understand why they did it.
Shana - Yeah, that's what happens when someone like Louis B. Mayer gets hold of you at a YOUNG AGE, and tells you to CALM THAT WEIGHT DOWN, and starts PUTTING YOU ON DRUGS !!!!
As did Billy Thorpe (RIP). He was 60. Not that young, but, a "Comparison" of he and Judy Garland ( RIP), singing "Over The Rainbow", would be a waste of time.
Davis admitted she was very apprehensive about some of these recreations. She actually tried to talk the director out of the "Star is Born" dressing room scene - he ultimately convinced her to do it by adding lines at the end where Garland expressed dissatisfaction with the take, and Cukor telling her he wouldn't use it. Whatever her reservations, she did a damn good job and held her own in a very demanding role.
Lorna Luft did a fabulous job with the made for TV movie which is based off her book "Me and My Shadows" which tells the story of her mother's life including her rise to stardom and her downfall.
This is brilliantly edited, well done! Thank you for the time and effort you put into making this video. You can also really see how hard Judy Davis studied Judy Garland's mannerisims in her movies for her role - she was dead on. This mini series may be 18 years old, but it's one of the most brilliant portrayals of Judy's life. I like how it was done in collaboration with Judy's daughter, Lorna, as well. It gives the film a more personal touch. If you haven't already, I highly recommend reading Lorna's book on which this film is based.
The recreation of The Trolly Song scene is near perfection. The only pit fall is that Judy Davis seems a bit to old to be playing the scene. If they had at least kept Tammy Blanchard for this scene, it would have made it perfect!
If you listen to the commentary on the DVD, the director said that they didn't want to straight recreate scenes from the films, but instead make it seem as if you were seeing another take of the same number, not necessarily the one used in the film.
The trolley song scene could of been done a little better. I agree, they should of kept the young Judy actress for that scene. Plus, Davis' wig was way too orange, and Judy Garland's was a little more darker. It was a excellent movie altogether, I just find it uncanny how most of the actors looked like the real life people, especially, Liza's teenage and adult actresses.
Wow I’m shocked they didn’t keep the actress who played young Judy. She was a dead ringer and it felt like a shock to see J. Davis portray her later years …. Both great actresses for the role tho
Tammy was a SPITTING IMAGE!! It was kinda scary. I think for Trolly song should have been Tammy. Judy was still relatively young in in that film. No offense to Judy Davis though.
I personally don’t like some of the things Judy Davis does in this film. Specifically “The Man That Got Away”. I think she’s doing too much. I thought she was great in a lot of other scenes though. I just feel she’s doing more than she needs to when recreating iconic moments.
Ok, I'm glad someone else said it. Especially when comparing them, it really seems like in some scenes, Davis was giving more of someone like Joan Crawford than Judy Garland...
I completely agree! I think its because davis is not an actual professional singer and doesnt feel the song a singer like garland does. So the gestures were terrible reenactments rather than natural choreography. Davis was fine with the dramatic acting but not the singing acting. Tammy did a much better job at the singing acting because she actually has sang infront of ppl before.
Alexis 🌈 I agree and reading comments, I can see where all the comments are coming from. As an actor myself it would be tough because your memorizing the song, the lines, and making sure you get the gestures correct on the right beat which obviously she’s doing them but not at the correct moment, and make it look believable that is hard to do. I do give her props for doing it. It does come off rough at times.
Nope, the music was pre-recorded and lip synced on set. If someone yelled on the set if s musical numbers it couldn't have been picked up on film. John is chasing the trolley at that point and jumps aboard. Hiya Johnny!
The only problem I have is the camera angles for Judy Davis, if the had her on point with the Meet me in St Louis and Over the Rainbow scenes, it would of been perfect. The costume for "The man that got away, is a light blue for Judy Davis, Judy G wore a darker blue.
This seems more like a caricature than giving the impression of Judy. Judy had a stillness to her that she didn’t capture. She had impeccable timing for each huge gesture and each powerful note...what a lady
chata503 2525 I’m not sure where you heard that, but that’s Garland singing “Over the Rainbow.” Sounds to me like the version from the London Sessions. Respect to Judy Davis, but there’s no way she sang that much like Garland.
Judy Davis looks nothing like Judy Garland, facial structure, body type, etc. Especially the eyes. And it's like the makeup department didn't bother matching their makeup at all. Some would say that her performance makes up for it but it's a very distracting aspect that ruins the whole thing for me.
Me and My Shadows is the reason Liza and Lorna did. Ot speak for over 6 yrs. Liza was not pleased she knew nothing about it being made into a movie and she was not thrilled Lorna wrote the book.
I was extremely impressed with the costuming in the Life With Judy Garland movie! Especially with the actress they chose to play the teenage Judy, omg she looked just like her. I feel like I could really imagine being right there watching her in person through a looking glass time machine lol But unfortunately the older Judy just did not cut it for me. She looked nothing like her, especially during the Trolley Song performance. She didn't sound like her either. No disrespect to the actress, but she just wasn't beautiful enough to play her. She looked way, way older. I
I am so glad they used Judy Garland's voice for the movie instead of having Judy Davis sing. Judy wasn't too convincing for me since they didn't use her voice.