A Star Is Born (1937)

A young woman comes to Hollywood with dreams of stardom, and achieves them only with the help of an alcoholic leading man whose best days are behind him.

Directors:

William A. Wellman, Jack Conway (uncredited)

Writers:

Dorothy Parker (screen play), Alan Campbell (screen play)

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)

Storyline

A young woman comes to Hollywood with dreams of stardom, and achieves them only with the help of an alcoholic leading man whose best days are behind him.

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Plot Keywords:

fictional awards show | f rated | tragic romance | four word title | drowning | 

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Taglines:

Lights- Camera- Action!

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

The character of Oliver Niles was partly based on Paramount producer B.P. Schulberg, whose career was ruined by alcoholism; his son Budd Schulberg was one of the script writers on the movie.

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Goofs

The Night Court Judge refers to the "commonwealth" of California, but California isn't one of the states with commonwealth status. The judge should have referred to the "state" instead.

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Quotes

Norman Maine: I don't want to sound immodest, but I think I've stripped a gear.

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Alternate Versions

Telugu Remake

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Connections

Referenced in Gomer Pyle: USMC: A Star Is Born (1966)

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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

Simply wonderful...

I had not watched this movie until today, passing up each opportunity over the years to view it, as I feared it would not live up to the 1954 blockbuster starring Judy Garland and James Mason.

I was right, it does not; it far surpasses the 1954 remake. Judy Garland is my favorite all-round entertainer, favorite singer, and the songs in the 1954 movie are classic treasures, and James Mason never disappoints in any film. However, in the 1937 version the story is told more sensitively, with more shading. Janet Gaynor is perfect as the home-grown farm girl seeking to make her mark in Hollywood, and Fredric March is very convincing as the has-been who cannot cope with his declining value in Hollywood, especially since he caused much of it himself.

I had thought that I might miss the music in this earlier version, but I found after having watched it that I didn't miss it at all. The movie was engrossing from beginning to end and stood on its own merits. I was moved by this film in a way that I never had been by the later remake.

SEE this film if you love a good story; don't put it off for years the way I did. Simply, simply wonderful...

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 June 1937 (Canada)

Also Known As:

Nace una estrella

Filming Locations:

Janss Estate, Holmby Hills, Westwood, Los Angeles, 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