Judy & Liza & Robert & Freddie & David & Sue & Me...: A Memoir

by Stevie Phillips

No star burned more ferociously than Judy Garland. And nobody witnessed Garland's fierce talent at closer range than Stevie Phillips. During the Mad Men era, Stevie Philips was a young woman muscling her way into the manscape of Manhattan's glittering office towers. After a stint as a secretary, she began working for Freddie Fields and David Begelman at Music Corporation of America (MCA) under the glare of legendary über-agent Lew Wasserman.

When MCA blew apart, Fields and Begelman created Creative Management Associates (CMA), and Stevie went along. Fields convinced Garland to come on board, and Stevie became, as she puts it, "Garland's shadow," putting out fires-figurative and literal-in order to get her to the next concert in the next down-and-out town. Philips paints a portrait of Garland at the bitter end and although it was at times a nightmare, Philips says, "She became my teacher," showing her "how to" and "how not to" live.

Stevie also represented Garland's fiercely talented daughter, Liza Minnelli, as well as Robert Redford, Paul Newman, Henry Fonda, George Roy Hill, Bob Fosse, Cat Stevens, and David Bowie. She produced both films and Broadway shows and counted her colleague, the legendary agent Sue Mengers, among her closest confidantes. Now Stevie Phillips reveals all in Judy & Liza & Robert & Freddie & David & Sue & Me..., a tough-talking memoir by a woman who worked with some of the biggest names in show business. It's a helluva ride.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Biography, Audiobook, Biography Memoir, History, Autobiography

288 pages, Hardcover

First published June 2, 2015

About the author

STEVIE PHILLIPS, author of Judy & Liza & Robert & Freddie & David & Sue & Me…, began her career traveling with Judy Garland on the way to becoming head of the theater and the motion picture departments of CMA (now International Creative Management) in New York. She represented Robert Redford, Al Pacino, Paul Newman, Henry Fonda, Liza Minnelli, George Roy Hill, Bob Fosse, Cat Stevens, and David Bowie. Following her fifteen-year career in agenting, she began producing on Broadway and was involved with multiple award-winning theater productions - Doonesbury, Loose Ends, The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas, Nuts, Open Admissions and films. She lives in New York City.

Reviews

[Joe Hartman · Rating 1 out of 5]

It doesn't surprise me that a memoir about Judy in the early sixties, as told by someone "who was there", is loaded with pills and wine. It doesn't surprise me that Garland was emotional, needy, and mercurial. What does surprise me, is how unkind she comes across and how ungenerous. Whatever I've read about Garland's neediness, it's always been coupled with the fact that her generosity was equal to her need. So many people have spoken about what a giving stage partner she was, a giving friend, thoughtful to her fans, and her staff. Incidentally, her household staff, her chorus dancers, and collaborators which could certainly tell tales, have proven to be fiercely loyal to her.

So why does Stevie Phillips lack this loyalty? Why does she speak of such callous treatment from Garland? I was confused. First, let's assume that what she says is factually true, as much as 40 year old memories can be; skewed, somewhat callous, and definitely biased, but true. Well, think of Stevie from Garland's perspective.

Stevie Phillips was not Garland's Agent (responsible for booking Garland, promoting her, negotiating her appearances) in spite of what some of the press has claimed. She was not her personal assistant (someone Garland hired, whom she trusted and depended on to help with her daily life) as has also been claimed. She was a hired hand from Garland's talent agency making sure she got to her appointments. She was someone who served, and reported stories back to CMA. Surely the agency's very desire for someone to keep her on track, and the fact that they didn't care to do it themselves would stir up resentment. Phillips was forced upon Garland, and even if she eventually came to depend upon her and confide in her, there was never any forgetting that she couldn't be trusted. In short, to Garland, she was a spy who might play at being on her side, but was using her just like everyone else. And she did use Garland. Ms. Phillips admits to it. She saw terrible abuse, misuse, thieving, and stood by, let it happen to Garland, and protected herself. She was naive, didn't like Garland as a person, no matter how much she loved her as a performer (Phillips is effusive in her praise for Garland's talent), and in truth, nothing she could have done would probably have done much good, partial because it seems Garland had very little respect for Phillips, and because Garland may very well have been beyond saving at this point.

