Α Star Is Born

Α Star Is Born


Transcona / Warner Bros, 1954, Color, 175 minutes, ****

Released September, 1954


A Star Is Born marked Judy Garland's return to movies after a four-year absence, director George Cukor's first musical and first color film, and a showcase for great Harold Arlen / Ira Gershwin songs in state-of-the-art stereo. One of the most beloved show-business stories of all time, it represents a career peak for many involved. Garland is singer Esther Blodgett, an undeniable talent on the rise. She catches the eye of Norman Maine (James Mason), an alcoholic actor in career decline. Their intense love transforms them both. Only one will survive Hollywood's slings and arrows.



Shortened in response to exhibitor complaints after its premiere, the movie underwent one rebirth in 1983 when film historian Ronald Haver found almost all of the cut sequences and and supervised a reconstruction to near its original length. It's new rebirth is this breathtaking digital transfer from a refurbished element, with a new digital surround stereo track and incorporating picture and musical material recently found in the vaults. Star always had a shine to it. Now watch it sparkle as never before.

Produced by: Sidney Luft

Associate Producer: Vern Alves

Directed by: George Cukor

Assistant Directors: Earl Bellamy, Edward Graham, Russell Llewellyn

Screen Play by: Moss Hart

Based on the Dorothy Parker, Alan Campbell, Robert Carson Screen Play

From a story by William A. Wellman and Robert Carson

Musical Direction by: Ray Heindorf

New Songs: Music by Harold Arlen, Lyrics by Ira Gershwin

Vocal Arrangements by: Jack Cathcart

Orchestrations by: Skip Martin

Song: "Born in a Trunk" Music and lyrics by Leonard Gershe

Dances Created and Staged by: Richard Barstow

Additional Choreography: Eugene Loring

Production Design by: Gene Allen

Special Color Design Adviser: Hoyningen-Huene

Art Director: Malcolm Bert

Art Direction and Costumes for "Born in a Trunk" by: Irene Sharaff

Set Decorator: George James Hopkins

Costumes Designed by: Jean Louis, Mary Ann Nyberg

Makeup Artist: Gordon Bau

Miss Garland's Makeup Created by: Del Armstrong

Miss Garland's Hair Styles by: Helen Young

Sound by: Charles B. Lang, David Forrest

Director of Photography: Sam Leavitt

Special Effects by: H. F. Koenekamp

Filmed in CinemaScope, Color by Technicolor

Technicolor Color Consultant: Mitchell G. Kovaleski

Film Editor: Folmar Blangsted



Awards: Academy Award Nominations for Best Actor (James Mason), Best Actress (Judy Garland), Best Score - Musical (Ray Heindorf), Best Song ("The Man That Got Away"), Best Art Direction/Set Decoration - Color, Best Costume Design - Color



Ranked #7 in the AFI's Greatest Movie Musicals



Cast: Judy Garland [Vicki Lester], James Mason [Norman Maine], Jack Carson [Matt Libby], Charles Bickford [Oliver Niles], Tom Noonan [Danny McGuire], Lucy Marlow [Lola Lavery], Amanda Blake [Miss Ettinger], Irving Bacon [Graves], Hazel Shermet [Libby's Secretary], Additional Cast: Wilton Graff [Emcee], Grady Sutton [Artie Carver], James Brown [Glenn Williams], Lotus Robb [Miss Markham]



Musical Program: [0:00] Overture (played by Orchestra behind titles); [0:11] Gotta Have Me Go with You (sung by Judy Garland with The Glenn Williams Orchestra); [0:21] The Man That Got Away (sung by Judy Garland); [0:45] Trinidad Coconut Oil Shampoo (short commercial jingle sung by Judy Garland); [1:04] The Man That Got Away (excerpt sung by Judy Garland off-screen); [1:08] Born in a Trunk (sequence performed by Judy Garland and Ensembles, includes short excerpts of Swanee, I'll Get By, You Took Advantage of Me, Black Bottom, The Peanut Vendor, My Melancholy Baby; [1:28] Here's What I'm Here For (sung by Judy Garland and Chorus); [1:40] It's a New World (sung by Judy Garland); [1:53] Someone at Last (performed by Judy Garland); [2:09] Lose That Long Face (sung by Judy Garland, danced by Judy Garland and Chorus); [2:18] Lose That Long Face (short reprisal by Judy Garland); [2:42] It's a New World (reprised by Judy Garland); [2:53] It's a New World (reprised by Chorus at end of film); [2:54] The Man That Got Away (reprised by Orchestra behind end credits)