With 2018’s remake still ringing in our ears and the Renee Zellweger biopic of Judy Garland winning big over the 2019 awards season, this 1954 comeback vehicle is essential viewing, even if the running time of this restored version is a punishing three hours plus. Garland has become known as a gay icon, but she meant a lot to a mainstream audiences too, and George Cukor’s musical drama gives her plenty of opportunity to belt them out, notably the celebrated (and extended here) Born in a Trunk number.
Given her own issues with alcohol and drugs, it’s tricky to watch Garland as the upcoming ingénue who ascends to the top while husband Mr Norman Maine (James Mason) falls apart; with only one musical feature after this (the rather maudlin I Could Go On Singing), A Star Is Born marked peak Garland, whereas Mason had highlights like North by Northwest and Lolita to look forward to as well as a career stretching out to the 1980’s.
Garland doesn’t always look comfortable here; one of the ironies of all the A Star is Born films is that the leads are never ingénues, but established divas, and Garland seems more on message as Vicky Lester than Esther Blodgett. This restored version, with still frame sequences and alternate versions, gives the impression of a chequered production, with Cukor not involved in several sequences; as in the 1936 version, Hollywood is seen as somewhat venal, and the way that business interferes with private life is well caught.
All four A Star In Born films have their merits, but taken as a quadrilogy, it’s interesting to see how they reflect the changing nature of male-female relationships. Unlike the Bradley Cooper version, this Norman Maine does not snort coke, ride a motorbike, play Glastonbury, attend SNL or urinate in his own pants, but he’s still a toxic male, even when played with enormous charm by Mason. And this is Garland’s show; friends and fans of Judy will want to see her swing successfully for the fences here in a performance that fascinates because of how it does, and does not, reflect the truth of her troubled career.
This is my favorite ASIB, followed by the Lady GaGa version. I was fortunate enough to screen this in a theatre last year, and Judy’s “The Man that got Away” number is pure movie magic. The audience gave it a standing ovation. What a fantastic talent, and it was criminal that she lost the academy award that year.
Even over 50 years later, it’s still a great film, and the songs and the delivery are a huge part of that. I don’t care to look up who did win the Oscar that year; being in a terrific movie is a bigger reward. Would have been a big deal to catch a rep screening of this, audience response makes a movie…
The best of The Star Is Born films and it’s not even close. But you’re right, the 4 together is a fascinating history of the shifting culture of films and society. I’ve wanted to do some extended coverage on all 4 over at my site for awhile…..I’ll get to it one day!
I preferred the Janet Gaynor version because it had the field to itself and did not have to do something different just because it was a remake. I did enjoy the Bradley Cooper version though I always wondered what the Clint Eastwood version would have been like.
With Beyoncé? I think it would have been a Jersey Boys dud. Although to be fair, I never saw Jersey Boys, so maybe I need to do some r and d on that opinion.
He was very good in getting performances out of women – Million Dollar Baby, Play Misty etc.
I’ve only seen Garland in the Wizard of Oz and nothing else. So I’m guessing I’d not be interested in this on so may levels…
Nope. You can find an alternative activity.
Does eating candied ginger cubes count as an alternative activity?
Yikes, that sounds horrible. Don’t you have any sweets?
They ARE candy.
and it’s (semi) good for me 😀
The only sweet in our house is ME. ’cause I’m so upbeat and positive about everything all the time. Mrs B says so…
I can imagine. And yet somehow these highly detailed literary reviews unspool from your sunny disposition…
I know, right? I’m as surprised as the next guy. But when you’ve got the talent, well, it has to be used 🙂
Depends who the next guy is, is it Alex?
maaaaaaybe…….
I have only seen the Streisand one and that was, I think, enough.Never a fan of Garland (nor for that matter Streisand) can’t be bothered with the Gaga one, and didn’t know there was a 4th!
Janet Gaynor was the first! And they’re ALL good! Maybe Stratham should give the role a try…