Deanna Durbin, Judy Garland, and the Golden Age of Hollywood

Deanna Durbin was the greatest star of the Golden Age of Hollywood and the most celebrated juvenile actor in movie history. This was the time of Shirley Temple and Mickey Rooney, Bette Davis and Clark Gable. However, Deanna?s fame surpassed all these celebrated stars and her influence upon an entire generation of youth was unequalled. Deanna?s life became irrevocably connected with that of another young ingénue, Judy Garland. Deanna and Judy were close in age, unusually talented, ambitious and strong-willed young women. However, despite the many similarities between them, the two actors followed vastly different paths to stardom. While Deanna?s fame was almost thrust upon her, Judy Garland struggled tirelessly for her success. The rivalry that was imposed upon them by studio bosses ultimately led to Durbin?s departure from Hollywood and an acting career at the age of 28, and to Garland?s successful but troubled life in the Hollywood bubble. This is the story of an era when the studio?s thoroughly exploited its brightest young stars, leading one to quit and the other to remain a captive of a corrupt system.