Originally, Judy Garland had been cast in the title role, but was forced to back out of the production due to poor health and other personal problems that would soon end her career with MGM.
Originally, Judy Garland had been cast in the title role, and recorded all of her songs and worked for two months under Busby Berkley's direction. She was forced to leave the production due to poor health and other personal problems that would soon end her career with MGM.