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A Star Is Born (1937)

 -  Drama  -  27 April 1937 (USA)
7.5
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Ratings: 7.5/10 from 3,960 users  
Reviews: 37 user | 22 critic

A young woman comes to Hollywood with dreams of stardom, but achieves them only with the help of an alcoholic leading man whose best days are behind him.

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(story), (story), 9 more credits »
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Title: A Star Is Born (1937)

A Star Is Born (1937) on IMDb 7.5/10

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Won 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 7 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Complete credited cast:
...
...
...
...
Grandmother Lettie Blodgett
...
...
Owen Moore ...
Casey Burke - Director
...
Miss Phillips - Central Casting Clerk
Elizabeth Jenns ...
Anita Regis
Edgar Kennedy ...
Pop Randall - Landlord
J.C. Nugent ...
Mr. Blodgett
Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams ...
Posture Coach (as Guinn Williams)
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Storyline

Esther Blodgett is just another starry-eyed farm kid trying to break into the movies. Waitressing at a Hollywood party, she catches the eye of alcoholic star Norman Maine, is given a test, and is caught up in the Hollywood glamor machine (ruthlessly satirized). She and her idol Norman marry; but his career abruptly dwindles to nothing Written by Rod Crawford <puffinus@u.washington.edu>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

Is the price of stardom a broken heart? See more »

Genres:

Drama

Certificate:

Approved | See all certifications »
Edit

Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

27 April 1937 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Nace una estrella  »

Box Office

Budget:

$1,173,639 (estimated)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

(Western Electric Sound System Noiseless Recording)

Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

"The Screen Guild Theater" broadcast a 30 minute radio adaptation of the movie on November 17, 1940 with Adolphe Menjou reprising his film role. See more »

Goofs

In the night court scene, the judge refers to the "commonwealth" but the movie is set in California which isn't one of the states to have commonwealth status. The judge should have referred to the "state" instead. See more »

Quotes

Norman Maine: What do they do with the actors while you're away?
Matt Libby: Oh, they cut 'em into slices and fry 'em with eggs.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Tiny Toon Adventures: The Looney Beginning (1990) See more »

Soundtracks

"Dancing in the Dark"
(1931)
Music by Arthur Schwartz
(played at the Trocadero Club)
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

colour stardom of Esther Blodgett
8 March 2003 | by (United Kingdom) – See all my reviews

Janet Gaynor plays Esther Blodgett beautifully, a girl who leaves for Hollywood with dreams of film magazines and the blessing of her granny. Once there she finds it tough-going until meeting Norman Maine (Fredric March) at a party. We've already seen Norman drunk at a theatre but here he charms Esther and actually gets her into the movies before marrying her and watching his own career crumble. March is excellent in this, and the look of the film is surprisingly modern with its lovely technicolor and gadgets (I particularly like the shower in the motor home Esther and Norman take on honeymoon). Esther's move to become star Vicki Lester, Oscar-winning actress, is unbelievable but as her real-life tragedy unfolds, compelling. And who can stay dry-eyed at the end? Remade with music and Judy Garland in 1954 (very well) but this first version is a jewel amongst other 30s classics.


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