A Star Is Born (1976)

A has-been rock star falls in love with a young, up-and-coming songstress.

Director:

Frank Pierson

Writers:

William A. Wellman, Robert Carson,

Stars:

Barbra Streisand, Kris Kristofferson, Gary Busey

Won 1 Oscar. Another 6 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Barbra Streisand	...	Esther Hoffman
Kris Kristofferson	...	John Norman Howard
Gary Busey	...	Bobbie Ritchie
Oliver Clark	...	Gary Danziger
Venetta Fields	...	One of the Oreos
Clydie King	...	One of the Oreos
Marta Heflin	...	Quentin
M.G. Kelly	...	Bebe Jesus
Sally Kirkland	...	Photographer
Joanne Linville	...	Freddie
Uncle Rudy	...	Mo
Paul Mazursky	...	Brian
Stephen Bruton	...	Speedway
Sammy Lee Creason	...	Speedway (as Sam Creason)
Cleve Dupin	...	Speedway

Storyline

Talented rock star John Norman Howard has seen his career begin to decline. Too many years of concerts and managers and life on the road have made him cynical and the monotony has taken its toll. Then he meets the innocent, pure and very talented singer Esther Hoffman. As one of his songs in the movie says "I'm gonna take you girl, I'm gonna show you how." And he does. He shows Esther the way to stardom while forsaking his own career. As they fall in love, her success only makes his decline even more apparent.

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Plot Keywords:

rock star | love | star | has been | manager | 

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Genres:

Drama | Music | Romance

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 December 1976 (USA)

Also Known As:

Rainbow Road

Filming Locations:

Downtown, Tucson, Arizona, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

SEK 1,342,609 (Sweden)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Barwood Films, First Artists, Winters Hollywood Entertainment Holdings Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

139 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Kris Kristofferson almost didn't get the role due to a conflict over publishing rights.

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Goofs

Before performing at the charity concert John detaches a label from Esther's jacket twice.

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Crazy Credits

Ms. Streisand's clothes from ... Her Closet.

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Connections

Referenced in Saturday Night Live: Steve Martin/The Kinks (1977)

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Soundtracks

"WOMAN IN THE MOON"
Music & Lyrics by Paul Williams & Kenny Ascher
Performed by Barbra Streisand

User Reviews

perfect rocker movie--perfect couple

I saw the trailer for this movie in the 70's when I was barely 16 while viewing another film. Oh!!!! how excited me and my best friend were. we couldn't wait for the month or so until it would come on. I saw this movie 17 times that year at the theatre. I love,love,love it. Kris is so perfect for the film. He is brash and kinda trashy but also shy and uncertain with Babs and it is so endearing to watch it again. When they sing evergreen at the studio and he chimes in with his raspy voice so very different from the perfect notes coming from her but I always thought this was one of the best scenes in the movie. The way he looks at her and he is so proud.I could watch this movie every day. We tried to dress like est-her I even have the long sweater and cap that was so like the one she wore. this came on TV on time and I got my daughters to watch it they were teens and they loved it to. Maybe its just that I was so caught up into it at an age when everything was extreme don't know. The ending always has me in tears even today.