I can see this portrait as one small piece of who Garland was, and leave it at that. Interestingly enough, there is not an ounce of kindness to Phillips mentioned in this memoir from Garland. Selective memory? Certainly. It doesn't serve her narrative, and Phillips IS crafting a narrative here. So if something doesn't fit in with the picture she's trying to paint??? Leave it out. The reader is, after all, reading the account of someone who wants to set the record straight and have her say after a long silence. Stories of kindness would just muddy the waters.

The picture of Liza seems much closer to capital T truth. Of course, there's a much different context here. Phillips WAS Minnelli's agent, and she served her when she was on the way up, and could take partial credit in her rise. Phillips describes a girl who is guileless, naive, socially awkward, loved by her mother but barely parented, and loaded with talent.

Is it a page turner? Yes. Is it jaded and self serving? Yes, but all memoirs are self serving and prone to selective recollections. What I ultimately grew exhausted with was all the negativity. Not just in what was done to Phillips, but the negativity in her view of people, her intepretations of their motives, and her vindictiveness. Hollywood will do that to you, I suppose.

[Russell Sanders · Rating 1 out of 5]

A legendary talent agent. One of the first women to crack the male-dominated agenting world. The personal handler of Judy Garland. The agent who first signed Liza. The agent who handled Robert Redford. What’s not to like? Especially if you, like I, feed on show biz stories. So I hungrily began reading Stevie Phillips’s memoir Judy and Liza and Robert and Freddie and David and Sue and Me…. That’s eight hours of my life I’ll never get back. Half the book is her account of how she babysat Judy Garland as Judy worked to make a comeback late in her career. Garland, as has been widely reported, was drug-addled and insecure. But I firmly believe there are icons that we, mere mortals, don’t want or need to know thoroughly. It’s best that we not know the details of Liberace’s homosexuality (after all, he lived in an era when being gay was not accepted, and he worked diligently to keep his “secret,” one that was thinly veiled, but he was such a great performer, even those with deep-seated prejudices overlooked the reports about him; now, I must point out, he would most likely thrive being openly gay, but this is a different era); it’s best we not know of Elvis’s controlling personality, his drug use, his bizarre behavior; it’s best we not know of Marilyn’s extreme insecurities, and it’s best we not know the deep details of JFK’s affair with her. No, these are people whose legacies loom so large that we should revere them for their contributions to our lives and not have those memories sullied. Phillips, however, must not think this is so. She tells every sordid detail about Judy, and when she is through—although she wants us to believe she understands Judy’s insecurities and motivations—the Judy Garland whom we all love is a little bit, or a lot, harder to love. Phillips does the same to a lesser degree with Liza and Al Pacino. As for her three marriages, she doesn’t name names for the first two men—and, in fact, admits that she treated the first badly. But the third, film composer Dave Grusin, she not only names, but she trashes royally. And all the while, she paints herself as deserving of sympathy for her own peccadilloes, for after all, as she tells it, she did what she did because she was a woman in a man’s world and wanted a career. That’s admirable to an extent, but she totally lost me when she told of an affair she had with someone she despised. And yet, she managed, in her eyes, to justify her actions. The last section of the book is a lame attempt to wash herself clean by showing us she has been through a twelve-step program that showed her the light. Hogwash! What she has done is write a trashy book to further her bank account when her career is virtually over. I finished the book with no respect for the woman. One caveat: Phillips produced the Broadway production of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. I thoroughly enjoyed the two chapters about that experience, largely because there was no extreme drama, no backbiting, no tale-telling. Those two chapters were just accounts of what happened without rolling in any mud.

