Last night, I finished John Fricke's newest glimpse into the life of my favorite legend, Judy Garland. Mr. Fricke is by far, the world's foremost Judy authority. I've read everything the man has ever put down on paper and never tire of his work! He manages to keep it fresh and entertaining without constantly repeating himself. He is lucky in that his subject (Judy Garland & The Wizard of Oz) is infinitely fascinating. The first book I ever read as a kid was actually Fricke's "Judy Garland: World's Greatest Entertainer". Ever since then, I've loved and appreciated his work. Any noteworthy release from Cd liner notes, to Dvd's, to books, to commentaries, have Fricke's name somewhere in the credits. He has his hands in every single pie (lucky for us Judy fanatics!).
Now, the book. This is a coffee table book, which I bought first in hardcover (and then on nook just to make it easier to read and carry around). As always, it's filled with some never before or rarely seen photos of Judy and it focuses on her film career pre, during, and post MGM. It's really a must for anyone interested in Judy or movies and the way the business worked and changed and evolved over the years. Each movie includes a list of cast, crew, details like Judy's songs, run time, release date etc. He then provides a brief synopsis of each film, followed by notes about the production, reviews from various sources including reviewers of the time and audience comment cards. Then there are stories and quotes from people involved in the film and included in each section is something Judy herself said about the film. It's really a great read and as someone who's read a LOT about Judy, her career, her movie years her concert years, etc, etc... I appreciated that instead of rehashing and overdoing the details, he kept it simple and gave us the important information and focused more on some things we perhaps didn't know. It's clear he knew exactly who he was writing for, which I personally appreciated a great deal.
This book is a great introduction to anyone who's just getting interested in Judy Garland or in movie making as well as a great addition to the collection of anyone who just can't get enough Judy (like me) ;). So, in conclusion, FABULOUS job, John! Please never stop sharing any knowledge you acquire about this extraordinary woman and her extraordinary life!
Other Books By John Fricke:
(I highly recommend them ALL)...
Judy Garland: A Portrait In Art & Anecdote
Judy Garland: World's Greatest Entertainer
The Wizard Of Oz: An Illustrated Guide To The Timeless Movie Classic
100 Years Of Oz
The Wizard Of Oz Official 50th Anniversary Pictorial History
"A Star Is born" (Blu-Ray) Book (attached)
John Fricke (Judy Garland/Wizard Of Oz Historian)
