Actress Judy Garland is one of the most identifiable actresses of the golden age of Hollywood filmmaking. From her debut on the stage as Frances Ethel Gumm, at the age of two and a half, to her film debut in the 1936 feature Pigskin Parade, Garland’s features have dazzled audiences for decades. Her cinematic output shows an actress filled with warmth and vitality, complemented by a large voice at odds with her short stature. Though Garland’s life was ultimately cut short—and her story used as a cautionary tale to contemporary audiences—her movies have been used to show various elements of the Hollywood filmmaking machine, as well as being the go-to work for non-theatrical screenings around the country. Here are just a few of Garland’s most enduring movies worth utilizing in any type of educational or screening setting.
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
The 1939 adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s fantastical story is the de facto classic film, inspiring a bevy of other filmmakers, from David Lynch to Wicked director Jon Chu. The movie follows Kansas girl Dorothy Gale (Garland) after a tornado sweeps up her house and transports her to the land of Oz. Once there, she gathers a group of companions to travel to the Emerald City where she hopes to ask the Wizard to return home. But hot on her heels is the evil Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton) who hopes to take the ruby slippers Dorothy wears on her feet.
Why it’s great for classrooms and libraries: A movie built for all ages, The Wizard of Oz is suited for any type of film screening setting. Libraries should carry it for its significance to the film canon and can curate it as part of themes centered around book to film adaptations, LGBTQ content, iconic classic films, or tributes to Garland. Film classes can utilize it to look at screenwriting, cinematography, as well as its use of black and white and color. The movie can be taught alongside Baum’s original novel as well as in classrooms examining the hero’s journey.
Read our full review of The Wizard of Oz here.
Buy a copy of The Wizard of Oz on DVD here.
Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)
This Vincente Minnelli-directed feature was Garland’s transition from playing children and teens into young women. Set during the summer of 1903, the movie charts one year in the life of the Smith family who are excited about the arrival of the World’s Fair coming to their town. Esther (Garland), the second oldest Smith daughter, is eager to fall in love with the boy next door, but the family’s life is upended when patriarch Alonzo (Leon Ames) says they’re moving to New York.
Why it’s great for classrooms and libraries: This is another family friendly feature suited to all ages and makes it perfect for outdoor screenings. This can be shown alongside examples of the musical genre. Studies around the Progressive era in the 1900s or the history of the World’s Fair can use this as a teaching tool. The movie also is suited to look at familial dynamics and the roles of women in the 1900s. It’s also useful in examining the presentation of traditions and holidays, with moments set around Halloween and Christmas in the 1900s.
Read our full review of Meet Me in St. Louis here.
Buy a copy of Meet Me in St. Louis on DVD here.
The Clock (1945)
This swoony romantic drama reunited Garland with Meet Me in St. Louis director (and future husband) Vincente Minnelli. Set during a 48-hour period, The Clock follows Alice Maybery (Garland) and her accidental meeting with soldier Joe Allen (Robert Walker). During their brief time together the two learn about each other’s lives and eventually fall in love. But with Joe set to go back to the war, will the couple ever see each other again?
Why it’s great for classrooms and libraries: Libraries will find value in this movie’s deeply affecting romance and can curate it alongside features aimed at wartime romantic dramas. It can be utilized alongside discussions of WWII, particularly how civilians were responding during this time. Film scholars can also teach it alongside cinematic depictions of the war, as well as the work of Minnelli. It also can be utilized to teach how to present “ticking clock” stories, or movies contained in very brief spans of time.
Stream The Clock on Prime Video here.
The Harvey Girls (1946)
This heartwarming musical set in the Old West follows mail-order bride Susan Bradley (Garland). When Susan discovers the man she hoped to marry doesn’t necessarily want to, Susan becomes a waitress at the local Harvey House. But the prim and proper Harvey girls soon butt heads with the locals, particularly good-time girl Em (Angela Lansbury).
Why it’s great for classrooms and libraries: The Harvey Girls is a fun, nostalgic musical suited for all ages. Libraries should consider stocking it as one of Garland’s most charming features, as well as for its catchy music and extraordinary use of Technicolor. Classes can use this to examine the politics and gender dynamics of the Old West, as well as marriage rites of the time. The movie’s use of color makes it well-suited for university and film classes looking at the transition between color mediums. It can also be used to look at the role of women and employment.
Buy a copy of The Harvey Girls on DVD here.
A Star is Born (1954)
This timeless romantic drama was the first of Garland’s two Oscar nominations. She plays Esther Blodgett, a singer and aspiring musician. Hollywood soon grabs a hold of her and turns her into successful movie star Vicki Lester. Along for the ride is Esther’s mentor and eventual husband Norman Maine (James Mason), an alcoholic who tries to maintain sobriety to keep Esther’s love. But the pair’s toxic relationship is doomed to end in tragedy.
Why it’s great for classrooms and libraries: The movie’s exploration of alcoholism makes it better suited for older film viewers (early high school and above). The movie is an iconic piece of cinema and can be included alongside its two later remakes from 1976 and 2018, as well as the 1932 and 1937 features it was remade from. It should be included in explorations of remakes as well as Oscar-nominated performances. Classrooms can include it in examining the price of Hollywood, as well as on-screen depictions of alcoholism. The connections to Garland’s own life can also make it of use for discussions on using film as biography.
Buy a copy of A Star is Born on DVD here.
Judgement at Nuremberg (1961)
Garland’s last Oscar-nominated performance is a searing look at the 1947 Judges’ Trial, the third of 12 trials of Nazi war criminals. This all-star cast sees Garland in a small role as victim Irene Hoffman. The movie’s fictionalized presentation seeks to show the Nuremberg trials in a nuanced way.
Why it’s great for classrooms and libraries: This is a vital piece of filmmaking that older high schoolers and those studying the Nuremberg trials or Nazi war crimes should watch. Libraries can place this in curated themes looking at WWII or the Holocaust. Classrooms looking at the consequences of the Holocaust or the trials can benefit from showing this alongside primary materials or first-person accounts of the trial or the events of WWII. The movie is also worth looking at in how it presents history on-screen.
Read our full review of Judgement at Nuremberg here.
Buy a copy of Judgement at Nuremberg on DVD here.
Whether you're building a film series on iconic performers, teaching cinematic techniques, or hosting a community movie night, Garland’s timeless performances remain a captivating choice. For more reviews like these, visit Video Librarian’s full archive of classic film reviews.