MovieChat Forums > A Child Is Waiting (1963) Discussion > Wonder about Judy

Wonder about Judy

posted 18 years ago by pathos613
18 replies | jump to latest

I have just finished watching this film again and each time I see it I can't help but wonder what was going through Judy's mind as she made this film. As someone who's own life was full of such emotional turmoil and psychological damage, did working with these children make her forget her own troubles and turmoils and realize how truly blessed she was in so many ways?

I wish that I could have been on the set to see how she interacted with these children and whether or not she sang for them, comforted them, etc., I also wonder how many of them saw her in the Wizard of Oz and whether or not they realized who she really was.

All in all I feel the movie was ahead of its time and is a good example of the hot button or taboo subjects that Hollywood started to tackle at this time.

Definitely one of Judy's best films.

Any other thoughts?

I may as well have property of M.G.M. tattooed on my backside!

[–] Strausszek 18 years ago

I recall watching this movie on tv some years ago, and I was impressed too by the unglamorous and convincing acting of Mrs Garland in a role where you'd never expected it. She really fits into the film. But she was not easy to work with on set: some people who had managed to get her for a supporting part in a film to be shot in England - I don't know which one, could be "Judgment at Nuremberg" - said in the documentary "Memories of Judy" that "before she arrived, we were all on tiptoe and speaking of her in hushed voices : ''Miss Garland is coming!' By the time she left, everybody was exasperated with her." No doubt: she saw this one as an escape from Hollywood.

[–] pathos613 18 years ago

I remember those comments made by fellow cast members as well, but the film you are referring to was "I Could Go On Singing". The comments were made by her co-star, Dirk Bogarde.

Pity that coaxing such a performance out of such a versatile actress took such a toll not only on herself, but on everyone around her.

I may as well have property of M.G.M. tattooed on my backside!

[–] metalman091 18 years ago

On the set of "I Could Go On Singing" sometimes she could be difficult. The director Ronald Neame and co-star Bogarde said that through it all we loved Judy. Sometimes she was terrified of failing to deliver and that's when she would get difficult. When she left they were all sad to see her go.

About "A Child Is Waiting" Judy had to "smile through the tears" when the children got their autographs from "Dorothy" so they were aware of who she was, Judy is not as difficult as some self serving people have claimed.

[–] aretha4eva-1 18 years ago

I doubt that the children noticed her, just because she aged terribly quicky, and she was young in, "The Wizard..." However, I do agree that this was one of her best performances.

[–] captain_china86 18 years ago

The children knew who she was, she signed autographs for them when she got there. They knew her as Dorothy. And no she wasn't terribly difficult to work with as some people claim (Mel Torme) and no she was not mentally ill as Dirk Bogarde claims she was. I'll bet that most people don't know that the psycharists that saw Judy said there was nothing wrong with her. The late June Allyson, who was a close friend of Judy's said "I get so mad when people say unkind things about Judy. Judy was one of the warmest, most loyal, one of the funniest ladies I have ever known". Sidney Sheldon said of her "Judy was very warm, wonderful, very shy. She was not difficult, she had emotional problems". The lies got in the way of the less sensational truth.

[–] sarasvati2000 17 years ago

You know, your comment made me think of what I saw last night on Paula Abduls new reality show. They showed what led up to recent speculation of substance abused based on her erratic behavior. She simply isn't taking care of herself, and needs a really good talking to. The general public isn't going to say it is obvious she needs sleep, but that she MUST be using drugs or alcohol. Well, not knowing every detail of a persons life, the public falls back on the stereotype of the drugging and boozing Hollywood celeb. The celeb has some responsibility in this. I saw that Paula has a lot of problems, but drugs and alcohol isn't one of them...

[–] sarasvati2000 17 years ago

I watched this today and wondered the same thing. You would think that working with these kids would turn something around in her mind, make her think about what she was doing with her own...or did they all go to their trailers when the director yelled "Cut!" Did the people in charge of the children disallow any other contact than when filming? Was Burt Lancaster as patient off camera as he was on camera? I can see how far research as come, as the children didnt's seem to be individually diagnosed, but lumped into one mentally defective label. I still love the Thanksgiving pageant. Just like any other!

[–] HoferPM-1 17 years ago

I saw this movie years ago and again today on TCM. Excellent film!!! Of course it was back in the 60s, but it shows how so many people cannot face having a special child. Reuben did a wonderful acting job and I wonder what became of him. I was amazed at how Judy Garland handled this part. She showed such heart and tenderness. You could see however how she was deteriorating already. Her hair looked wonderful and it suited her better than any other hair do she had in so many movies. As I remember, she had to take different types of drugs to keep her weight down so it's not too difficult to see how they eventually affected her. She was a star for so many years and it's hard for a person like this to realize her star was dimming even though she was still fairly young. Very sad, but I thought she did an excellent job of acting in the film.

