IMDb > A Star Is Born (1937)
A Star Is Born
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A Star Is Born (1937) More at IMDbPro »

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A Star Is Born (1937) -- 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.

Overview

User Rating:
7.8/10   2,533 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 4% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Writers:
William A. Wellman (story) and
Robert Carson (story) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for A Star Is Born on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
27 April 1937 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama more
Tagline:
Fate Raised Her To Fame - and killed the man she loved ! more
Plot:
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. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Won Oscar. Another 1 win & 7 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(6 articles)
Budd Schulberg Dies Aged 95
 (From EmpireOnline. 6 August 2009, 12:37 AM, PDT)

Pre-Code Wellman and Godard's Code Unknown
 (From IFC. 31 March 2009, 7:17 AM, PDT)

User Comments:
It's Norman's movie more (31 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

Janet Gaynor ... Esther Victoria Blodgett, aka Vicki Lester

Fredric March ... Norman Maine

Adolphe Menjou ... Oliver Niles
May Robson ... Grandmother Lettie
Andy Devine ... Daniel 'Danny' McGuire
Lionel Stander ... Matt Libby
Owen Moore ... Casey Burke, director
Peggy Wood ... 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)
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
111 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Sound System Noiseless Recording)
Certification:
Canada:PG (Ontario) | USA:Approved (PCA #2968) | Finland:S | Australia:G

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The funeral scene was inspired by the funeral of Irving Thalberg, where fans swarmed around his widow Norma Shearer outside the church. A similar scene occurred at Jean Harlow's funeral two months after the film's release. more
Goofs:
Factual errors: 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. more
Quotes:
Esther Blodgett: Some day you won't laugh at me! I'm going out and have a real life! I'm gonna be somebody! more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Growing Pains: A Star Is Born (#3.7)" (1987) more
Soundtrack:
Bye Bye Baby more

FAQ

What was Norman Maine's real name?
Is "A Star is Born" based on a book?
Why is Janet Gaynor listed as playing two different characters?
more
12 out of 12 people found the following comment useful.
It's Norman's movie, 24 August 2006
9/10
Author: Claudia from Italy

I believe this as one of the most beautiful pictures I have ever seen. I enjoyed the story, the dialog and above all I enjoyed the atmosphere and the actors. All of them are great but to me Fredric March is outstanding.

Norman/Alfred is a wonderful character: frail, undignified, touchy, weak and able to love Vicki/Esther so much, with all his heart.

Fredric March brings all of it on the screen, providing one of his best performances here.

If you would like to become an actor, I believe you should watch this movie and Mr. March's way of acting. Pay attention to his eyes, his hands, his face and his moves, especially when he interrupts his wife thanking everybody for the Oscar she got and claims he deserves three statues for the worse performances.

He is overcome by himself and starts dying. I just shivered.

To me, this version can't be compared to its remakes. The allure and the fascination of Hollywood have been perfectly represented here, together with an unpleasant and creepy feeling of emptiness.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (31 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for A Star Is Born (1937)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Lana Turner? tomtac
Best DVD to buy? bjnevin
I haven't seen any remakes. Are they good? krajackex
Danny McGuire (**CONTAINS SPOILERS**) Chesterfield_Invincible
Favorite scene supertrav77
Norman Maine's real name? cestsibon
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