Presenting Lily Mars

Judy Garland was 19 when pressed into service for this adaptation of Booth Tarkington's novel, originally purchased by MGM as an intended dramatic vehicle for Lana Turner. When the script turned out to be lighthearted, however, Garland was given the role of Lily Mars, a resident of a tiny Indiana town. Broadway producer John Thornway (Van Heflin) visits the town and Lily won't leave him alone until he agrees to take her to New York. He gives her a job in his new show and she falls in love with him, which causes the show's star (Marta Eggerth) to quit for a time before she returns to the lead role. Lily, who has been upped from the chorus, gets the chance to do a fe...