Customer Reviews

Weep No More, My Lady: The Best Selling Story of Judy Garland

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

In ME & MY SHADOWS, Lorna Luft recalled that sister Liza Minnelli apologized for her inability to attend Garland's wedding to Mickey Deans by telling Garland that she would come the next time. Garland's family, friends, and associates had seen them come and go, and they knew all too well that Deans was just one more flash in the pan in Garland's increasingly erratic life--and not a particularly attractive one at that. But there would be no "next time." Not long after their marriage, Garland died of an accidental drug overdose, leaving Mickey Deans as the widower of note.

Published in 1972, WEEP NO MORE MY LADY was the second book about Garland to follow her 1969 death, and in it Mickey Deans and co-author Ann Pinchot offer a general biography of Garland along with a portrait of the brief marriage. The Garland children are on record as saying the book is extremely self-serving, painting a "happily-ever-after" vision of a small-time promoter who hitched his wagon to a fading but still powerful star--and it does seem likely that Deans, who vanished from the public eye as quickly as he appeared, ground out this book as a quick cash-in on Garland's then-recent death. But all the same, it is not entirely fair to completely trash the book itself.

As general biography, WEEP NO MORE MY LADY offered nothing new even in 1972, and in light of several later, much more deeply researched works is at best extremely niave. It is also true that Deans puts an extremely sentimental gloss on his marriage to Garland--a gloss so thick that it becomes as sticky as half-melted all-day sucker. It is extremely important to read between the lines here--and to read in knowledge of later, more factual and well-substantiated accounts. But unlike the similar OVER THE RAINBOW WITH JUDY GARLAND ON THE DAWN PATROL by Mel Torme, there is nothing mean-spirited about the book, and although Deans and Pinchot obviously romanticize and glamourize to the nth degree they do occasionally offer interesting sidelights into the last days of a truly great talent. Final thoughts: worth reading, but read Christopher Finch's RAINBOW and Gerald Frank's JUDY first.

I don't see what makes people so outraged about this book. I never saw it as reading a biography of Judy. I saw it as a book written by a man who was Judy Garland's friend for over two years, and husband a few months, and his experiences being both. I was charmed when he talked about his surprise honeymoon in Paris for Judy and their starting a home in London, happy and full of bliss for the future. The way he told their story, what charming company Judy was, and how funny she was and so witty... I really felt that they were truly in love and loved each other. They had their little spats, and quick reconciliations. I must admit, though, that Deans' biographical look at Judy is somewhat depressing and a bit too shady for some tastes. But still, when he talks about his last few months with Judy as her husband, it brings a smile to my face... because, now I know, that in her last few days, Judy Garland was indeed- terribly happy.

Mickey Deans' book about his late wife Judy Garland makes a thought-provoking read if only for the comfort I felt knowing that quite possibly Judy truly had some happiness during their brief marriage in the last months of her life. Unfortunately, however, I have to agree with others who note that the book is poorly researched; and it does indeed seem self-serving and an obvious attempt to "cash in" on his relationship with a star.

Deans (who wrote this book with the help of Ann Pinchot) doesn't go through events in a chronological order all of the time, which results in the story of Judy's life not flowing as smoothly as it should. He and Ann Pinchot will be covering one topic or relating a story about Judy and then Poof! they go back to another event that happened years earlier. I wish this weren't the case; it's a disappointment.

I recommend that people read other biographies on the great Judy Garland before they read this book. This is not the place to start reading about Judy Garland because the book is just not that strong in terms of research and writing style. "Rainbow" By Christopher Finch held my attention; and other books to consider include Gerald Frank's book entitled "Judy" and the book by Judy's daughter Lorna Luft entitled "Me and My Shadows: A Family Memoire."

If this book only deserved one star, then the other book that was written by Lorna Luft worth nothing.

To me, "Me and My Shadow" is nothing but a book that complaint about all the bad things happened in her family by Lorna Luft. She was just trying to condemn everybody in her life and yelled to the whole world that "I am the only victim."

We all know about the sad experience in Judy's life. But I want to know that Judy had some happy time, too, especially in the last few years before she left the world.

This book narrates in detail what happened to Judy in her very last few years. After finished reading this book, I left with a good feeling because I know that Judy finally found some happiness before she was gone.

When Judy died Mr. Deans either would not or could not pay for her funeral and burial. Poor Judy laid in a temporary grave that funeral homes have for almost a year unknown to family & friends before daughter Liza had her mother properly married. What a lame excuse for a man. A shame, Judy could have done much better.

I have read Me and My shadows by the lovely and very talented Lorna Luft. Her book is about a loving mother who tried hard to stop her addiction for her family. Mr. Dean's book is about a has-been movie star who was overbearing and who wanted to feed her addiction. This book is a horrible tribute to the legend of Miss Judy Garland. I was outraged at this book.

Unfortunately this book by Mr. Deans, the late Ms. Garland's last husband, comes across as an attempt on his part to cash in on his "connection" to this great and much loved personality. It could have been better. It isn't.