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Fascinated by Hollywood and the moving pictures, North Dakota farm girl, Esther Blodgett (Janet Gaynor), dreams of becoming a famous actress. Although she gets no support or encouragement for her dream from her father and aunt, Esther vows that she's going to be somebody, and her beloved granny (May Robson) not only validates the longings of Esther's heart, but she gives her the necessary funds to make the move to Hollywood.
With hopes high, Esther sets out to land her first job, but she soon finds out that her chances of making it are 1 in 100,000. There are just hundreds more actresses than there are parts for. Undaunted, however, Esther wonders if, perchance, she might be that one.
While on waitress duty at a film director's party, Esther meets film actor Norman Maine (Fredric March). Though quite popular and famous, Maine's current drinking problems have gotten him into trouble. While his producer, Oliver Niles (Adolphe Menjou), manages to keep the news of Norman's escapades out of the paper, directors no longer want to work with him due to his unsavory reputation. Still, though, for Esther, the meeting with Norman is a great boost to her career, as he encourages Oliver to give her a screen test, after which, she is signed by him.
After having her name changed to the more suitable-sounding Vicki Lester, Esther is given the opportunity of a lifetime. With Norman's current film in need of a female lead, Vicki Lester takes center stage. In fact, she more than takes center stage---she steals the show. It is Vicki---not Norman---who the critics and public rave about. It is Vicki's star which begins to rise, while Norman's penchant for drink and his erratic, undependable behavior, cause his star to plummet.
Eventually, Esther and Norman marry, but as Norman spirals ever-further downward, he finds himself unemployable and, thus, doing little more than taking phone messages for his incredibly popular, Academy Award-winning wife. With one life soaring and another crashing, heartbreak is bound to follow. How everything plays out is the balance of the film.
A Star Is Born is a beautiful, touching, well-acted film. Both Janet Gaynor and Fredric March received Academy Award nominations---deservedly so---for their work here. I'm not overly familiar with Miss Gaynor, having only seen maybe two other of her films; however, I am a huge Fredric March fan, and this is definitely one of my all-time favorite of his films. Plus, while I think he was a terrific actor and gave many wonderful performances, his portrayal of Norman Maine is definitely one of his best. (I think his work in Middle of the Night is his most brilliant work, however.) For his work in Captains Courageous, Spencer Tracy beat out Mr. March for the 1938 Best Actor statue, and much as I love A Star Is Born and Mr. March's portrayal of Norman Maine, I am going to concur with The Academy's choice of Mr. Tracy, as he really was spectacular in Captains Courageous.) In all, A Star Is Born received seven Academy Award nominations (which garnered one win). Additionally, the film has a completely wonderful supporting cast. Plus, it touches my heart and brings me to major tears---and I always love a film which does that!
This film has been remade twice---in 1954, with Judy Garland and James Mason in the lead roles, and in 1976, with Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson taking center stage. I have never seen the 70's film, so I cannot compare that one to the 1937 original, but I have seen the 1954 film, so I will share a few thoughts about that one. Yes, it is beautiful and glamorous, and, yes, Judy Garland did an amazing job. For me, though, it dragged on occasion and was about 45 minutes too long. Because it was so long, I was relieved when it finally ended; therefore, I was only mildly misty-eyed. It definitely didn't touch me (or bring me to sobs) like the original did. Also, the Garland/Mason version lacked the sweet tenderness of the original. Judy Garland never had the innocent air that Janet Gaynor did. Also, while James Mason was very good in the role of Norman Maine, since I am a huge Fredric March fan and count this among my favorite of his films, Mason just didn't click for me. If the original A Star Is Born wasn't already a beloved film, I might have enjoyed the remake more. Definitely try to catch them both and see for yourself which one you prefer.
The film is out on DVD, plus it is available in its entirety on YouTube. I think it is a must-see.
Happy viewing!!