Lorna Luft thought the Flying Monkeys “took” her mom, Judy Garland, when she first watched The Wizard of Oz.
Television Screening
The then-four-year-old was left terrified after she, her sister Liza Minnelli, and brother Joey Luft watched the 1939 family musical with their nanny in Los Angeles. The movie’s lead, Judy (Dorothy), was in New York.
Actress Lorna, 73, recalled to People, “It was the first time it was on television. They had a big screening for my sister and myself. I remember that we had a really well-meaning nanny who kept saying, ‘Your mom’s on TV, your mom’s on TV, your mom’s on TV.'”
For Lorna, the joy of the flick was overshadowed by the Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton) and her flying monkeys. The monkeys were tasked with capturing Dorothy and her dog, Toto, and bringing them to the evil witch’s castle.
She said, “It was the same emotion, I think that every child goes through when they see the film. The frightening image of Margaret Hamilton and the flying monkeys scared us.”
Lorna in Tears
Judy called her children during The Wizard of Oz‘s screening. Instead of delight, she was met with her daughter in floods of tears.
Lorna remembered, “My mom called us from New York. She thought that she was going to get … very, very happy children. I was really, really frightened and crying.”
Judy reassured her daughter that she was fine and “in New York,” but Lorna thought the flying monkeys “took you to New York” instead of the cruel witch’s castle.
The Hollywood legend then promised the then-youngster, “‘I will never let you watch that movie without me ever again.’ And she never did.”
Other Movie Details
Lorna said it was bizarre seeing her mom play a childlike character on screen.
She added, “You know your mother’s voice. But it’s also interesting because I think it’s very difficult when you are a child to view your parent as a child.”
The film famously transitioned from sepia to a vibrant color as Dorothy opened her front door to be greeted by Oz, after her house dropped into the magical land following a tornado in Kansas.
But the transition remained black-and-white during Lorna’s screening because they did not have a color TV.
The singer said, “When I saw it the first time … nothing happened. People didn’t have color TVs back then. It wasn’t until 1963 when I watched it again [and] I said, ‘Ah, now I get it.'”
Judy’s Kids
Judy, who died from an accidental barbiturate overdose in June 1969 at the age of 47, had Lorna and 71-year-old actor Joey with her ex-husband, producer and businessman Sidney Luft. They were married from 1952 until 1965.
She had 80-year-old actress and singer, Liza, with her former spouse, stage director and film producer Vincente Minnelli. They were married from 1945 until 1951.