| Photos (See all 41 | slideshow) | Videos (see all 2) |
| 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) | |
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| A Star Is Born | The Bad and the Beautiful | Love Me or Leave Me | Singin' in the Rain | Inside Daisy Clover |
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| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Drama section | IMDb USA section |
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!