Lorna Luft & Judy Garland - Somebody's Daughter, Somebody's Son - Part 4

[xKillerFemmeFatalex]

My mother died at 46. She loved Judy Garland!:) May my mama & Judy R.I.P

[txquis]

Although her edge is very hard in this interview, Lorna is actually pretty funny with her turn of phrase.

[Earth8989]

im sorry for my sucky grammer lol

[Earth8989]

you guys need to stop fighting, all u need to focus on who Judy was, she was a happy individual and loved her children dearly. Liza and Lorna both constantly defend their mother telling people not to call their mother tragic. More importantly it isnt worth it to fight on her. Just love Judy!!

[Vengeance509]

Lorna's being candid, but very disingenuous. Lorna is painting a defensive picture. Judy was beyond genius...full of vibrance and happy "moments," but her life was clearly burdened by severe TRAGEDY. Why can't Lorna say, "It was happy and tragic combined"? Judy earned more millions than any entertainer, but died a wreck at 47. Luft is defending her mother, and she is also in TOTAL denial about her loser father. What can we expect? It's great...it's happy, it's sad, it's weird. It's Judy.

[WizardOfOzfan94]

Lorna is not defending her mother, she is stating the truth. She lived with Judy Garland, she knew the ins and outs of her. Which you and I didn't so we can't say if she was tragic. What we know is when Lorna was with Judy and during that time period she was always candid and happy-go-lucky. Newspapers/etc. always catch the bad things and make them worse. It's simply not true. If you watch any clip from Th Judy Garland show, you can in fact see how free-spirited she was.

[grai]

she wasn't there all the time she chose to live with her father when she was a teenager and Garland was getting more and more out of control

The fact that Lorna is her daughter makes her the WORST person to take an objective impartial view

[cobarnew]

But this documentary is about being Somebody's Daughter Somebody's Son and it is from her point of view. I think she offers an amazing glimpse into their private world and is incredibly brave and generous to do so.

[grai]

I agree she talks very compellingly and has real insight into addiction

I also think its time she moved on

I also think she knows which side her bread is buttered and will milk it for all she can which is partly why she DOESNT move on

Garland has been dead an awfully long time

how much more mileage do Lorna and Liza Minnelli expect to get??

its slightly distasteful and disingenuous

my opinion and I'm entitled to it

feel free to disagree

[cobarnew]

I disagree - I talk about my late father all the time - the only difference is that he wasn't a legend so the whole world doesn't want to hear about it. Lorna is trying to keep her mothers memory correctly intact. She is talking about the Mom - extremely personal and she has every right to - it has nothing to do with keeping her bread buttered. She has moved on. She is entitled to talk about someone close to her that she has lost and it is not disingenuous.

[WizardOfOzfan94]

Lorna was living with Judy, taking care of her up until she fainted from stress. Lorna was only 16 and couldn't handle trying to keep her Mother and Brother together for schooling, appointments; etc. Mrs. Garland was also unfortunatly dependant on sertant medications which Lorna had to then remove the poweder and replace it with sugar. Lorna was in fact with her mother, caring for her constantly; up until her body couldn't take it.

[grai]

Lorna was 16 when Garland died

And Garland had been living in London

So the best you could say is that Lorna only saw her intemittently according to Judy's schedule

There's a doc on youtube where lorna **herself** says she chose to live with her Dad in LA when she was a teenager because she couldnt take Garlands crazy lifestyle

The impression that they were a normal family living in the same house for years on end with the kids coping with mama's addiction doesn't add up

[WizardOfOzfan94]

You missunderstood me, I am in fact right. I have a movie produced by Lorna herself chroniclizing the various months/years she took care of her mother and younger brother.

[grai]

Lorna Luft saw her mother very little and only spasmodically like all children of famous people

but she has eggagerated the facts to sell the books and the documentaries

read any book on Garland and the time frames don't support the idea that Lorna was looking after her for years - Garland's kids are seldom mentioned - she was too busy

sure she had traumas with Garland and EPISODES where Garland was helpless

all addicts are very good at getting people to help them

not YEARS though

[WizardOfOzfan94]

No, she was with Mrs Garland a great majority of her years. I have a document produced by her daughter who loved and cared for her, you have a book that was written for money purposes, which you are accusing Lorna of doing. It's pretty sad you have to leave rude comments all over this video to get people's to respond to you. That's classified as negative attention-seekers

[grai]

I couldnt care less who responds to me or agrees with me

Lorna Luft and Liza Minnelli barely remember their mother because it was 40 years ago and the gaps they fill in with fabrication to further their failed careers

they are both money mad neurotics and full of shit

now please give me more negative attention

[WizardOfOzfan94]

I have PROOF that you've commented numerous times on this video for the purpose of the responces. You can't denie what you let millions see on this comment box. The person who put this document up for viewing doesn't even care for you. I'm through.

