A Star Is Born film review

Review

Cast & crew

A Star Is Born

(1954)

This remake of the 1937 Janet Gaynor movie is one of the superlative melodramas in Hollywood's history, and it contains the greatest ever performance by Judy Garland, paired with the brilliant James Mason — two stars at the height of their powers. Their portrayals, together with fine cinematography by Sam Leavitt and superb direction from George Cukor, ensure that this film enriches more lives each time it is screened. But on first release, the movie suffered from being overlong and was trimmed. The original release version was restored in 1983 by film historian Ronald Haver, who found much of the missing material — minus some scenes that he re-created using stills. This “restoration”, though of historical value, doesn't especially help the movie, and can alienate a first-time viewer. It's rather like seeing the Venus de Milo with her arms stuck back on: it may be complete, but didn't everybody prefer her the other way? This stunning movie shows Hollywood at its self-centred best, and when Garland lost that year's Oscar to Grace Kelly (for The Country Girl), Groucho Marx immortally quipped, “it's the biggest robbery since Brink's!”. TS

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Running time

168min

Country of origin

Genre

Musical Drama

Original language

English

Screenplay

Moss Hart, from the 1937 film

UK cinema certificate




awards information


	Award	Category	Name	Nominee/Winner

	Academy 1954	Actor	James Mason	Nominee
	Academy 1954	Actress	Judy Garland	Nominee
	BFAA 1955	Best Foreign Actress	Judy Garland	Nominee
	Golden Globe 1954	Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical	James Mason	Winner
	Golden Globe 1954	Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical	Judy Garland	Winner