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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   2,382 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 3% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Writers:
William A. Wellman (story) and
Robert Carson (story) ...
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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:
(5 articles)
Pre-Code Wellman and Godard's Code Unknown
 (From IFC. 31 March 2009, 7:17 AM, PDT)

Beyonce Signs On For A Star Is Born Film
 (From HollyScoop. 11 December 2008, 3:48 AM, PST)

User Comments:
Superb and Memorable more

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)
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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:
David O. Selznick originally rejected the story, as films about Hollywood had generally failed, but was persuaded to do the film by his wife Irene Mayer Selznick. Writer-director William A. Wellman had alternately suggested a sequel to The Public Enemy (1931), titled "Another Public Enemy". 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:
Aunt Mattie: Of course, no one ever listens to me!
Grandmother Lettie: They do if they're within ten miles of ya.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Quincy M.E.: A Star Is Dead (#1.3)" (1976) more
Soundtrack:
Bye Bye Baby more

FAQ

Why is Janet Gaynor listed as playing two different characters?
Is it true that another actress took the stage name "Vickie Lester" based on this movie?
Is "A Star is Born" based on a book?
more
7 out of 7 people found the following comment useful:-
Superb and Memorable, 26 September 2003
10/10
Author: felixoscar from New York, USA

When you see this masterpiece, remember that more than 65 years have passed since it debuted on the big screen. How many contemporary films will dazzle and delight in 2065?

Sure, we have seen this story before, but this was the first incarnation. Sure all films are in color today, but notice the rich, full-rigged use of color here, only a decade after talkies began. Dialogue sound familiar, well many of the lines originated here (thanks Dorothy Parker).

First caught this in the movie theatre around 1975 as this David O. Selznick production had been out of circulation. Judy Garland's troubled but ultimately engrossing and hugely entertaining remake was already familiar to me. So how does a classic compare to its first version. To me, it is one of the 1930's masterworks.

How perfect to cast Janet Gaynor in the role, an Oscar winner herself at 20 --- that child-like voice unforgettable. Fredric March, like Gaynor already a star and early Oscar recipient, world weary and helpless. The art deco, lavish production, haunting music, and scene after scene of "behind the scenes Hollywood", well they sure worked for me. "Kitsch" an old friend labeled it, but to me, memorable.

I love watching this movie --- hope you enjoy it as well.

Was the above comment useful to you?
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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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