A STAR IS BORN

US, 1954, 154 minutes (Restored version 1983, 172 minutes), Colour.
Judy Garland, James Mason, Jack Carson, Charles Bickford, Tom Noonan.
Directed by George Cukor.

A Star is Born is one of the great classic American musicals. In 2000, it was put on the National Registry of Film.

The original story was by William A. Wellman with a screenplay by acerbic writer, Dorothy Parker, in 1937. That was an early colour version and starred Frederic March and Janet Gaynor (both Oscar-nominated). The film was remade in 1976 with Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson, a loud, rock and roll version (though Barbra Streisand won an Oscar with Paul Williams for the original song, ‘Evergreen’).

This is the classic version. Judy Garland is excellent as the showgirl who becomes a great actress. It is sad that she did not win the Oscar but lost out to Grace Kelly for The Country Girl. James Mason was nominated for his role as Norman Maine, the actor who meets the showgirl, marries her, is alcoholic and his career goes down. Mason lost to Marlon Brando for the Oscar for On the Waterfront. ‘The Man That Got Away’, a classic Garland song, was also nominated for an Oscar.

The film is the conventional Hollywood story, the star who was born, the star who falls. However, this film is so well acted, convincing – and has great pathos in the contrast between husband and wife. The climax is an award night when the actress announces herself as Mrs Norman Maine.

The film was released in 1954 with cuts of about twenty minutes. However, many of these cuts were restored to a one hundred and seventy-three minute film in 1983.

The film was directed by George Cukor who had guided a number of performers to Oscars including James Stewart in The Philadelphia Story, Ingrid Bergman in Gaslight, Ronald Colman in A Double Life, Judy Holliday in Born Yesterday. Cukor was to win his own Oscar for a musical, best director for My Fair Lady and directed Rex Harrison to his Oscar-winning performance.

The film is still very strong more than half a century later.

1. The film is now considered a classic. Why? What is the basis of its reputation? The value of its style, the performance of the stars, the overall achievement?

2. What impression does the film make as drama? As a musical? As an expose of Hollywood? As a combination of all three?

3. The significance and glamour of the title? The implicit irony? The indication of themes?

4. The use of Cinemascope, colour, Hollywood locations, songs, the reprisal of musical themes throughout the film?

5. The importance of the film's structure: the benefit at the opening and the end, the rise of Esther, balancing the fall of Norman? The interaction of characters during the rise and fall? The sense of balance and the sense of tragedy?

6. The importance of focusing on Norman Maine at the beginning? The anticipation of his downfall? The attitudes of Niles and Libby? The focus on Maine's alcoholism? His happiness in dancing covering up his real self? Esther in this context and in the context of her act and singing 'You Gotta Have Me Go For You'? Her helping Maine? Her genial response? Aftermath? The irony when seen in the light of her final announcement?

7. The quality of Judy Garland's performance as Esther? How attractive was she when we first saw her? Her encounter with Maine, her love for him, her coping with him, her career, transformed by him, acting and singing for him?

8. Why was Maine attracted by Esther? His seeking her out? His reputation in the nightclubs? The importance of the song 'The Man That Got Away'? The irony of its significance within the themes of the film? Maine's talk of her star quality, offering her an audition, persuading her to stay in Hollywood? was this credible? The use of musical background during this conversation? The cut sequences of Maine's drunkenness, going on location for the pirate film, his search for Esther's address, Esther's farewell to her pianist? Her waiting in Los Angeles, moving, sunbathing etc? The use of stills with soundtrack to show Esther's dependence on Norman? The dramatic effect of these omissions?

9. The detailing of Esther's life as a starlet? The insight into Hollywood and its methods? ('Glad to have you with us'?) The impersonality of Hollywood? The humour of the train sequence and seeing her face? Her being paid and her name being changed? The fact that Maine had to trick Niles into substituting Esther for the musical?

10. The film's communication of the atmosphere of success? The Hollywood preview? Esther stopping to be sick on the way? The importance of 'Born in a Trunk' to convince the audience that Esther had star quality? The dramatic impact of this sequence? Its indication of the life of a Hollywood star? (As an epitaph to Judy Garland herself?) Esther's gratitude to Norman after this success?

11. The cutting of the rehearsal sequence with its freshness and Norman's proposal? The lyrics corresponding to the proposal? The recording and playing of the proposal?

12. The parallelling of success and failure? The growing in love, the marriage and its implications? As seen by the studio? AS seen by themselves? The irony of the quiet marriage and the officiator gradually recognising the stars? The honeymoon? Esther on radio? 'A New World'? The importance of the support of Danny all throughout the film? His relationship to Norman and his support of Esther? Libby's arrival at the wedding?

13. Norman's going downhill? Rejection by the studio? Mr. Vicki Lester? How convincing and moving? His speech at the Oscar ceremony and its irony and pathos? Esther's speech and her support of Norman? Norman's going to the sanatorium, the pathos of Niles' visit and offering him the script? Libby and the taunts? His drinking again and jail? The severity of the judge's comment on his character and behaviour? His being supported by Esther at how? His wanting to hear her sing 'A New World'? The pathos of his overhearing her giving up her career? The decision about death? The ocean and his death?

14. Esther's success, her joy, her dancing for Norman (satires on musicals and e.g. Piaf), the importance and humour of the sequence of 'Someone' and the lavish style of the Hollywood musical? The impact of her giving up her career, her willingness to do this, Norman's death as she sang?

15 The dramatic impact of the Oscar night? What made this so successful?

16. The contribution of the characters of Libby and Niles? The judgment on Hollywood 'types'? Libby loathing Maine, cowering, punching? Niles and the buying of his contract? The court? Freeing Esther?

17. The impact of the death as the end of glamour and a career?

18. The picturing of Esther's grief versus Libby and the communications to the media? Real feeling and Hollywood phoniness?

19. The dramatic impact of Esther's appearing, Danny's forcefulness and announcing herself as Mrs. Norman Maine?

20. The value of the songs in themselves, their contribution to the atmosphere of the film, to the plot and characterisation?

21. What were the important themes of the film: men and women, ambitions and success, popularity, the American Hollywood dream, survival, alcoholism and weakness, love and support, the cruelty of the world? How pessimistic? Optimistic?