'Judy' trivia and fun facts
Based on a play
The film is a loose adaptation of the Olivier-nominated play 'End of the Rainbow.' Peter Quilter, the playwright behind "End of the Rainbow," said that he believed screenwriter Tom Edge "wanted the story to be much more true and precise," with less "elements of fantasy" than the play.
What a coincidence!
In an interesting piece of coincidence, Renee Zellweger watched Judy Garland sing "Down With Love" on a TV in the 2003 movie "Down With Love."
Bad treatments
The film addresses the harsh treatment Judy Garland received at MGM in the 1930s and 40s. They put her on a strict diet and gave her prescription medication to control her weight and to help her sleep or stay awake, medication she eventually became addicted to. She probably also received unwanted sexual advances by senior staff during those years much like her younger 'rival' Shirley Temple was forced to endure at Twentieth Century Fox during the same period.
Another coincidence
As a contestant on I'd Do Anything (2008), Jessie Buckley sang "The Man that Got Away", one of Judy Garland's classics.
The preparation of Zellweger
In preparation for her most challenging role to date, Renée Zellweger spent a year training with vocal coach Eric Vetro (La ciudad de las estrellas (La La Land) (2016)) before the production shoot even began, and then rehearsed for a further four months with musical director Matt Dunkley in order to master her vocals. Despite having sung in the movie musical Chicago (2002), portraying a legend such as Garland on screen was a daunting but truly gratifying experience for the actress.
Same year
Renée Zellweger was born the same year that Judy Garland died: 1969.
Last year of life
The film investigates in Judy Garland's final year of life.