Quotes

[Said by studio boss Jack L. Warner]: "He's one of the original guys who promised his parents he'd never work a day in his life - and made good."

Whatever bad things happened, you don't fall out of love with somebody like her. All I know is that, if anyone tried to save a woman who was breaking apart, I did. I know that I did the best I could do, and it still wasn't enough. -- following Garland's accidental drug death in 1969

I loved her and didn't want to see her kicked around. If MGM couldn't handle her, that was their problem. But she was so incredibly talented that I knew she could land on her feet if she had some help. So what if the movies didn't want her? She could always sing. I wasn't going to let her fail. -- referring to his part in resurrecting Garland's career via the concert circuit

When we got married in the early '50s, Judy was still very beautiful. She was only 5-foot tall -- just a shrimp of a girl, really -- but she had a very sensuous body, and up close, her skin was like porcelain, pure white. I was crazy about her. She had incredibly kissable lips. -- referring to ex-wife Judy Garland

I was no Minnelli, that's for sure. I grew up in a rough New York neighborhood and didn't put up with shit from anyone. I'm a survivor, with the scars to show for it, and I think that appealed to Judy. She needed someone to lean on who wouldn't crack.

[on David Begelman, Garland's manager] He took thousands from Judy, and I tried to warn her. But she wouldn't listen to me. She thought I was just envious. I hated Begelman. When a friend called me and said that the bastard had shot himself, I said, 'Well, he sure as hell shot the right guy.'

As a way to cap her live show each night, I had this idea that she should come down to the edge of the stage and sing 'Over the Rainbow'. It worked like a million bucks.