From the moment 2-year-old Baby Frances Gumm crooned "Jingle Bells" to a small-town audience, the future Judy Garland's fate was sealed. The little girl with a big voice was going to be a star. Signed by MGM as an adolescent, Garland became "property" of the studio which molded and directed her every move. It wasn't until her sixteenth birthday, however, that she received the gift that would change her life: a first edition copy of "The Wizard of Oz," and the news that she would play Dorothy in the studio's big budget screen version. Following the release of the film, Garland was transformed from an unknown with talent to a child star adored by millions.
But there was a dark side to Garland's fame and fortune. For all the praise her voice garnered, there were equal amounts of criticism, particularly with regard to her physical appearance. Diet pills, used to slim her down, and "uppers," used to keep her alert, were the beginning of a serious addiction that would eventually claim her life.. a life, she felt, that had always belonged to others. Through all the triumphs and defeats, Garland found strength in the unconditional love of her children, Liza, Lorna and Joe. As told from daughter Lorna's point-of-view, the miniseries reveals a side of Garland -- that of loving mother -- rarely seen by the public.
