Customer Reviews

The other side of the rainbow; with Judy Garland on the dawn patrol

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This book moves along pretty well, and reads pretty well.

I believe that Mel was being honest, as he saw things. He gave Judy her due many times. He talks about how he got goosebumps the first time she sang in rehearsal. He freely attributed the "Get Happy / Happy Days are Here Again" duet idea to Judy Garland. He talked about Judy's idea for an American tribute show after Kennedy was killed, and how it was quashed by the network brass.

He also talked about Judy's darker side, and how that affected the show.

He also talked about the problems the show had with the network / format changes, etc.

He seemed to be pretty self-aware, and talked about his problems along with the rest.

I think he was still bitter over the outcome, who wouldn't be? I think this book was his way of getting closure on an intense experience which had good and bad parts.

I adore Judy Garland. (I also appreciate Mel Torme's singing.)
She is one of the greatest entertainers of the 20th Century.
That said, this book is a journal of what a nightmare it can be like dealing with what the French correctly call a "sacred monster".
Torme doesn't tarnish Judy's legacy. Here he harshly but honestly illuminates a dark corner of her life.
She wasn't perfect. By this time of her life, she was somewhat impossible to work with: like an injured creature, wounding those around her.
This isn't an easy read for many Garland fans, I know. But it is a valuable contribution to understanding her.

First published shortly after the death of Judy Garland in 1969, this book attempts to show the true personality of the legendary performer. Written in a manner that points all criticism for the failure of Garland's CBS Television series to her, and away from him and others behind the scenes, Torme instead shows how much bitterness he still had 5 years after the demise of the show. Inaccuracies abound throughout the book and, after reading it, you feel Garland was a shameless has-been. Nothing could be further from the truth. As testament one only needs to view the recently released DVDs of the complete television series which show Garland as a powerful entertainer who elevated show after show to something quite entertaining even today. For a better view of Garland and the TV-series, read "Rainbows End" by Coyne steven Sanders - a book that puts you center stage for all of the shows, and behind the scenes for all of the intrigue that helped doom the show. 'The Other Side of the Rainbow' is a poor choice of reading material to learn about the magic that is (still) Judy Garland.

What an a##!!....and a bitter one at that. What kind of man writes about someone who is, to many, still the worlds greatest entertainer, so shortly after her tragic death...or for that matter....after her death period....I would hazard a guess he was the worlds greatest coward. Demons, Ms. Garland most certainly had, though...she proved relentlessly that when it came to her public...her fans...her art....she could and would rise above them...as she so stunningly proved to the world with her CBS show in 1963-64 (Save your money and purchase the DVD collection of her CBS sitcom)......It wasn't, as...umm...what's his name again?....her fault the show ended...but rather a constant and intolerable assault by the powers of CBS...and even, perhaps..what's his name...though I rather doubt he had any type of power to do such a thing.
Years from even now, 2006....people will remember the great Judy Garland....and still wont know what's his name or what he even did.....I hope Ms. Garland has finally found the peace she never did in her lifetime.....what a tragic waste......and she is still missed...even so many, many years after her death.
Save your money...this book is only good for starting a fire in the fireplace.