Interesting, and I agree that I am not happy with the way Van Johnson speaks about Judy Garland. But I do remember the stories that when he starred with her in the good old summertime, he was very good to her and kept her happy and no wonder she wanted to marry him. I don’t know what he meant when he said that it was a waste, terrible waste. In her short life, Judy Garland gave performances that just will never be equaled. But I certainly wouldn’t conclude that Judy Garland’s problems were greater than her talent. Overall, her talent won out. But van Johnson sure can tell a story. Thanks for posting it.
I think it was a waste of talent, Judy was exceptional and most people could see how much more she could have done if she was only treated with more sincerety and love, not a commodity. Many said Louie B Mayer treaded his race horses better than Judy Garland.
I wonder if what he says has any truth in it. Judy had already married Vincente Minnelli and he was gay, maybe she did want to marry VJ. He’s an unreliable witness because he can’t admit openly he’s gay at this point in time, so the falling in love with Co-stars is not true.
His interpretation of being "in love" with a woman means he is in love with the idea of being one. And since he can't and he's a man then that would mean he's gay
I'm very disappointed by him saying that her life was a waste. It overlooks ALL her achievements. He's so good in his movies. Here, he's rather catty and bitchy. Makes me think less of him.
Garland sure as hell achieved light years more in her short life than he did in his entire career. All she did, her entire life, was ACHIEVE. That was part of the problem. If he hadn’t been such a catty fool, in this particular instance, he might have had the insight to grasp that.
I think he meant her early death was a waste and/or how MGM treated her, she made very few films in the 1950s after she was fired when she was still at the top of her game. I think he meant that.
he speaks fine about Judy....everyone was aware of her problems...and they all knew her talent.....the interesting thing here is van johnson was a known gay man his entire life, and he certainly grew into its flamboyance as is easily seen here...yet he felt the need to talk about women as if he really had any true love interest in them....though while doing so he is camping it up to another level......perhaps he wanted a friend without the sexual tensions...but it is very clear he no longer was hiding his sexuality as he aged
I was going to make a comment, but yours is better. I'd have been a little less dignified about the light-loafered Mr. Johnson. He became more grand and vicious as he aged and he sniped about pretty much everyone. But I definitely think I understand his comments about Garland, which seem to have confused others here. People who knew her loved her, and adored her prodigious talent, but many of them found her exhausting as a person. Dirk Bogarde talked about this. Many have talked about this. One can be talented and utterly impossible all-at-once and apparently she was. The cult doesn't like to hear this, though.
@@IanThaddiam i didn't realize he was gay to be honest but than i don't know enough about the man at all to be fair. what he said does not bother me Mickey Rooney once said that back than they didn't live in Closets they lived in Safe's and to take a guess in private life he was openly gay but even in (1978) it was still a career killer.
Fabulous interview. Thanks for posting!
I'm glad he acknowlwdges her talent, but I don't like how he tallks about HER, the human being.. 💜🌿
I think alot of his snarkyness is because he was gay, had to suppress it, and so he played up how much of a ladies man he was--he was not.
He was Gay......😊
Correct. He got down on both knees
Likely bisexual.
@@supremelymontgomeryclift3453 Potato/potatoe
Interesting, and I agree that I am not happy with the way Van Johnson speaks about Judy Garland. But I do remember the stories that when he starred with her in the good old summertime, he was very good to her and kept her happy and no wonder she wanted to marry him. I don’t know what he meant when he said that it was a waste, terrible waste. In her short life, Judy Garland gave performances that just will never be equaled. But I certainly wouldn’t conclude that Judy Garland’s problems were greater than her talent. Overall, her talent won out. But van Johnson sure can tell a story. Thanks for posting it.
I think it was a waste of talent, Judy was exceptional and most people could see how much more she could have done if she was only treated with more sincerety and love, not a commodity. Many said Louie B Mayer treaded his race horses better than Judy Garland.
Judy was too much to handle. That's why she wasn't protected. But a lovely talent. I think Van was just on a roll.
It didn't occur to me Van was gay until he discussed the idea of marrying Judy.
I wonder if what he says has any truth in it. Judy had already married Vincente Minnelli and he was gay, maybe she did want to marry VJ. He’s an unreliable witness because he can’t admit openly he’s gay at this point in time, so the falling in love with Co-stars is not true.
His interpretation of being "in love" with a woman means he is in love with the idea of being one. And since he can't and he's a man then that would mean he's gay
I'm very disappointed by him saying that her life was a waste. It overlooks ALL her achievements.
He's so good in his movies. Here, he's rather catty and bitchy. Makes me think less of him.
Garland sure as hell achieved light years more in her short life than he did in his entire career. All she did, her entire life, was ACHIEVE. That was part of the problem. If he hadn’t been such a catty fool, in this particular instance, he might have had the insight to grasp that.
@jonathankieranwriter Agree 💯. She had more class than he did.
Alot of gay men are like that lol
@@brucekrause2801 that is eternally true.
I think he meant her early death was a waste and/or how MGM treated her, she made very few films in the 1950s after she was fired when she was still at the top of her game. I think he meant that.
he speaks fine about Judy....everyone was aware of her problems...and they all knew her talent.....the interesting thing here is van johnson was a known gay man his entire life, and he certainly grew into its flamboyance as is easily seen here...yet he felt the need to talk about women as if he really had any true love interest in them....though while doing so he is camping it up to another level......perhaps he wanted a friend without the sexual tensions...but it is very clear he no longer was hiding his sexuality as he aged
I was going to make a comment, but yours is better. I'd have been a little less dignified about the light-loafered Mr. Johnson. He became more grand and vicious as he aged and he sniped about pretty much everyone. But I definitely think I understand his comments about Garland, which seem to have confused others here. People who knew her loved her, and adored her prodigious talent, but many of them found her exhausting as a person. Dirk Bogarde talked about this. Many have talked about this. One can be talented and utterly impossible all-at-once and apparently she was. The cult doesn't like to hear this, though.
I couldn't have said it better.
@@IanThaddiam i didn't realize he was gay to be honest but than i don't know enough about the man at all to be fair. what he said does not bother me Mickey Rooney once said that back than they didn't live in Closets they lived in Safe's and to take a guess in private life he was openly gay but even in (1978) it was still a career killer.