[grai]

millions of people?

now i know you need to get a life

no-one gives a shit about this

it hasnt even had 3 thousand viewings

[WizardOfOzfan94]

That's figurative for the internet, Mr. Know-It-All. I need to get a life....who's the one who's leaving negative comments all over youtube ONLY for someone to respond back and you to have a full blown arguement. It's clear your not well-liked. Everyone is fed up with you. I've read what firefliessuk has said to you, and I agree. It's easy to be a body builder over the screen bud, but your really a wimp. So lay off. I'll let you finish; I won't sink to your depressing low.

[cobarnew]

Hi WizardOfOzFan94 - Grai's agenda is very clear here and i think it is best if we don't dignify his comments anymore by paying attention to them. We all know that he writes has no value or fact whatsoever and just comes across as unintelligent and nasty.

[WizardOfOzfan94]

Thanks for your comment, I realize that; but I feel obliged to defend Mrs. Garland for all shes given me.

[cobarnew]

Good for you and i think it's great that you feel that way! I enjoy reading your posts because your messages are informed and intelligent and they are great to read.

[WizardOfOzfan94]

Thanks, that's what I'm trying to put across; weed out the scum and let the good people shine:) ( Your shining! )

[grai]

please invite me to your wedding girls!

[26mae1987]

as regards to judy's talent i think her life story is the reason why she was so talented and gave her songs her performance so much heart (which is sad) but judy is a legend its strange the contrast between how liza talks bout her 'mama' and how lorna does!

[Pixiebabylove]

wot do u mean 'contrast'?

[grai]

Lorna Luft is being so honest about her mother but also very fair - it's fascinating to have such a first hand account of Judy without any agenda to sell a biography etc.etc.but just to tell the story as clearly as she can - I really admire that

But althoughshe may want to believe her Mom's life wasn't sad - which is understandable as a daughter - there's no getting away from it - it really is such a sad story

[franklinajohnson]

it's sad but also very poignant, Judy was always called an optimist. She understood that she represented hope, so she was very optimistic...even tho her life was sad.

[Kudos4Lorna]

If Lorna needs to believe than what's wrong with that?? None us were ever there so all we have is Lorna's word because she was there, I don't think Judy was a sad person, she had saddness but not a sad life! we all have ups and downs that's life!

[grai]

Judy was strong and optimistic brilliant and funny but happy - no - what happy person has years of addiction and dies at 47 of a barbiturate overdose

[hobogirl1254]

grai, do you realize that you are extending the same mentality that Lorna is attempting to dispel? You yourself said that she is so truthful, but it seems as though you are the only one who doesnt believe it.

You dont think Judy was a happy person? Listen to her laugh on flubs of her show, or concerts, radio shows, etc. I think you'll find another Judy Garland.

[grai]

I agree the Garland legend overdoes the 'tragedy' and she had a great sense of humour

But Lorna Luft is taking it to the other extreme - probably because it must be terribly painful to think of your own mother suffering all her life

But anyone reading any book on Judy Garland would have to come to the conclusion that despite her amazing personality and talent the theme of her whole life was loneliness and addiction

Do you really believe happy people die at 47 of a Barbiturate overdose??

[defundthewar]

If you want to read something that paints Judy has horribly miserable and out-of-control, just read Lorna's own "Me and My Shadows." What is oddest, if you haven't read it, is an eerie similarity between Christina Crawford's "Mommie Dearest" and Lorna's own story. Joan was no barrel of laughs either.

I find it sad that Lorna, with a real singing talent of her own, either through poor management or just bad luck, has permanently latched herself to Judy,

giving up her own individuality.

[grai]

I'm so amused by the fact that you say her version of Judy is miserable and out of control !!

That's my point - they have so many complex emotions around their mother (including anger and resentment) they couldnt possibly give a clear account of Garland

Lorna IMO was never especially talented - or they would have made something of it - like Liza (who was never great)

Lorna has shamelessly jumped on the garland gravy train for the money Simple As

She's realised she needs a pension

[defundthewar]

I don't know if you've read her book or not. Many things are crystal clear- sneaking out of hotels for non-payment, drunkeness, drug withdrawal seizures, knife throwing, pyromania. These things have been confirmed by other biographers. I don't doubt Lorna had complex emotions about Judy, but either these things happened as she said, or they didn't. I believe they did.

[grai]

I saw the TV show - one thing that stood out was the scene where lorna was hospitalised for exhaustion from looking after Judy

I think if that had been true it would have featured in one of the biogs

Personally I think it was a bit of theatrical liscence on Lorna's part

But it's ironic that Lorna always says (over and over on the tape she reels off in every interview) that people who think Judy was miserable and out of control didn't know her then she writes a book to confirm it!

