Guests Were Over the Rainbow During the New York Premiere of Judy

“I’m sorry—I can’t help that I have such a powerful voice!” quipped Old Hollywood crooner Harry Connick Jr. as he introduced Judy, the latest biopic on beloved Judy Garland, played by Renée Zellweger. Connick continued, “What Renée did in this film surpasses anything she’s done before. I think she’s a genius. She’s an incredible woman, as you all know, and Judy Garland is my number one favorite singer of all time. For her to take this on and accomplish what she did so successfully is mind-blowing.”

At the Crosby Street Hotel, guests cozied into their theater seats to witness an intimate look at Garland’s life, zoning in on the years leading up to her untimely death in 1969. This is not a candy-colored gumdrop tale of Garland’s rise to fame; rather the film chronicles the darkness, drug use, and downward spiral Garland experienced in her battle balancing motherhood and superstardom. Zellweger’s portrayal was excruciatingly beautiful, capturing Garland’s quick wit, her throaty laugh, and even the starlet’s signature voice. Once the film ended and the credits silently began to roll, we were left stunned, heartbroken even.

The wine and chocolaty espresso desserts cheered guests up at the cocktail reception after the screening. Zellweger, in a jazzy Stella McCartney suit (reminiscent of Garland’s “Get Happy” number from MGM’s Summer Stock), could be seen speaking to Bernadette Peters. Finn Wittrock, who played Garland’s fifth husband, Mickey Deans, was also in the mix. Guests mingled before exiting into the warm fall air to head home—there’s no place like it, after all.

Judy lands onscreen this Friday, September 27.