Judy Garland: A Character Behind the Curtain

When audiences think of The Wizard of Oz (1939), they often imagine the magical journey of Dorothy Gale through the land of Oz. However, behind the camera, Judy Garland—the actress portraying Dorothy—was living a very different story. Far from the carefree farm girl on screen, Garland was a teenager navigating the immense pressures of the Hollywood studio system. Her experience during the film’s production reveals a character shaped by vulnerability, resilience, and deep emotional sensitivity. Examining these traits through historical accounts and testimonies offers insight into both Garland as an individual and the internal and external conflicts that defined her career.

One of Garland’s defining traits during the production was her vulnerability and obedience to the authority of MGM Studios. At just sixteen, Garland occupied a fragile position between childhood and adulthood, making her highly susceptible to external pressures from the studio. According to biographer David Shipman, “The studio insisted Garland maintain a strict diet of coffee, chicken soup, and cigarettes to keep her weight down, while also giving her pills to sleep and pills to wake up” (Shipman 145). This extreme control demonstrates both MGM’s power and Garland’s willingness to comply, reflecting an internal conflict: her desire to succeed and please those in charge, even at the expense of her health.Additional accounts from cast members emphasize this vulnerability. Co-star Ray Bolger recalled that Garland often appeared exhausted between takes, a visible result of the studio’s external pressures (Clarke 95). Her need for approval, coupled with her fear of losing her position in the studio system, kept her from resisting these demands. This obedience was not a minor character trait—it defined her relationship with MGM and fueled enduring theories about the exploitation of young performers. In many ways, Garland’s off-screen compliance paralleled her on-screen portrayal of Dorothy: a character caught in forces larger than herself, reflecting the interplay of internal and external conflict in her life.

Garland exhibited remarkable professionalism and resilience throughout the demanding production. Despite the external pressures of long workdays, hot Technicolor lights, and uncomfortable costumes, Garland rarely complained. According to film historian Aljean Harmetz, “Garland rarely complained and consistently delivered emotionally resonant performances, even when physically exhausted” (Harmetz 212). Her ability to perform flawlessly under such conditions reveals her internal strength and determination to succeed.Crew members noted that Garland maintained a positive demeanor despite exhaustion. In interviews decades later, make-up artist Dorothy Ponedel described her as “a trooper who never let the crew see her break” (Ponedel qtd. in Clarke 121). These testimonies highlight how her resilience was both an internal quality and a response to external pressures—she understood that professionalism would safeguard her career in a system quick to replace noncompliant stars. Garland’s perseverance illustrates how internal drive can counteract external conflict, making it one of her defining traits.

Garland’s extraordinary emotional depth and sensitivity shaped both her performances and her off-screen life. Her portrayal of Dorothy resonated powerfully because she could channel genuine emotion into every line and gesture. According to critic Gerald Clarke, “Garland had a unique ability to make audiences feel her longing; when she sang ‘Over the Rainbow,’ she wasn’t acting—she was revealing” (Clarke 133). This emotional openness reflects an internal conflict: her heightened sensitivity often left her vulnerable to the pressures of fame and scrutiny.Psychiatrists who later worked with Garland noted that this sensitivity made her prone to anxiety and self-doubt, especially under intense external scrutiny (Miller 87). Her internal conflict—wanting to be loved by audiences while feeling inadequate behind the scenes—created a constant push and pull in her life. Co-stars often described her as “radiant yet fragile,” recognizing that her emotional openness was both her greatest strength and her deepest vulnerability. These qualities contributed to the mythos surrounding Garland and continue to shape how she is remembered today.

Garland’s character during the filming of The Wizard of Oz was defined by a complex interplay of obedience, resilience, and emotional sensitivity. Her vulnerability allowed the studio to control her, her professionalism enabled her to thrive under immense external pressures, and her emotional depth reflected ongoing internal struggles. These traits reveal a young woman caught between external exploitation and internal strength. By examining Garland through the lens of internal and external conflict, readers gain a deeper understanding of both her personal struggles and the environment that shaped one of Hollywood’s most enduring legends.