[Julie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Besides being crass and mean-spirited, the book needed a decent editor. This was just a slamfest against many celebrities but the one person who came out the worst was the author herself.

[Lily · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was damn juicy. WOW did Judy Garland have a depressing life! This memoir was written by Stevie Phillips, Judy's personal assistant cum enabler cum ambitious climber cum biggest fan. She really pulled no punches in describing herself as part of the problem, and shedding some very depressing light on an American treasure. I always knew about the constant pill-popping and her overall desperation, but I had no idea Judy was suicidal, and dabbled in self-immolation like burning and cutting, only when Stevie was around to save her. Stevie tells horrifying story after horrifying story-- Judy passing out onto a glass coffee table, cutting a deep gash across her face hours before a show, Judy throwing a friggin butcher knife at Stevie for allowing the doctor to take away all her pills, putting out fires both literal and figurative. The way that everyone around her treated her as this inhuman commodity! It was so painful to read. All she wants is for someone to love her for who she is, but they only love her for her talent! When Judy slit her wrist (also hours before a show), her lover/agent/svengali just instructs Stevie to go out and by a thick bracelet. Dark.

Meanwhile, the Liza parts painted her as exactly the kind of waif-like, desperate for love and affection Pookie that we all think of her as. Poor Li! (as Stevie affectionately refers to her.) She didn't get nearly as much real estate in the book as Judy, maybe because Stevie was only her agent for a handful of years, but still, I would have loved some more stories from the set of Cabaret or The Sterile Cuckoo.

Apart from the Liza and Judy parts, I wasn't that into the rest of the anecdotes in this book. Save for a one-off mention of David Bowie, it was mostly relaying details of famous Hollywood deals Stevie made in the 60s and 70s, which frankly weren't that interesting to read about. And I wasn't that into her own career journey from wide-eyed lackey to ball-busting Hollywood agent. That's probably what dragged this down to a two star rating. I did find the Mad Men office culture to be especially repugnant and fascinating though.

Just closing in on those gaps in my Hollywood historical knowledge!

[Spencer B · Rating 4 out of 5]

overall 3, the part with Judy I give a 5. I don't know how much is true and how much is exaggerated, as is the case with any book on Judy's life, but the book definitely delivers an interesting glimpse into her world.

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've met Stevie virtually and she seemed a lovely person, but reading her book I found her cruel. I don't think I've ever abandoned a book so this is a first, I don’t want to continue reading it.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was interesting; however, I thought the author was not very sympathetic to Judy and much of her wording was in a way, " raunchy". Judy is not here to defend herself and I thought that while truthful facts can be given, this book lacked a large sense of " class" and I thought it could have been written with more compassion. It was an interesting book, but I wouldn't recommend it to others especially those who have a love for Judy Garland. Truth is truth, but truth can be presented without the need to degrade. Maybe it's just that I adore Judy Garland but I didn't like how her struggles were presented. They could have been presented, but how they were just seemed insensitive.

[Marianne Meyers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dirt-filled, sad, horrifying, ironic, and powerful glimpses into the 1960s world of Judy Garland, Liza, agents, talent, building into the author's becoming a successful female agent into the 1970s and beyond.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

At times interesting memoir with sad portrayals of Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli.

[J C · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best Memoirs that I have ever read! It is a page turner! The book is informative, touching , humorous and beautifully written.

[Leigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Borderline meanspirited, tells stories that probably should have gone untold. I love a good celeb memoir but this one left me cold and disgusted.

[Mediaman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first half is a fascinating inside look at the sad life of Judy Garland; the rest is incomplete details about somewhat bland associations the author has with a few other famous people but never enough to make it special. Overall it's worth reading for the shocking specifics about Garland repeatedly trying to take her own life and some of the still-alive famous people the author throws under the bus. But be prepared to go through many pages where almost nothing interesting happens and you want a lot more information.

