A Star Is Born

Name: A Star Is Born
Genre: Drama, Romance, Musical
Released: October 16, 1954
Duration: 154 min
Rating: 89
Cast: Amanda Blake, Charles Bickford, Hazel Shermet, Irving Bacon, Jack Carson

1954

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 9 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 23 Ratings

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8.5

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8.5	User Score Universal acclaim based on 23 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. | Release Date: October 16, 1954 | Passed

Starring: Amanda Blake, Charles Bickford, Hazel Shermet, Irving Bacon, Jack Carson, James Brown, James Mason, Judy Garland, Lucy Marlow, Tommy Noonan

Summary: A film star helps a young singer and actress find fame, even as age and alcoholism send his own career on a downward spiral.

Director: George Cukor

Genre(s): Drama, Romance, Musical

Rating: Passed

Runtime: 154 min

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Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Bosley Crowther

Those who have blissful recollections of David O. Selznick's A Star Is Born as probably the most affecting movie ever made about Hollywood may get themselves set for a new experience that should put the former one in the shade when they see Warner Brothers' and George Cukor's remake of the seventeen-year-old film. Read full review

100

Staff (Not Credited)

Judy Garland is at her peak, pulling out all the stops, daring the gods in this dark, weighty fable of the price one pays to be at the top. Read full review

100

Jack Moffitt

George Cukor's direction, briskly paced, combines heartbreaking tragedy, out-of-this-world musical entertainment and rib-splitting comedy into a coordinated whole that can only be compared for sheer cinematic know-how with Gone With the Wind. This is a picture that's worth seeing over and over again. Read full review

Pauline Kael

Grandiose, emotionally charged musical version of the 1937 tear-jerker. This updated version is a terrible, fascinating orgy of self-pity and cynicism and mythmaking.

Staff (Not Credited)

The acting honours belong to Mason: whether idly cruising the LA dance-halls for a new woman, sliding into alcoholism, or embarrassing everyone at an Oscar ceremony, he gives a performance which is as good as any actor is ever allowed. Read full review

Bill Weber

Despite A Star Is Born’s musty jabs at movieland decadence in the wake of satires like Sunset Blvd. and The Bad and the Beautiful, it was the craft found in Cukor’s alternately splashy and shadowy mise-en-scène, and displayed by Mr. James Mason, that most greatly aided Mrs. Sid Luft. Read full review

Alan Morrison

Hollywood over-indulgence at its best. Read full review

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User Reviews

Bitash

Jun 11, 2020

Although I already was familiar with the story line and how things will end and I had seen other versions of this movie, this one took me by surprise.
Two strong actors with great camera shots, beautiful lighting, brilliant sets and musical numbers. Garlands voice is so strong and touchingAlthough I already was familiar with the story line and how things will end and I had seen other versions of this movie, this one took me by surprise.
Two strong actors with great camera shots, beautiful lighting, brilliant sets and musical numbers. Garlands voice is so strong and touching but For me James Mason wins the movie, from the opening act where he is drunk , and he does such a great job portraying a drunk...he doesn’t over or under act at all and it’s sooooo believable that I had to rewind the scene to watch it again,....you forget you are watching a movie, it feels so real.
Garlands last scenes were powerful and emotional. Loved it.
Hollywood tried to redo this movie over and over again, none compare to this version. It’s a must see classic… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

LilScience

Sep 3, 2020

Que talento! O filme com mais performances icônicas de Judy Garland, e uma delas é 'Someone at Last' além de muitas outras como 'The Man That Got Away', uma trilha sonora versátil que combina super bem com o filme.
Na era dos musicais, a música citada acima no qual ela faz o gesto famoso queQue talento! O filme com mais performances icônicas de Judy Garland, e uma delas é 'Someone at Last' além de muitas outras como 'The Man That Got Away', uma trilha sonora versátil que combina super bem com o filme.
Na era dos musicais, a música citada acima no qual ela faz o gesto famoso que leva o cartaz do filme, trouxe vários tipos de estilos em um mesmo, como se diversificando em culturas como a do Brasil, Chinesa, Africana entre outras se mostrando uma artista aberta a novos tipos de cultura, realmente incrível, uma trilha de excelência e essa é ela Judy Garland, a rainha dos musicais!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

jared1209

Feb 5, 2020

Judy Garland's best film showcasing her transcendent talent and delivering the strongest acting across her whole career.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

amheretojudge

Sep 17, 2018

cathartic to the core..

A Star Is Born A Star Is Born is a character driven drama about an actor offering the opportunity to become someone herself i.e. a singer, and finds himself falling for her as the bonding ages. The set pieces are hugely astounding and finely detailed that offers thecathartic to the core..

A Star Is Born

A Star Is Born is a character driven drama about an actor offering the opportunity to become someone herself i.e. a singer, and finds himself falling for her as the bonding ages. The set pieces are hugely astounding and finely detailed that offers the deserved stage to its potential and promising tale. The background score is amazing and up lifted by melodious musical numbers that are well shot and choreographed and performed that decorates it on such wide scale. The process through which it cuts down inessential bits while depicting the time passing by, can be eerie but is actually smart and works just fine. It is nonchalantly humorous with an edgy and ironical track for the almost first half off it. The inner world of Hollywood industry goes more deep and grand than its previous one and with an elaborative narrative as such, it has enough room to glorify each of these tiny moments impactfully. The choreography is synced like a mirror, camera work is pure magical with light and bright eye-popping colors that makes it supremely and thoroughly entertaining. Garland's portrayal is everlasting in here. She oozes power in a subtle tone and in higher notes where both, her singing and performance are equally good. She literally fuels this almost three hour of journey expressing plethora of emotions that this electrifying ride offers. The supporting cast gets their stand out moments to fill in accordingly especially complex and befallen Mason whose drunken act is the soberest of his, with Carson as a genuine supporter. Cukor's execution speaks for its runtime itself for not even in a single frame, he loses his grasp over the characters. Majestic and elevating music that soars across the entire feature in each and every aspect and Garland at the heart of it are the high points of the feature. A Star Is Born reveals a mellow side of it in this version despite of its gut wrenching pathos catastrophe that you know it ought to breed, it is utterly cathartic to the core.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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