A Star Is Born

1954
PG
2h 34m

IMDb RATING

7.5/10

20K

YOUR RATING

Judy Garland and James Mason in A Star Is Born (1954)

Trailer for the classic musical drama starring Judy Garland and James Mason.

Play trailer4:21

7 Videos

99+ Photos

Classic Musical Drama Musical Romance

In George Cukor's remake, fading matinee idol Norman Maine helps young singer and actress Esther Blodgett find fame, even as age and alcoholism send his own career on a downward spiral.In George Cukor's remake, fading matinee idol Norman Maine helps young singer and actress Esther Blodgett find fame, even as age and alcoholism send his own career on a downward spiral.In George Cukor's remake, fading matinee idol Norman Maine helps young singer and actress Esther Blodgett find fame, even as age and alcoholism send his own career on a downward spiral.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.5/10

20K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 6 Oscars
- 7 wins & 13 nominations total

Danny McGuire
(as Tom Noonan)

Lucy Marlow

Lola Lavery

Amanda Blake

Susan Ettinger

Irving Bacon

Graves

Hazel Shermet

Libby's Secretary

James Brown

Glenn Williams

John Alban

Academy Awards Attendee
(uncredited)

Laurindo Almeida

Guitarist
(uncredited)

Leon Alton

Usher
(uncredited)

Rudolph Anders

Mr. Ettinger
(uncredited)

David Armstrong

Soundman
(uncredited)

Phil Arnold

Agent #3
(uncredited)

Nadine Ashdown

Esther - Age 6
(uncredited)

Gertrude Astor

Racetrack Spectator
(uncredited)

Storyline

Edit

Did you know

Edit

Trivia
George Cukor offered Marlon Brando the role of Norman Maine on the set of Julius Caesar (1953). "Why would you come to me?" asked Brando. "I'm in the prime of my life... If you're looking around for some actor to play an alcoholic has-been, he's sitting right over there"- pointing at his costar James Mason, who got the part.

Goofs
After Vicki comes home and she performs in her house for Norman, the doorbell rings and he goes to the door to accept a package for Vicki. His hair is all mussed-up when he goes to the door, but after he closes it and the camera goes back to him, there isn't a hair out of place. Then he walks over to where Vicki is and his hair is all mussed-up again.

Quotes
[last lines]
Vicki Lester: Hello, everybody. This is Mrs. Norman Maine.

Alternate versions
Contrary to popular belief, the film was not originally at 181 minutes, but rather 196 (3hrs. and 16mins.) at a post-premiere shown on August 8, 1954 in Huntington Park, California. After its second post-premiere - the very next day - two scenes of 15 minutes total were deleted; making the film run its original world debut length at 181 minutes. One was a number called "When My Sugar Walks Down the Street" that came after Judy's take of "I'll Get By" in the 'Born in the Trunk' sequence, the other was a scene where Garland and James Mason's characters (Vicki and Norman) were picnicking on the beach; production stills and promotional advertisements are the only thing left in existence of the footage. After its world premiere on September 29, 1954, 27 minutes was cut, bringing it down to a mediocre 154 time length. Those scenes were:
1) Esther quitting the band
2) The Trinidad Coconut Oil Shampoo
3) Esther working at a drive-in
4) Norman being driven away drunk in his car
5) Norman inquiring Esther's old landlady
6) Spotting Esther on the TV commercial
7) Tracking down Esther at her new boarding residence
8) Driving down the strip - Esther getting sick
9) "Here's What I'm Here For" musical number - Norman proposes
10) "Lose That Long Face" musical number - Vicki breaks down

Connections
Featured in Film Night: Film Night Special: Forty Years in Hollywood (1970)

Soundtracks
Gotta Have Me Go with You
(uncredited)
Music by Harold Arlen
Lyrics by Ira Gershwin
Performed by Judy Garland with Jack Harmon & Don McKay

User reviews186

Review

Featured review

In Defense of Libby....

Count me among those who love this film, but am I the only one who feels for Libby, played by Jack Carson? Yes, he's snide and spiteful, but for God's sake, who wouldn't be in his shoes? When he says, "Norman Maine's charm escapes me." I tend to agree with him. What makes this violent drunk so special anyway, except that he's played by James Mason? And, although she's played by Judy Garland at her radiant best, isn't Esther a classic co-dependent wife? Have any of you adoring fans ever actually dealt with a close one who's alcoholic?

When the studio mogul says, after Norman Maine dies, "you didn't know him at all," I feel like arguing the point. Libby should say, "Maybe YOU didn't know him, Oliver. Did he ever insult you for making him do his job? Did he ever punch you out? Did you ever have to continually face his dirty side, as I did, which he--and you too, Oliver--refused to confront?"

Maybe I'm a poop. But I had to say it.

And, yes, it's a brilliant film.