Beyond the amazing details of the years spent along side Garland, how can the author be Liza Minelli's agent and give no details about the singer's career beyond mentioning a few credits? Readers would be interested in knowing how Oscar-winning Cabaret was negotiated and shot, but there's not one tidbit. How can the author eventually sign Robert Redford as a client but offer not one detail about any of the 3 or 4 times a day they talked together on the phone? She's the one that got him Butch Cassidy yet doesn't offer one detail about the making of that movie nor others. And there is one funny scene with her client David Bowie making out with a man in front of her, but beyond that she says nothing about the musician.

Her first husband is mostly ignored. Her second husband only gets a coupe sentences. I think she had two children with him but the kids are such an aside I'm not sure (there's more about Judy Garland's kids in the book than about the author's children). Her third husband gets some pages near the end, maybe because he was a famous musician who took her for all she was worth in the divorce? But none of it is adequate for a memoir. She also ends the book back in the 1980s, with only a quick wrap-up that mentions a safari and mountain climbing expedition a long time ago. So what happened in the last 25 years of her life?

The book leaves no questions about Judy Garland--the woman was needy, manipulative, crazy, and self-destructive. Some of it is almost hard to believe. The book however leaves a lot of questions about Stevie Phillips, including why she put up with Garland's antics for years and where her inner lack of self-esteem came from while outwardly she was aggressive. While the author brags a lot about herself, tries to claim to have been a leader in the women's liberation movement, and includes a quick nod to Al-Anon near the end, she seems to have a difficult time understanding how self-destructive she was in the poor choices she made. It wasn't just the celebrities and studio heads that had major problems--while she spends the book focusing on them she fails to really see how she caused many of her own problems in life. It just reinforces how people in the entertainment industry are out of touch with reality, immoral, selfish, abusive, and not to be admired.

[A Cesspool · Rating 2 out of 5]

D-N-F. The author liberally pirates from former mentor/employer/title-character Freddie Fields’ 2003 unpublished memoir with David Rensin: Postcards from Hollywood: Things I Did and Things I Think I Did!

The last-third, or everything post-Judy Garland is approx. 89% Fields' narrative, imo; there are entire passages just lifted and regurgitated. Such as the casting process outlined for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) is literally the same anecdotal told by Fields (in interviews w Rensin) — also appears in Hollywood Hellraisers. Author Stevie Phillips doesn’t even give accreditation!
I’m almost certain Phillips saw how exceptionally well her one-time counterpart, Sue Mengers‘ memoir Can I Go Now? performed and presumed she might also be due some post-profession notoriety (or book advance/royalties)?

Likewise, the same ground -- in first half of Phillips memoir’ish -- is also covered in Sid Luft’s 2017 autobiography with way more intimate narrative & specs (like he was actually suppose to be be there?).
Much like Sid Luft’s memoir Judy and I, it’s impossible to commemorate the later-half of Judy Garland’s premature demise without negotiating agent, manager, sociopath David “Begelscam” Begelman’s influence (how he took pole position on administrating Team Garland into the ground; marooning her and her family broken and destitute).

Only here, chronicling David Begelman's genesis-malfeasance, the author's best/most sincere text can be glimpsed; recounting one of showbiz’s most notoriously fantastic swindlers…

David —the scoundrel, the liar, the thief— wasn’t beautiful by any means. He had a large nose, flaccid cheeks (always by 5:00 p.m.), and beady eyes. Somehow all this ugliness came together in its own interesting and gruesome way, distinguishing him from the rest of the ugly powerful men he ran with. He was tall, and his height, coupled with immaculate tailoring, helped to hide his protruding belly. His shoes were hand sewn in Italy, his shirts made to order in London and shipped in boxes from Bond Street every six months, and his suits custom tailored at one of the most expensive Park Avenue ateliers. He loved only the best, most expensive things for himself, and he lived like a sheikh on what he earned, borrowed, and stole.

