I hope for those of you who saw the recent remake of A Star Is Born that you checked out previous versions. My personal favorite of the four previous films (if you include What Price Hollywood? which spawned them all), is the 1954 version with Judy Garland and James Mason. The man who was instrumental in getting Garland to appear in that film was her third husband, Sid Luft. Garland and Luft’s relationship is the subject of the documentary Sid & Judy, which is being shown at the Ford Theatres on Saturday as part of Outfest.
Directed by Stephen Kijak, the film explores the often tumultuous relationship between the two. Even though he had played a major part in the resurrection of her later career, theirs was not an easy relationship. Though his involvement with the star yielded some of her best work and her television show on CBS.
As Kijak told the San Francisco Chronicle in June, “You’re aware of the greater perception of Sid Luft out in the world, especially in Judy-world, and this film was by no means an attempt to rehabilitate him,” Kijak says. “What this movie does is put you in their world together in their time. We wanted to show that this was a complicated relationship, personally and professionally. I find the making of ‘A Star Is Born’ endlessly fascinating because of the complexities around it.”
Luft and Garland divorced in 1965 – four years before her death.
Actors Jon Hamm (Mad Men) and Jennifer Jason Leigh (The Hateful Eight) read letters written by Luft and Garland that come from Luft’s archives.
Sid & Judy will premiere on Showtime on October 18th.
For tickets go here.
Photo of Judy Garland courtesy of Showtime