A Star Is Born (1954)

Director:

George Cukor

Writers:

Moss Hart (screenplay)
Dorothy Parker (1937 screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

16 October 1954 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

The applause of the world -- and then this!

Plot:

A movie star helps a young singer/actress find fame, even as age and alcoholism send his own career into a downward spiral.

Plot Keywords:

Career | Movie Star | Fame | Alcoholism | Award

Awards:

Nominated for 6 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 3 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sun. June 10

3:45 PM

TCM

Cast

Judy Garland	...	Vicki Lester / Esther Blodgett
James Mason	...	Norman Maine
Jack Carson	...	Matt Libby
Charles Bickford	...	Oliver Niles
Tommy Noonan	...	Danny McGuire (as Tom Noonan)
Lucy Marlow	...	Lola Lavery
Amanda Blake	...	Susan Ettinger
Irving Bacon	...	Graves
Hazel Shermet	...	Libby's Secretary
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
James Brown	...	Glenn Williams
Laurindo Almeida	...	Guitarist (uncredited)
Rudolph Anders	...	Mr. Ettinger - Makeup Artist (uncredited)
David Armstrong	...	Soundman (uncredited)
Phil Arnold	...	Agent #3 (uncredited)
Nadine Ashdown	...	Esther - Age 6 (uncredited)
Gertrude Astor	...	Racetrack Patron (uncredited)
Jack Baker	...	Father (uncredited)
Richard H. Bauman	...	Malibu Party Guest (uncredited)
George Becwar	...	Assistant Director (uncredited)
Don Beddoe	...	Studio Executive at Premiere (uncredited)
Rodney Bell	...	Malibu Party Guest (uncredited)
Tom Blakiston	...	Young Man (uncredited)
Oscar Blanke	...	Vagrant #2 (uncredited)
Willis Bouchey	...	McBride - Director (uncredited)
Marshall Bradford	...	Academy Awards Ceremony Attendee (uncredited)
Ruth Brady	...	Malibu Party Guest (uncredited)
Paul Brinegar	...	Man at Funeral (uncredited)
Sheila Bromley	...	Reporter at Shrine Auditorium (uncredited)
Paul Bryar	...	Bartender at Racetrack (uncredited)
Benny Burt	...	Reporter at Courtroom (uncredited)
Kathryn Card	...	Landlady (voice) (uncredited)
John Carlyle	...	Assistant Director (uncredited)
Ross Carmichael	...	Photographer (uncredited)
Chick Chandler	...	Man in Car at Diner (uncredited)
Samuel Colt	...	Stage Manager / Sammy - Man at Racetrack (uncredited)
Heinie Conklin	...	Comedy Team Member at Benefit (uncredited)
Charles J. Conrad	...	Assistant Director (uncredited)
Tom Cound	...	Price Waterhouse Man (uncredited)
Blythe Daley	...	Miss Nora Fusselow (uncredited)
Havis Davenport	...	Paramount Starlet (uncredited)
Jerry DeCoe	...	Autograph Hound (uncredited)
Eddie Dew	...	Assistant Director - Train Station (uncredited)
Alan DeWitt	...	Makeup Artist #1 (uncredited)
Joe Dougherty	...	Makeup Man #3 (uncredited)
Robert Dumas	...	Drummer (uncredited)
Helen Eby-Rock	...	Reporter at Shrine Auditorium (uncredited)
Jack Ellis	...	Pinkerton Detective (uncredited)
Jean Engstrom	...	Malibu Party Guest (uncredited)
Rex Evans	...	Emcee at Academy Awards (uncredited)
Franklyn Farnum	...	Ray - Film's Scorer (uncredited)
Timothy Farrell	...	Bailiff (uncredited)
Frank Ferguson	...	Judge George J. Barnes (uncredited)
Gordon Finn	...	Photographer at Shrine Auditorium (uncredited)
George Fisher	...	George - Announcer (uncredited)
Elizabeth Flournoy	...	Reporter at Shrine Auditorium (uncredited)
Bess Flowers	...	Academy Awards Ceremony Attendee (uncredited)
Almeda Fowler	...	Malibu Party Guest (uncredited)
Nacho Galindo	...	Jose Rodriguez - Night Court Drunk (uncredited)
Wilton Graff	...	Emcee at Shrine Auditorium (uncredited)
Joe Green	...	Agent #1 (uncredited)
Michael Hail	...	Rails (uncredited)
Charles Halton	...	Paymaster #1 (uncredited)
Joseph Hamilton	...	Agent #2 (uncredited)
Jack Harmon	...	Dancer in 'Born in a Trunk' Number (uncredited)
Sam Harris	...	Benefit Attendee / Race Track Spectator (uncredited)
Michael Hathaway	...	Agent (uncredited)
Ray Heindorf	...	Himself (at movie premiere party) (uncredited)
Percy Helton	...	William Gregory - Night Court Drunk (uncredited)
Louis Jean Heydt	...	Director - Ocean Scene (uncredited)
Al Hill	...	Photographer at Shrine Auditorium (uncredited)
Stuart Holmes	...	Spectator - 'Melancholy Baby' Number (uncredited)
Olin Howland	...	Charley (uncredited)
Robert F. Hoy	...	Soundman (uncredited)
James Hyland	...	Assistant Announcer (uncredited)
Bob Jellison	...	Eddie - Norman's Assistant (uncredited)
Jay Johnson	...	Musician (uncredited)
Arlene Karr	...	Malibu Party Guest (uncredited)
