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Compelling drama from Sarah Wooley about Judy Garland and her lifelong friend, composer Harold Arlen, as they struggle to make A Star Is Born, her troubled 1954 comeback movie.

Compelling drama from Sarah Wooley about the making of the movie 'A Star Is Born', Judy Garland's 1950s comeback bid.

1952. Judy Garland, let go by MGM for her erratic behaviour, is determined to make a comeback. She and soon-to-be husband Sid Luft start their own production company and get the rights to remake classic 30s film 'A Star Is Born' as a musical. This time, they will be in control.

Who better to write the music than Judy's lifelong friend Harold Arlen, the composer of her biggest hit 'Over the Rainbow'? Arlen was responsible for some of the most famous songs in the world: 'It's Only a Paper Moon', 'Stormy Weather', 'That Old Black Magic' - he sound-tracked the first half of the twentieth century. He recruits Ira Gershwin to write the lyrics and everyone gets to work.

But Judy's demons are never far away, and everyone has underestimated the power of the Hollywood machine...

This is a story about love, friendship and struggle, set against the backdrop of McCarthy's America, where loyalty has become a complicated thing and compassion is in short supply.

Judy Garland....Lydia Wilson
Sid Luft....Carl Prekopp
Harold Arlen....Nigel Lindsay
Ira Gershwin....Allan Corduner
Jack Warner....David Hounslow
George Cukor....Samuel James
Warner's secretary....Andi Bickers
Taylor....Ian Dunnett Jnr
John Meyer....Nuhazet Diaz Cano

Writer....Sarah Wooley
Sound by Peter Ringrose, Keith Graham and Andy Garrett
Piano played by Peter Ringrose
Production co-ordination by Jenny Mendez
Directed by Abigail le Fleming

Available now

1 hour, 29 minutes

Last on

Sun 3 Nov 2024 20:00

Broadcast

  • Sun 3 Nov 2024 20:00