The beautifully shot A STAR IS BORN recounts a tragic Hollywood tale of fame and misfortune. As young Esther Blodgett (Janet Gaynor) rises to stardom, her husband, former leading man Norman Maine (Fredric March), is in the midst of a heartbreakingly rapid decline. Gaynor is both genuine and... [More]

The beautifully shot A STAR IS BORN recounts a tragic Hollywood tale of fame and misfortune. As young Esther Blodgett (Janet Gaynor) rises to stardom, her husband, former leading man Norman Maine (Fredric March), is in the midst of a heartbreakingly rapid decline. Gaynor is both genuine and funny as the small-town girl who loses her one great love while she pursues another, and March is perfect as the passé alcoholic has-been. The film received six Academy Award nominations and won a special award for its color cinematography. [Less]