Jack Kenny	...	Nightclub Man #1 (uncredited)
Tom Kingston	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Cele Kirk	...	Reporter at Shrine Auditorium (uncredited)
George Kitchel	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Allen Kramer	...	Bit Part (uncredited)
Frank Kreig	...	Man at Funeral (uncredited)
Henry Kulky	...	Cuddles (uncredited)
Nancy Kulp	...	Esther's Neighbor (uncredited)
Paul Levitt	...	Malibu Party Guest (uncredited)
Gloria Lewin	...	Oleander Arms Landlady (uncredited)
Carey Loftin	...	Signboard Man #2 (uncredited)
Frank Marlowe	...	Photographer at Shrine Auditorium (uncredited)
Mae Marsh	...	Malibu Party Guest (uncredited)
Strother Martin	...	Delivery Boy (uncredited)
Louis Mason	...	Doorman (uncredited)
Nita Mathews	...	Dancer in 'Born in a Trunk' Number (uncredited)
Ila McAvoy	...	Mother in 'Born in a Trunk' Number (uncredited)
Don McCabe	...	Dancer in 'Born in a Trunk' Number (uncredited)
Jack McCoy	...	Father in 'Born in a Trunk' Number (uncredited)
Heidi Meadows	...	Esther - Age 3 (uncredited)
Joseph Mell	...	Paymaster #2 (uncredited)
Charles Merton	...	Photographer at Shrine Auditorium (uncredited)
Harold Miller	...	Benefit Attendee (uncredited)
Patrick Miller	...	Photographer at Shrine Auditorium (uncredited)
Mort Mills	...	Makeup Man (uncredited)
John Monaghan	...	Male Secretary (uncredited)
Hal J. Moore	...	Racetrack PA System Announcer (uncredited)
Monette Moore	...	Blues Singer (uncredited)
Jack Mower	...	Benefit Attendee (uncredited)
Tom Nolan	...	Child Dancer in 'Born in a Trunk' Number (uncredited)
Barry Norton	...	Benefit Attendee (uncredited)
Ron Nyman	...	Stage Manager (uncredited)
Pat O'Malley	...	Man at Racetrack (uncredited)
Leonard Penn	...	Director - Train Station Scene (uncredited)
Barbara Pepper	...	Esther's Neighbor (uncredited)
Jack Pepper	...	Chef (uncredited)
Hilda Plowright	...	Reporter at Shrine Auditorium (uncredited)
Mel Pogue	...	Autograph Hound (uncredited)
Ezelle Poule	...	Reporter at Shrine Auditorium (uncredited)
Frank Puglia	...	Bruno - Coconut Grove Maitre'd (uncredited)
Grandon Rhodes	...	Producer at Premiere (uncredited)
Don Richards	...	Reporter at Shrine Auditorium (uncredited)
Kay Riehl	...	Hairdresser (uncredited)
Larry Rio	...	Soundman (uncredited)
Lotus Robb	...	Miss Markham - Publicity Department (uncredited)
Ann Robinson	...	Starlet Hostess at Premiere (uncredited)
Riza Royce	...	Secretary (uncredited)
Henry Russell	...	Studio Orchestra Leader (uncredited)
Dick Ryan	...	Nightclub Man #2 (uncredited)
Bobby Sailes	...	Dancer in 'Born in a Trunk' Number (uncredited)
John Saxon	...	Usher at Movie Premiere (uncredited)
Patrick Sexton	...	Bert (uncredited)
Harry Seymour	...	Wheeler - Studio Executive (uncredited)
Joan Shawlee	...	Joan - Announcer (uncredited)
Don Shelton	...	TV Director (uncredited)
Charles Sherlock	...	Man Trying to Subdue Norman at Banquet (uncredited)
Dick Simmons	...	Producer / Benefactor (uncredited)
Elmera Smith	...	Pasedena Girl (uncredited)
Arthur Space	...	Night Court Clerk (uncredited)
Eileen Stevens	...	Reporter at Shrine Auditorium (uncredited)
Robert Stevenson	...	Boom Operator (uncredited)
Robert Strong	...	Reporter at Courtroom (uncredited)
Grady Sutton	...	Artie Carver - Columnist (uncredited)
Dub Taylor	...	Norman's Driver (voice) (uncredited)
Wayne Taylor	...	Autograph Hound (uncredited)
Al Thompson	...	Vagrant #1 (uncredited)
Ted Thorpe	...	Soundman (uncredited)
Louis Tomei	...	Signboard Man #1 (uncredited)
Emerson Treacy	...	Justice of the Peace (uncredited)
Dale Van Sickel	...	Photographer Pushed Down in Dressing Room (uncredited)
Valerie Vernon	...	Marian (uncredited)
Ralph Volkie	...	Reporter at Courtroom (uncredited)
Geraldine Wall	...	Esther's Neighbor (uncredited)
Ruth Warren	...	Reporter at Shrine Auditorium (uncredited)
Charles Watts	...	Harrison - Sanitarium Manager (uncredited)
Harte Wayne	...	Man at Funeral (uncredited)
Richard Webb	...	Wallace - Academy Award Winner (uncredited)
Duff Whitney	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Shirley Whitney	...	Malibu Party Guest (uncredited)
Josephine Whittell	...	Reporter at Shrine Auditorium (uncredited)
Frank Wilcox	...	Frank - Director of 'Long Face' Number (uncredited)
Tom Wilson	...	Stagehand Carrying Poles / Passerby Outside Hotel (uncredited)
Eric Wilton	...	Charles - Esther's Valet (uncredited)
Jean Woodley	...	Reporter at Shrine Auditorium (uncredited)
Stephen Wyman	...	Nigel Peters (uncredited)
Mary Young	...	Boarding House Woman (uncredited)