[defundthewar]

I needed hospitalization from exhaustion just reading the book. (But my health plan didn't cover it.) Yes, it is absolutely true that Judy wore people out. There are many things in the book that were not in the more tame TV movie, and I suggest reading the book.

You are right, there is a schizophrenic quality to Lorna with regard to her mother, recounting her sad, bizarre lifestyle, but then cushioning it with humor and optimism.

[cobarnew]

I think your comment about the gravy train etc is extremely disrespectful. This is Lorna's story and it is generous of her to share it with the fans of her Mom. I think your comment is cruel.

[grai]

trust me Lorna has balls like canon balls

she'll survive

[cobarnew]

I just think that sort of comment is a bit cruel and based on no fact whatsoever. I think people should comment on the documentary instead of making up nasty theories.

[grai]

I dont have to claim it as fact and I didnt

I claim it as an opinion

you are free to disagree

but your opinions are also just that - opinions not facts

[cobarnew]

No, you are wrong - Lorna is a friend of mine. i do know for a fact that you are wrong and that this sort of thing is hurtful. How would you feel if her children read that sort of thing?

[grai]

what if her children feel she needs to drop it 40 years after Garland's death?

they would be upset with you for encouraging her

its all a matter off speculation and opinion

I also think her and Liza Minnelli do more damage to the memory of Garland's genius with their craziness

Lets just watch Judy's movies and her concert footage and listen to her records and let her rest in peace

these stories 40 years later not adding anything to that

its pure self-interest

[cobarnew]

I am not going to dignify such comments by entering into discussion about them. Everyone is entitled to their opinions - all i am saying is to do it in a way that is articulate, intelligent and respectful - not personal, nasty and vindictive.

[grai]

where have I been inarticulate and vindictive?

I'm saying something you obviously dont like but that doesnt make it nasty or vindictive

as I said before - all you are doing is disagreeing

[cobarnew]

i think such comments as "Lorna has shamelessly jumped on the garland gravy train for the money Simple As She's realised she needs a pension ", "Milking", "disingenuous" etc are nasty and vindictive. Please explain how they are not if you do not mean them to be. I said to articulate - meaning to put your point across in a way that is reasonable, meaning you don't have to be rude about Lorna to make your point.. So it makes you come across as nasty and a bit uninformed.

[grai]

people exploiting the memory of their own mother are not going to engender my tact and consideration! Be reasonable

if it offend you thats your problem not mine

Disapproval is different to nastiness

And I never claimed to be an expert on Lorna fucking Luft dear!

I couldnt care less

you didnt even know that lived with her father as a teenager and was nowhere near Judy win her last days until i told you

yet you claim to be a big friend of hers that knows all the inside details

[cobarnew]

I'm not getting into all that - all i am saying is that you don't have to be nasty, you can put your point across in a much more nicer way and still get it across. I think you have clearly highlighted your agenda here and i arrest my case and will not read or reply to anymore.

[grai]

no need to be nasty!

[cobarnew]

If you were to be more calm and open to discussion then someone like myself or indeed Pip, who is extremely close to Lorna, could inform you more with fact's about such interviews. Whilst it is admirable that you think you are standing up for her Mothers memory - what you are actually doing is affecting it in a bad way. i'd happily discuss that with you in private messages - but i can't let those sort of comments you have made go by without commenting.

[grai]

Judy Garland was damaged through no fault of her own and people seem to be fascinated by that but its time to remember her *massive* contribution to world culture in spite of so much being against her every step of the way

Just as Judy is appearing in more celebratory less sensationalistic retrospectives Lorna Luft talks about Garlands addictions constantly

I just think she needs to shut up and do something else

Liza is the other extreme and even said Garland died of stress! please!

[firefliesuk]

You couldn't care less yet you keep posting!

I don't think cobarnew has claimed to know all the inside details. Just questioned the way you choose to make your point

[grai]

yeah I cant say I really care less about that either

people need to toughten up!

I'm a teddy bear compared to some of the stuff written on youtube

thats the great thing about it

you can have an honest discussion

I don't like unpleasantness but i think I've just been honest

[mandeley]

Fascinating and deeply moving. Worth it just for that scene from I Could Go On Singing. Sheer, stark brilliance. Judy really was perhaps the single most brilliant talent of the 20th Century

[WizardOfOzfan94]

She's still the most brilliant star in the 21st Century.....everyone today is either after the money or a half a million facelifts, nothing real.

[binkle1]

I see a lot of my childhood in Lorna's story. My mother was ALMOST an actress, but chickened out, but she played it out for the rest of her life. Booze was her drug of choice. She loved us all fiercely! I feel Lorna's ambivalence. I loved my mother dearly, and was enchanted with her showbiz past. I couldn't understand why she couldn't just stop, either. Today, I struggle with a lot of the same behaviors, even though I don't drink, with my own daughter.