What did we all see in David? I include myself along with Freddie Fields, Judy, Lee Begelman, and a legion of showbiz friends. We were all so blinded by a little charm that we couldn’t see the truth: He was no good. In fact he was worse than that. He was toxic, fatal for all his wives, but most of all for Judy. He took aim and leveled a shot across her bow that filled her with his poison and overwhelmed her. His was the charm of a psychopathic personality: totally flamboyant, witty, intelligent, and intellectual on the one side; a liar, a cheat, a complete fraud, irresponsible, and self-destructive on the other.

He was a snake. He didn’t know how to tell the truth, and it amused him to show me how outrageous a liar he could get away with being.

He didn’t seem to care one iota about his wife, and he told everyone that Judy also meant nothing to him — boisterously proclaiming to the fellas at Danny’s Hideaway, ‘A ragpicker wouldn’t throw a hook into her!’ And this was the man Judy Garland adored. He was a pig.

After working with him for two years, however, it was apparent to me that David was more than just a pig: He was a sick pig. I thought David needed psychiatric help. He was always setting himself up to be punished. And no matter how bad the punishment, David raised the ante so that the next punishment would be worse.
..
David didn’t have a decent instinct ever, ever, ever. He had already hurt me, hurt Judy, hurt Lee, and hurt many others he worked with. He stole from Judy to get the money he needed for his and Lee’s very lavish lifestyle. He used that money to settle his gambling debts, debts that he would have created with money borrowed in casinos using Judy’s name, and paid for with Judy’s earnings, for no matter how much David made—and he has to have made millions over the long haul—he never had enough. He was always deeply in debt.

I don’t find it strange that all three of David’s wives died of cancer, especially if there’s any truth to the mind-body-connection theories. David brought misery to all the lives that he touched in a personal way, most notably Judy’s.

He brought misery as well to most of the lives he touched in a professional way, and it cost him. He lost most of his friends. He could send three, four, or more studio executives to bed believing they had a deal with him only to find out the next morning that not only didn’t they have a deal, the deal they thought they were negotiating was no more than a figment of David’s imagination. He persuaded himself that people didn’t talk to one another, and he could say whatever he pleased.
The executives in New York and LA knew he was a scoundrel, but he was their scoundrel. For a long time they closed ranks around him because of the important stars he represented (like Newman and Streisand), even when he put their backs up against the wall by making deals that were too tough—because when he finally did make a deal, he went for the kill. It wasn’t necessary. The stars knew he was a bastard, but he was their bastard. So they, too, put up with him until they couldn’t, until they caught him in lies or broken promises.

The executives in New York and LA knew he was a scoundrel, but he was their scoundrel. For a long time they closed ranks around him because of the important stars he represented (like Newman and Streisand), even when he put their backs up against the wall by making deals that were too tough—because when he finally did make a deal, he went for the kill. It wasn’t necessary. The stars knew he was a bastard, but he was their bastard. So they, too, put up with him until they couldn’t, until they caught him in lies or broken promises.

Excerpts From: Chapter 10. Love or Something Like It.
Judy & Liza & Robert & Freddie & David & Sue & Me...
By Stevie Phillips

[Jess | The_Afterword · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whew! I have been waiting to review this book because it was
A.) Kinda tough to listen to
B.) Not really what I expected

Stevie Phillips was a young woman in the 1960's trying to make her mark in Manhattan when she landed the job as a secretary at the Music Corporation of America (MCA) then later Creative Management Associates (CMA). It was there that Stevie met the legendary Judy Garland and become her (somewhat) assistant - and then basically all hell broke loose for the next 6 hours.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗱:
I loved having an inside scoop of the music industry in the 1960's (anything "old Hollywood" and I am there).

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻'𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆:
This is tough - and I'm slightly hypocritical with myself in this so hang tight (I did warn you with an opener of "whew").