Directed by
George Cukor

Writing credits
Moss Hart		(screenplay)
Dorothy Parker		(1937 screenplay) &
Alan Campbell		(1937 screenplay) &
Robert Carson		(1937 screenplay)
William A. Wellman		(1937 story) and
Robert Carson		(1937 story)

Produced by
Vern Alves	....	associate producer
Sidney Luft	....	producer
Jack L. Warner	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Ray Heindorf		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Sam Leavitt

Film Editing by
Folmar Blangsted

Production Design by
Gene Allen

Art Direction by
Malcolm C. Bert		(as Malcolm Bert)

Set Decoration by
George James Hopkins

Costume Design by
Jean Louis
Mary Ann Nyberg

Makeup Department
Del Armstrong	....	makeup creator: Miss Garland
Gordon Bau	....	makeup artist
Helen Young	....	hair stylist: Miss Garland
Sydney Guilaroff	....	hair designer: Ms. Garland (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Earl Bellamy	....	assistant director
Edward Graham	....	assistant director
Russell Llewellyn	....	assistant director

Art Department
Irene Sharaff	....	art director: "Born in a Trunk" sequence

Sound Department
Charles David Forrest	....	sound (as David Forrest)
Charles Lang	....	sound (as Charles B. Lang)

Special Effects by
Hans F. Koenekamp	....	special effects (as H.F. Koenekamp)

Visual Effects by
Lisze Bechtold	....	still photograph sequences (1983 restoration) (as Lize Bechtold Blyth)
Eric Durst	....	still photograph sequences (1983 restoration)
Kevin Kutchaver	....	photo enhancement (1983 restoration) (uncredited)
Ken Rudolph	....	animation camera operator (1983 restoration) (uncredited)

Stunts
Robert F. Hoy	....	stunts (uncredited)
Carey Loftin	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Louise Montana	....	stunts (uncredited)
Montie Montana	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dale Van Sickel	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Pat Clark	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Al Green	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Bob Kensinger	....	cinematographer: Oleander Arms scenes (1983 restoration) (uncredited)
Robert Willoughby	....	special still photographer (uncredited)

Animation Department
Hoyningen Huene	....	special color design advisor (as Hoyningen-Huene)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Irene Sharaff	....	costumes: for song "Born in a Trunk"
Henry Field	....	wardrobe: men (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Craig Holt	....	editor: reconstructed sequences (1983 restoration)
D.J. Ziegler	....	assistant editor: reconstructed sequences (1983 restoration)

