A Star Is Born (1937)
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100% of critics liked it
(11 reviews) -
71% of users liked it
(2,374 ratings)
A Star is Born came into being when producer David O. Selznick decided to tell a "true behind-the-scenes" story of Hollywood. The truth, of course, was filtered a bit for box-office purposes, although Selznick and an army of screenwriters based much of their script on actual people and events. Janet… More A Star is Born came into being when producer David O. Selznick decided to tell a "true behind-the-scenes" story of Hollywood. The truth, of course, was filtered a bit for box-office purposes, although Selznick and an army of screenwriters based much of their script on actual people and events. Janet Gaynor stars as Esther Blodgett, the small-town girl who dreams of Hollywood stardom, a role later played by both Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand in the 1954 and 1976 remakes. Jeered at by most of her family, Esther finds an ally in her crusty old grandma (May Robson), who admires the girl's "pioneer spirit" and bankrolls Esther's trip to Tinseltown. On arrival, Esther heads straight to Central Casting, where a world-weary receptionist (Peggy Wood), trying to let the girl down gently, tells her that her chances for stardom are about one in a thousand. "Maybe I'll be that one!" replies Esther defiantly. Months pass: through the intervention of her best friend, assistant director Danny McGuire (Andy Devine), Esther gets a waitressing job at an upscale Hollywood party. Her efforts to "audition" for the guests are met with quizzical stares, but she manages to impress Norman Maine (Fredric March), the alcoholic matinee idol later played by James Mason and Kris Kristofferson. Esther gets her first big break in Norman's next picture and a marriage proposal from the smitten Mr. Maine. It's a hit, but as Esther (now named Vicki)'s star ascends, Norman's popularity plummets due to a string of lousy pictures and an ongoing alcohol problem. The film won Academy Awards for director William Wellman and Robert Carson in the "original story" category and for W. Howard Greene's glistening Technicolor cinematography. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Rating, Runtime
- PG, 1 hr. 51 min.
- Directed By
- William A. Wellman, Jack Conway
- Written By
- Dorothy Parker, Alan Campbell, Robert Carson
- Genres
- Drama, Classics
- In Theaters
- Apr 20, 1937 Wide
- On DVD
- Nov 16, 2004
- Studio
- Image Entertainment Inc.
Critic Reviews
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Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
The 2011 Kino edition includes the original theatrical trailer, wardrobe tests for Janet Gaynor and other specials.
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Jaime N. Christley, Slant Magazine
You'll pick this up to make a connection with a fragile Eastman House nitrate print, not necessarily to be knocked out of your socks by a classic two-strip Technicolor classic in high-definition.
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Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Starring Janet Gaynor and Frederic March in Oscar-nominated roles, this first version of the famous Hollywood story was directed by William Wellman; it was remade in 1954 with Judy Garland, and in 1976 with Barbra Streisand.
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Judy Garland, for all her personal problems, shows on the screen why she's a star.
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Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
William A. Wellman's original 1937 A Star Is Born is the essential Hollywood cautionary tale.
Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
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Featured Audience Ratings
Cast
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Janet Gaynoras Esther Blodgett -
Fredric Marchas Norman Maine -
Adolphe Menjouas Oliver Niles
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May Robsonas Lettie -
Andy Devineas Danny McGuire -
Lionel Standeras Matt Libby
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