Liza: 2born a Star

Biographer of Arnold Schwarzenegger, coauthor of Zsa Zsa Gabor's memoirs, Leigh now turns a pitiless light on the renowned entertainer Liza Minnelli. Born in 1946 to mega-star Judy Garland and gifted film director Vincente Minnelli, Liza was only five years old when her parents divorced. Those interviewed by Leigh remember Liza as worshipful of her father and devoted to her mother--but jealously competing with her for fame. Liza's talent and drive earned her the first of three Tony awards by age 19 and, by 27, an Oscar (for Cabaret ). Needy still, Liza became an emotional vagrant. Her first husband, singer Peter Allen, was a ``brother figure'' to her; with Desi Arnaz Jr., Bob Fosse, Peter Sellers, Martin Scorsese and others, she conducted a series of sometimes scandalous affairs. Drugs threatened to derail her career, but Liza saved herself by a timely stay at the Betty Ford clinic; that constitutes the good news here. Otherwise this volume is more expose than biography, revealing Liza and almost all of her intimates at their worst. Photos not seen by PW. (Jan.)