A Star Is Born (1954)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Morgan S

  
  Altough slow at times, a Perfect movie. How Judy Garland could have lost this oscar is unbelievable. One of the best performances of all time!

• AJ V

  
  Garland was already a star, I wouldn't have chose her to star in this remake. I want to see the original movie eventually.

• Jennifer D

  
  Wow, I was expecting more... About an hour in I was bored and confused. it wasn't until I read turfseer's review was some of my confusion explained. About the production stills and lost footage, etc and it's one of those things where I understand that they couldn't… More
  Wow, I was expecting more... About an hour in I was bored and confused. it wasn't until I read turfseer's review was some of my confusion explained. About the production stills and lost footage, etc and it's one of those things where I understand that they couldn't have done anything about it, but yikes does it really rake on the flow of storytelling. Anyway, if you're looking for a flashy stage musical, this isn't it. But if you do want to hear powerful, belting Judy Garland songs, this is your film! And it does sound bolder than Wizard of Oz (LOVE it, and the only other Garland I'd seen before this). 'Somewhere There's a Someone' was the most amusing and cute number, while Garland's breakdown in the dressing room and then having to pull it together for another take was really powerful and shows how actors have to do it. Respect. Now as for story, the focus seemed to vacillate between Blodgett and Maine. Who was the story really about? I liked the last hour, but it could have been severely edited. Almost 3 hours?! Sheesh. I dunno, I expected more and it could have been better. A lot better.

• First L

  
  Gay icon Judy Garland brings her considerable vocal talent to A Star is Born. a story of the rise and fall of actors in the cold, cruel world of Hollywood. The film itself is rather like the actor's rise and fall: it starts off full of wide-eyed optimism and ends on a cynical,… More
  Gay icon Judy Garland brings her considerable vocal talent to A Star is Born. a story of the rise and fall of actors in the cold, cruel world of Hollywood. The film itself is rather like the actor's rise and fall: it starts off full of wide-eyed optimism and ends on a cynical, embittered note. Garland plays Esther Blodgett, a young singer whose emotive vocal style strikes the fancy of Norman Maine (James Mason), a successful movie star who, despite his alcohol-fueled offstage shenanigans, is well-connected in Hollywood and offers to give Esther her big break. There are all-too-real scenes of struggle as Esther must either quit her position in an act she's worked so hard to estabilish or miss her opportunity to fulfill her lifelong dream. It's a gamble that pays off, and soon Esther (now known as Vicki Lester) begins a meteoric rise to fame (and Norman a sad descent into defeat). Obviously, one of the focal points of this film is Judy Garland's talent as a singer, and a few of the numbers in this film showcase that talent in a way not many of her other films have. James Mason is, as always, excellent, and Jack Carson also gives a great performance in his supporting role (as Norman Maine's studio P.R. man). Show business is a brutal industry, and the casualties are many, including Judy Garland herself. A Star is Born doesn't sugarcoat the price of success in this field of vanity and self-promotion. Norman forces Esther to look at herself and her talent, and to take what she deserves from the world. It's not a world or career for the meek and humble. By the way, I saw the "restored" version of this film on TCM, and I have to say the restoration does not impress me. Apparently the original film has been destroyed, but the soundtrack remains, so we have scenes where the actors are reciting their lines as still photos are flashed on the screen. This may restore the narrative, but it jars one out of the cinematic experience. I can only recommend the restored version for the diehard fans who've already seen it.

• Mark H

  
  Landmark musical remake of the 1937 original about two star-crossed lovers in show business. Her fame is rising, his is starting to fade and their career trajectories form the plot of this film. Rarely has a musical featured such happily upbeat numbers ("Gotta Have Me Go With… More
  Landmark musical remake of the 1937 original about two star-crossed lovers in show business. Her fame is rising, his is starting to fade and their career trajectories form the plot of this film. Rarely has a musical featured such happily upbeat numbers ("Gotta Have Me Go With You", "Lose That Long Face") and simultaneously presented a storyline that is so profoundly sad. One quibble: extended "Born in A Trunk" number is dispensable and drags on the film's excessive 176-minute length. Otherwise Judy Garland and James Mason are spectacular in their respective Oscar nominated roles. The film may have surprisingly gone home empty handed on Oscar night, but time has proven this to be one of the greatest musicals ever filmed.

• danny d

  
  although the technical elements and direction were superb, and the story was ambitious, this film is overlong and far too bipolar. the first half is actually quite good, but the second half loses focus and takes its eyes off of the supposed star of the picture. the film becomes far… More
  although the technical elements and direction were superb, and the story was ambitious, this film is overlong and far too bipolar. the first half is actually quite good, but the second half loses focus and takes its eyes off of the supposed star of the picture. the film becomes far too dramatic to fit its own tone, and it spins into depression almost without warning. certainly an important film and one of the more well received, but its charm was lost on me.

• Jeremy S

  
  Ester Blodgett: "Hello, everybody. This is Mrs. Norman Maine."

• Jennifer X

  
  Magnificent if you can get past the first hour and you stop expecting them to burst out in song every 5 minutes. This isn't one of those classic MGM musicals per se, as in, nobody does any singing but Judy Garland and she only does it when she's supposed to. The first hour… More
  Magnificent if you can get past the first hour and you stop expecting them to burst out in song every 5 minutes. This isn't one of those classic MGM musicals per se, as in, nobody does any singing but Judy Garland and she only does it when she's supposed to. The first hour was extremely boring (excluding two showstopping songs), the second was magical, and the third sublime. Best songs I have ever heard anybody belt out in a while. Even though Judy Garland was supposedly declining from drug use her singing pipes certainly hadn't.

• jay n

  
  judy at her peak

• Leigh R

  
  JUDY! JUDY! JUDY!

• Joey N

  
  Judy Garland has some great, undisputable scenes here. The best of which is her beautifully framed "The Man that Got Away".

• Dimitris S

  
  It's this tiny difference like Kurosawa's Idiot which brings me to the point of applauding the boldness of this whimsical restoration,even without the missing bits and deleted scenes,Star is Born is placed amidst the unique triumphs of Cukor,"give me a reason to love… More
  It's this tiny difference like Kurosawa's Idiot which brings me to the point of applauding the boldness of this whimsical restoration,even without the missing bits and deleted scenes,Star is Born is placed amidst the unique triumphs of Cukor,"give me a reason to love you" as Portishead recently sang...(Mason is quite the charmer to be frank)

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