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.
- Nominated for 6 Oscars
- 7 wins & 13 nominations total
Tommy Noonan
- Danny McGuire
- (as Tom Noonan)
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
Did you know
- TriviaGeorge 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.
- GoofsAfter 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 versionsContrary 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
- ConnectionsFeatured in Film Night: Film Night Special: Forty Years in Hollywood (1970)
- SoundtracksGotta Have Me Go with You
(uncredited)
Music by Harold Arlen
Lyrics by Ira Gershwin
Performed by Judy Garland with Jack Harmon & Don McKay
Featured review
Much has been written about this movie (to extremely great length) in other reviews, so I'll try to keep this fairly brief and concise.
First, the restored version runs at 176 minutes. The movie originally ran at 181 minutes, but was cut to 154 minutes when theater owners complained that they were losing money due to the excessive length. The cut destroyed the integrity of the movie - director Cukor never saw the movie again. However, the restored version contains stills to replace some of the cut footage, and gives a better sense of the film's power and scope.
Second, all four major studio versions of the story (including "What Price Hollywood?") have their own merits and differ greatly from one another. If you like the story, see them all and compare for yourself. It's quite fun to compare!
Third, definitely see this version for Judy. Sure, Judy's "The Man That Got Away" may be the greatest musical moment on cinema, but it's her dramatic performance that will keep your attention over almost three hours. James Mason is on target, and the supporting cast is fine, but Judy just dominates the screen. It's an opportunity to see a true genius in action at the absolute height of her powers. For more dramatic Judy, see her in "The Clock".
George Cukor was acclaimed as the great director of actresses, and he raises Judy to the height she deserves. I love Judy. This is a 10 out of 10.
First, the restored version runs at 176 minutes. The movie originally ran at 181 minutes, but was cut to 154 minutes when theater owners complained that they were losing money due to the excessive length. The cut destroyed the integrity of the movie - director Cukor never saw the movie again. However, the restored version contains stills to replace some of the cut footage, and gives a better sense of the film's power and scope.
Second, all four major studio versions of the story (including "What Price Hollywood?") have their own merits and differ greatly from one another. If you like the story, see them all and compare for yourself. It's quite fun to compare!
Third, definitely see this version for Judy. Sure, Judy's "The Man That Got Away" may be the greatest musical moment on cinema, but it's her dramatic performance that will keep your attention over almost three hours. James Mason is on target, and the supporting cast is fine, but Judy just dominates the screen. It's an opportunity to see a true genius in action at the absolute height of her powers. For more dramatic Judy, see her in "The Clock".
George Cukor was acclaimed as the great director of actresses, and he raises Judy to the height she deserves. I love Judy. This is a 10 out of 10.
- axsmashcrushallthree
- Mar 7, 2004
- Permalink
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Zvezda je rodjena
- Filming locations
- Church of the Good Shepherd - 505 North Bedford Drive, Beverly Hills, California, USA(Norman Maine's funeral)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $5,019,770 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $4,335,968
- Gross worldwide
- $4,349,352
- Runtime2 hours 34 minutes
- Aspect ratio
- 2.55 : 1
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