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.

Director:

William A. Wellman

Writers:

William A. Wellman (story), Robert Carson (story),

Stars:

Janet Gaynor, Fredric March, Adolphe Menjou

Won 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Janet Gaynor	...	Esther Victoria Blodgett, aka Vicki Lester
Fredric March	...	Norman Maine
Adolphe Menjou	...	Oliver Niles
May Robson	...	Grandmother Lettie Blodgett
Andy Devine	...	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)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Janice Hood

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

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Plot Keywords:

hollywood | alcoholic | party | overheard conversation | self destructiveness | 

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Taglines:

Fate Raised Her To Fame - and killed the man she loved !

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 April 1937 (USA)

Also Known As:

Nace una estrella

Filming Locations:

Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,173,639 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Selznick International Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System Noiseless Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

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.

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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.

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Quotes

Grandmother Lettie: Tragedy is a test of courage. If you can meet it bravely, it will leave you bigger than it found you. If not than you will have to live all you life as a coward, because no matter where you may run you can never run away from yourself.

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Connections

Referenced in Petticoat Junction: A Star Is Born? (1967)

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Soundtracks

"California, Here I Come"
(1924) (uncredited)
Music by Joseph Meyer
(variations in the score as Esther arrives in Hollywood)

User Reviews

It's Norman's movie

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.