While I appreciated the idea of the book, someone from Judy's "insider" circle sharing their part in a bigger picture, the whole book just seemed to be a giant complain-fest. However (and here's where I contradict myself), if that's Stevie's truth and story - who am I to judge that?

Parts of this book were 𝙩𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 to hear. Stevie discusses Judy's drug and alcohol habits, yes, but also reveals her struggle with severe depression and self-mutilation.

All in all, I can't say I loved the book, but I also can't disregard it.

If you are looking for a feel-good book about the late, great Judy Garland (like I thought I was), this book 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 for you. However if you are curious about mental health issues, depression, and addiction (and how a brilliant starlet dealt with those issues), take a look at it.

𝗖𝗪: alcoholism, drug addiction, self-mutilation, depression, mental health issues, family dynamics

[Heather McC · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an avid Judy Garland fan (my book and library shelf has included multiple biographies and memoirs centered on her life), I was excited to read with agent Stevie Phillips had to say about working with the legendary Ms. Garland. My attention was brought to this book due to the ShowTime documentary 'Sid and Judy' and it was a very worthwhile read.

There were sections of the book that were simply captivating - a young Stevie going on (mis)adventures with Garland all over the world, serving her own career and Garland in the process until the price became too high. Having not read a great deal (yet) about Garland's oldest daughter Liza (or 'Li' as she was often referred to), I was fascinated by Stevie's accounts as a roommate to the starlet, as her champion until she was unceremoniously let go. There is a lesson in not putting all of your eggs in one basket (or making all of your business about one person), and Phillips seemed to learn this lesson the hard way.

The politics of being a female in a male-dominated industry (a talent agency) was also riveting. Phillips, who learned at the feet of the masters, was eventually able to give as good as she got and call her own shots, paving the way for other women in the industry.

Where the book fell apart (for me) was when Phillips delved into her personal life, which is while very meaningful, not quite as compelling as the rest of the book.

[Tom Holehan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to my friend Joe Meyers for recommending this five-year old memoir that i had never heard about. Stevie Phillips, a high-powered talent agent in NYC, had some big clients in her career and this page-turning, gossipy memoir doesn't mince words on her personal opinions about each and every one of them. Chief among them is Judy Garland who takes up nearly half the book and it remains the strongest section. Phillips love/hate relationship with the legendary singer relates some jaw-dropping incidents that are hard to forget once you've finished the book. She moved on from Judy to become a surrogate mother of sorts to daughter Liza Minnelli and it also did not end well. This is closer to a 3.5 star memoir especially near the end where she seems to wade into self-pity mode with stories about her personal life that, frankly, isn't as interesting as life with the stars. Still, this is a most memorable read stuffed with juicy revelations.

[Joe Meyers · Rating 5 out of 5]

How did I not know about the memoir by agent and producer Stevie Phillips until I got an e-book sale notice?

It’s terrific. I don’t know how it flew under my radar five years ago. The stuff on Judy & Liza & Redford is so honest without being mean. I also loved her account of producing ‘Best Little Whorehouse’ on Broadway and then watching Hollywood wreck the movie version.

Grab it if you enjoy honest Hollywood books.

[Lea Columbus · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was an interesting story of a women I had never hear of before. Actually, I should have heard of her, she produced the Broadway Play-Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. prior to that, she was an agent and she worked for/with Judy Garland and Liza Minelli.It was an unvarnished look at celebrities and fame. I enjoyed it. BTW, she is not Julia Phillips ( some reviewers on another site had them confused)

[Alex Simons · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this straight through

A good memoir is enthralling and entertaining, and this one has those qualities in abundance. Lots of great dish, but never mean (unless someone deserved it). An interesting memoir from an intelligent and observant woman. Really terrific ang highly recommended.

[Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Horrid, negative book

I didn't finish this one, and I'm going to return it. Yuck! What could have been an interesting tale was instead whiney, neurotic and dismal. There's no need to say such horrid things about people, even if they were "true," and this woman put herself squarely in every situation she so verbosely complains about.

[Anne Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting story

This story is about growing up in the entertainment world. It shows the pitfalls and successes and failures of several characters. It also shows developing strength and the ability to survive. it opens the door to see the real lives of larger than life entertainers. I learned a lot.

[Mick Meyers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this book I came to the conclusion they are all welcome to one another.the author makes known her dislike of England with her disparaging remarks,so all the conniving and back stabbing did not resonate any sympathy from me.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating! Lots of juicy insider info about certain stars (Judy Garland, Liza Minelli, Burt Reynolds, etc.) - and interesting to see how a woman of her era negotiated working in that world. I was drawn to the book because I met her daughter in Baja.

[Lorraine Hughes · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not even worth commenting on... :(

[cindy dwyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firsthand Look at Judy

In depth portrait of realizing that being a a Judy confidant would be an utterly exhausting experience. “Never meet your idols” rings so true

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A no-holds barred look behind the scenes by the woman who experienced it all firsthand..as she carved out a career for herself in the male-dominated field that she loved.

[Wendee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written memoir that gives the author's perspective while telling a great story.

[Coleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unfortunately for entertainers such as our beloved Judy Garland, who never had a moment to herself growing up- the effects of the studio business took a toil on her personality and psyche.
By the time the author Stevie Phillips came on aboard as Judy's "handler" late in the star's career, Judy had lost all sense of self control and had morphed into a wickedly selfish needy diva.
Phillips, who starts out as a secretary for the talent agency that would become MCA falls into the job of shadowing Judy Garland in the 60's as the power brokers staged Garland's comeback. This is the story of Phillips' rise as an agent for Judy, then Liza, and on to Redford and Pacino.
I had always wondered why Liza never became the star she should have been - and according to Phillips' we find out how the behind the scenes handlers can easily make or break a star's career by blindly milking the cash cow without any thought for future endeavors. The stories make for a good, quick read- discovery that her childhood idol Judy is something totally different than what she envisioned from her movie roles and that close friendships are not to be trusted as in Liza's betrayal.
There is redemption in the finale as Philips acknowledges her own selfish ambition and her carelessness in choosing husbands. Her description of herself as a codependent to her husbands and her loss of self-worth hit pretty close to home for this reader. Been there, done that myself. Finally, Phillips acknowledges that Judy, Liza, and all have contributed to her success as a person.

[Jerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! What a great read. What I know about Judy Garland I know mostly from movies, but to hear Stevie Phillips first-hand stories about being Judy's handler for four turbulent years in the sixties gives a whole new meaning to "front row seat".

And Phillips own coming-of-age-story as she tries to control the whirlwind that is Judy Garland, while building her own career as one of Hollywood's first female super-agents, makes this a total page turner. Plus an inside look at how ICM was formed in Mad-Men era Hollywood, up close and personal stories about Robert Redford, Liza Minelli, and the inside scoop on being a Broadway producer as Phillips ends up producing the Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.

If you want an emotional, funny, fast-paced look inside the entertainment business, told from the point of view of a woman who did her best to keep her integrity through all the insanity, you need to read this book.

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a memoir by Stevie Phillips, who was one of the first female talent agents. She started out working with Judy Garland, who was trying to make a comeback. Stevie learned a lot about "show business"...the good, the bad and the ugly. She took every opportunity to learn more and worked her way up the ladder. She represented Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli and Robert Redford for many years. She worked with Henry Fonda, Bob Fosse, Cat Stevens and David Bowie and Al Pacino.

This is a tough book to read. She does reveal the sad lives of both Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli (whom she took into her own home for many years). She was involved in movie making, concerts, stage plays, producing, the music business and all other forms of entertainment. She traveled all over the world with Liza Minnelli and took care of Liza's career for a very long time.