Filmmaker Bruce David Klein on How Liza Became Liza (With a Little Help from her Friends)

EDGE: And Kay Thompson, who was a seminal force in Liza's life and a spectacular performer. You need to make a documentary about her.

Bruce David Klein: It was instant love seeing her for the first time. When I watched the raw footage, I couldn't believe how one woman could make so many quips in such a short period of time. She had such a quirky view of life that greatly influenced Liza. I mean, imagine having Kay Thompson around you all the time?

EDGE: Has Liza seen the film?

Bruce David Klein: Yes, she has seen it. And she was very happy with it, very pleased that we highlighted her mentors. They are very, very important to her. Like I said, when you talk to her about herself, she quickly says that Bob Fosse taught me this, Fred Ebb taught her that, or Kay would suggest this. I think she was very pleased that that was the storyline that we chose.

EDGE: What do you think would have happened to Liza if her mother hadn't died when she did?

Bruce David Klein: I don't know what would have happened. I just know her life would have been extremely different. Liza would have been different. If you see Liza before her mother died. When you watch Liza perform, say on the Ed Sullivan Show before her mother had died, she was a lot more of a traditional performer. And for whatever reason that no one can speculate, when her mother died, she started letting loose in her own style, and being really courageous in her choices. Everything changed in 1972 with "Cabaret" and "Liza With a Z." But Judy Garland was worry for Liza and required a lot of attention. And as Mia Farrow says in the film, she required a lot of work.

"Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story" is currently playing in New York and Los Angeles. It goes into limited release nationwide on January 31. For more information, follow this link.