
A Star Is Born
1954, Musical, 2h 56m
45 Reviews 5,000+ RatingsWhat to know
critics consensus
A Star is Born is a movie of grand scope and intimate moments, featuring Judy Garland's possibly greatest performance. Read critic reviews
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A Star Is Born Photos
Movie Info
Cast & Crew
Esther Blodgett, Vicki Lester
Norman Maine
Matt Libby
Oliver Niles
Danny McGuire
Lola Lavery
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Critic Reviews for A Star Is Born
Audience Reviews for A Star Is Born
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Oct 07, 2018Forget the 1937 version, this is a much superior remake that does right everything (except for that awful last line) that the original film did wrong (at least for later standards), with Garland in a stellar performance especially during her "Someone at Last" number in the living room.Carlos M Super Reviewer
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Mar 30, 2014Its basically just an expanded version of the original, designed to be mostly a showcase for Garland, not that I mind because she's truly fantastic in every single moment. I think its the best version of this story. Cukor and Hart wisely jettison most of the soft hitting satire in favor of making something of a tragic, semi-musical comedy. As great as Garland is, she's equally matched by Mason.Alec B Super Reviewer
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Oct 13, 2013A has-been actor introduces and later marries a singer/actress. An epic, grandiose, and timeless tale, George Cukor's remake of A Star Is Born is a fantastic tour de force for its stars and is a visual delight. The film's actors, Judy Garland and James Mason, are in top form (though I can't help noting how singularly similar Garland is to her daughter, Liza Minnelli; at times I didn't know whom I was watching). The spectacle of some of the musical numbers, which at times might be over-long, is beyond compare, and at its heart, the film is a very human story. Oddly feminist, the film privileges Vicki Lester's success over that of her husband, but at the same time there is no doubt that she could not have made it on her talent alone. Is this a condemnation of the business or latent misogyny? Overall, whatever the film's meandering flaws may be, it is nonetheless a classic for a very good reason.Jim H Super Reviewer
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Jan 23, 2013What a very long boring movie. "A Star Is Born" reminds me of "What's Love Got To Do With It" taking place in 1954. James Mason plays the Ike Turner character Norman Maine and Judy Garland is the Tina Turner character Esther Blodgett / Vicki Lester. Maine is an alcoholic, meets Esther and wants to make her a risin acting star. Esther is reluctant at first because she belongs to a music group and is profesional singer. Should Esther throw her music career away in order to follow Norman Maine's wishes? She does and things don't go smoothly at first. Esther does a few odd jobs to make ends meet. Later on Esther meets Maine and this time he tries to get her a deal with the studio which he does, the two fall in love and then the picture goes into this melodramtic heartbreak. This film kinda annoyed me with the distracting restoration editing techniques, Judy Garland's melodramtic acting, and the obvious things that was going to happen to Norman. "A Star Is Born" is a very long movie which didn't need to be. George Cuckor is a great filmmaker but im not sure if this material was suited for him. Great musicals were known to be epic and exciting, this film goes the opposite way making me wonder as to when on earth is this film going to end?
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