The 1930s was a magical age in Hollywood, with Shirley Temple and Mickey Rooney, Bette Davis and Clark Gable lighting up the silver screen. But Deanna Durbin's fame surpassed them all. Born in Canada, Deanna was discovered by starmaker Eddie Cantor, producer Joe Pasternak and director Henry Koster, and she quickly became the worlds most celebrated star. She saved Universal Studios from ruin, she was a favourite of Winston Churchill and Anne Frank, and she became the highest-paid woman in America.
From the start, Deannas life was irrevocably connected with that of another young ingénue, Judy Garland. Deanna and Judy were wildly talented, ambitious, and strong-willed young women who followed vastly different paths to stardom. While fame was thrust upon Deanna, Judy spent years struggling for success and their early friendship soon turned into a lifelong rivalry.
Despite her tragic life, Judy Garland is remembered as an entertainment icon, beloved by millions. However, Deanna Durbinwho turned her back on Hollywood at the age of twenty-eight to pursue love and happinesshas been largely forgotten. But Deannas legacy endures, and this first-ever biography tells of how her gorgeous voice and winning charm vaulted her to worldwide fame and how a thirteen-year-old girl transformed moviemaking and influenced a generation of fans as the first teenage superstar.