Music Department
Jack Cathcart	....	vocal arranger
Ray Heindorf	....	musical director
Skip Martin	....	orchestrator
Hoyt Bohannon	....	musician: trombone (uncredited)
Buddy Cole	....	musician: piano (uncredited)
Roger Edens	....	music supervisor (uncredited)
Nick Fatool	....	musician: drums (uncredited)
Ray Heindorf	....	composer: music cues (uncredited)
Howard Jackson	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)
Uan Rasey	....	musician: trumpet soloist (uncredited)
Babe Russin	....	musician: tenor sax (uncredited)

Other crew
Richard Barstow	....	dance creator
Richard Barstow	....	dance stager
Ron Haver	....	restoration coordinator (1983 restoration) (as Ronald Haver)
Mitchell Kovaleski	....	technicolor color consultant (as Mitchell G. Kovaleski)
Hal Bell	....	assistant choreographer (uncredited)
Eugene Loring	....	assistant choreographer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Transcona Enterprises (for)
• Warner Bros. Pictures (presents)

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1954) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1955) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• 23rd Century (2005) (UK) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1987) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2010) (Canada) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2010) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)

Other Companies

• Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)  Academy Award statuettes were used in the picture by permission of

Also Known As:

Runtime:

181 min (premiere version) | USA:154 min | USA:176 min (restored version) | Germany:169 min (DVD) | West Germany:177 min (cut version: 120')

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.55 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (RCA Sound System) (magnetic prints) | Mono (optical prints)

Certification:

Australia:PG | UK:A (original rating) | Canada:PG (video rating) | West Germany:12 (uncut version) | Australia:G (DVD rating) | Portugal:M/12 | Sweden:15 (original rating) | USA:TV-PG | USA:Approved (PCA #16751, General Audience) | USA:PG (re-rating) (1983) | Finland:S | Sweden:7 (re-release) (1984) | UK:U | West Germany:6 (cut version)

Filming Locations:

Baldwin Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Transcona Enterprises

Trivia:

The set for the musical number "Lose That Long Face" was created by taking New Orleans building facades left over from A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) and spray painting them white.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: While Vicki and Oliver are talking on the patio as Norman is listening in bed the seascape reflected on the glass doors behind them keeps resetting as though the film loop started over.

Quotes:

Matt Libby:[after being introduced to Esther] Esther Blodgett? Well, we'll do something about that. Anyway, nice to have you with us.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Operation Double 007 (#6.8)" (1993)

Soundtrack:

The Man That Got Away

One of the best musicals ever filmed.

Based on a 1937 movie with Janet Gaynor and Fredric March this version is not only the best version of this tale (there's a pretty bad version from 1976 with Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson) but one of the greatest musicals ever filmed. Almost 20 years before Cabaret made movie history with it's grown-up and serious story (and with Garland's daughter Liza Minelli) this film explores already pretty bleak and serious stuff like alcoholism and the manipulative studio system.

It tells the story of Esther Blodgett (Judy Garland), a singer and Norman Maine (James Mason), a famous actor with a serious alcohol problem. He's smitten by her voice and her talent and takes her under his wing. With his help she gets a studio contract and makes quickly the transition from simple girl to an Oscar-winning star. Their happiness seems perfect as they also fall in love and get married. But Norman cannot control his alcoholism forever, soon he starts to drink heavily again, especially after he is fired by the studio. While Esthers (or Vicki Lesters, as she's renamed by the studio) star rises, his sinks into oblivion, which slowly destroys their marriage as well.

The movie never over-dramatize or plays down Normans alcoholism, it's a very realistic and depressing picture we get about this problem. More surprising is the realism and insight we get about how the studios worked when actors were merely contract players, obliged to do what the studio dictated them. Though it never openly criticizes this system, the film definitely shows how little freedom stars had (Change of the name, complete makeover, typecasting). It is also clearly inspired by some real events of that time (just think of Elizabeth Taylors grieve over her husbands death, and the disgusting pictures that were taken on his funeral), which is chilling.

Intense is what you can call Judy Garland and James Mason performances. Both are brilliant and are perfectly matched here. Garland, with all her memories of her time at MGM, gives her best performance ever and one of the best performances of the 50's (this should have secured her the Oscar - alas, as so often it was awarded to Grace Kelly for a lesser performance). James Mason, often overlooked, is her equal, seldom are actors so perfectly matched (and with considerable chemistry too).

The sad thing about this film is the unnecessary and brutal cutting of several scenes after the film was already released and quite successful. Warner Brothers literally butchered the movie, without the restored scenes (as far as those are still available) some developments make no sense. So be sure to get the restored version, not only to get a feeling of what it might have looked like with all the scenes intact, but also to enjoy the rich colors, the beautiful score and cinematography. A real treat!