A Star is Born (1954)

A band singer is discovered and falls in love with a movie star whose career is on the wane.

Norman Maine (James Mason) is saved from making a mess of things when he goes on stage during a movie premiere while drunk by Esther Blodgett (Judy Garland). He tracks his heroine down to the Cocoanut Grove and convinces her to become a movie star, but when she expects to meet him, he doesn't appear because heads of the studio carried him off on location. When they meet again, Maine makes good on his promise, but he breaks several others along the way.

Garland Performances

You Gotta Have Me Go with You
Music by Harold Arlen
Lyrics by Ira Gershwin
Performed by Judy Garland

The Man that Got Away
Music by Harold Arlen
Lyrics by Ira Gershwin
Performed by Judy Garland

Trinidad Coconut Oil Shampoo
Music by Harold Arlen
Lyrics by Ira Gershwin

Born in a Truck Sequence
Music by Roger Edens
Lyrics by Leonard Gershe
Performed by Judy Garland and chorus

Here's What I'm Here For
Music by Harold Arlen
Lyrics by Ira Gershwin
Performed by Judy Garland

It's a New World
Music by Harold Arlen
Lyrics by Ira Gershwin
Performed by Judy Garland

Someone at Last
Music by Harold Arlen
Lyrics by Ira Gershwin
Performed by Judy Garland

Lose that Long Face
Music by Harold Arlen
Lyrics by Ira Gershwin
Performed by Judy Garland

Reviews

-- to be added --

Awards

A Star is Born was nominated for five Academy Awards and unfortunately lost out in every category. Many consider Garland's loss more political than anything else--the Best Actress Oscar went to Grace Kelly instead. The following are the nominations A Star is Born received.

Best Actor in a Leading Role
James Mason

Best Actress in a Leading Role
Judy Garland

Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color
Malcolm C. Bert
Gene Allen
Irene Sharaff
George James Hopkins

Best Costume Design, Color
Jean Louis
Mary Ann Nyberg
Irene Sharaff

Best Music, Original Song
Harold Arlen (music)
Ira Gershwin (lyrics)
For the song "The Man that Got Away"

Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture
Ray Heindorf

Garland and Mason both won Golden Globe awards for their roles in 1955.

Availability

This title is currently in print and available from Amazon.com.

Resources

A Star is Born on IMDb

Fast Facts

During the Oscars, Garland was in the hospital because she just had her son, Joe Luft.

Warner Brothers cut the running time of the film substantially and it really hindered the editing and continuity of the film. It was originally released for the premiere and a few other openings at full length. Since the advent of home video, what could be traced of the cut footage and soundtrack (the entire soundtrack was found) was placed back into the film.

Lines to Remember

Esther: You don't know what it's like to watch somebody you love just crumble away bit by bit day by day in front of your eyes. And stand there.. helpless. Love isn't enough. I... I thought it was... I thought I was the answer for Norman, but love isn't enough for him. I'm afraid of what's beginning to happen within me, because, sometimes I... hate him. I hate his promises to stop, and then the watching and waiting to see it begin again. I hate to go home to him at night... listen to his lies. But my heart goes out to him. Because he tries... he really tries. But I... hate him for failing... but I hate me too! I hate me! Because I failed, too! I don't know what's going to happen to us, Oliver. No matter.. how much you love somebody... how do you live up the days? How?
(Submitted by Judy)

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