[–] joeann_21 17 years ago

I really enjoyed this film, and it is so unfortunate that it is shown so infrequently.

I thought it was very touching, and all the actors did a very fine job. Judy Garland, I am sad to say, looked so much older than her years, and even her voice at times showed strain.

[–] TooSlim 17 years ago

Yes, hard to believe she was just about 40 when making this film. Alcohol and pills aged her so much. Even as early as "Summer Stock" with Gene Kelly, she looks too old for him...and she was only 28 then!

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] qtpi1969 17 years ago

I adored this film! Every time I see it, it makes me cry. I have no clue, as most of us do not, what went on on the set, but the result (as in ALL Judy's films) was fabulous!
If she indeed signed autographs and the kid's knew her, then that must have been so wonderful for her and them. She must have loved every child there, as she was known to love all children.
Unfortunately, seeing other people's tragedies, does not always make one's OWN problems magically change and life does return to "normal" again when the work is done.
It saddens me most to KNOW what else Judy COULD have done dramatically if she had had the time. But these little tidbits into what she really wanted to do, for fans like myself, is sheer pleasure to watch!

This is my favorite Judy film by far. I loved how she toned down her singing abilties and let the kids do the work all the way through and that the movie did not center on her but on the kids and the teaching aspect. THAT made this movie so special.
There are so many rumors about Judy's habits on and off movie sets, but the way she took this role and shared it with Burt and the Reuben actor and was almost a secondary character, leads me to believe that she was selfless and believed in this film. However it really was, I could care less. The film showed me that codependancy does not help ill people and that we all have to work for what we achieve, no matter who we are!
If you have not seen this film...DO!

Flaming is posting negative hateful inflammatory comments. If you are being flamed notify IMDB!

[–] babygumm13 16 years ago

Judy was highly interested in mentally challenged children, and she actually spent quite a lot of time with them even before this film was made. She was VERY sympathetic, responding to hugs and affection from them, which is probably what she needed too. She brought her daughter Lorna to the set of the movie once, to make sure that Lorna could see disability, and not be scared of it.

Why was Judy Garland so interested in mentally challenged children? I don't know, maybe it gave her a different view of the world. Judy's IQ is estimated to have been somewhere around 170. To observe the other end of the spectrum, and to see how they operated, was probably fascinating for her. Also, it probably gave her comfort to have some people she could take care of.

[–] just_tere 16 years ago

So this movie was on today and I was fortunate enough to have seen it. My husband was next to me, not really happy to see the movie to begin with. So, slowly, we both got interested.

We both sobbed at the end of the movie. How can you be human and not sob? The triumph of each of these children was so incredibly uplifting. Watching each child have their own moment.

We have a disabled child (autistic) living downstairs from us. It has been amazing to see how he has blossomed in the 3 years we've known him. His doctors said he'd never talk. Try and get him to shut up! LOL I think this movie was so far ahead of its time: was autism even known about when this movie was made? I'm thinking not, but I could be wrong (it wouldn't be the first time, despite what my husband believes, LOL).

This is one of the movies for all time because of the subject matter, regardless of who was in it. That Miss Garland and Mr. Lancaster and the rest of the staff were in it, just made the movie better.

Tere

[–] metalman091 16 years ago

In case anyone is interested, Burt Lancaster helped Judy through a lot of this picture. He commented that she was not always functioning due to personal problems but that there was no personal problem working with her. Judy and Burt both believed in this film on a personal level. Judy signed autographs for the kids (as is mentioned in John Fricke's book 'Judy Garland: World's Greatest Entertainer')

Here is Judy's quote:

"Retarted children are realists. They know what it is like to be rejected, because they have been rejected many times. As one woman worker explained to me, it isn't a bad thing to learn. Most people reach their middle years before they have to face the reality of being rejected and standing alone. These children want affection, yes. But most of all they need to be accepted as human beings. They need to feel useful. People don't want to face such things. Human beings hate things that are mysterious to them. But I think shining a spotlight on such things can make people understand and want to help".

[–] PixieInChains 8 years ago

He had to - he later said that she was drinking so much during the time the movie was being filmed that she could barely get into her part (this from Ben Mankiewicz on TCM).

[–] simplemines 15 years ago

"Judy's IQ is estimated to have been somewhere around 170."

Just out of curiosity, how do you know what her IQ was?

Judy Garland was obviously intelligent, but it absolutely annoys the hell out of me when people GUESS at these things (unless you saw her IQ test, you have NO idea what her IQ was.)

[–] Zuider_Zee 8 years ago

It does make you wish she had done more straight dramas rather than formulaic musicals.