A Star Is Born (1937) | |
| Director(s) | William A. Wellman, Jack Conway (uncredited) |
| Producer(s) | David O. Selznick |
| Top Genres | Drama |
| Top Topics | Alcohol, Fame, Husband Wife, Marriage, Show Business |
Featured Cast:
A Star Is Born Overview:
A Star Is Born (1937) was a Drama Film directed by William A. Wellman and Jack Conway and produced by David O. Selznick.
SYNOPSIS
The archetypal Hollywood tragedy, this depicts the star-crossed romance of two silver-screen stars, one just starting to shine, the other falling to earth. March plays an aging matinee idol whose battle with the bottle has made him a risk to studio executive Menjou and a constant problem for PR man Stander. At a party, March offhandedly offers to make Gaynor, a young hopeful waiting for her big break, a movie star. After their first screen appearance together, March's offer is fulfilled, and Gaynor becomes adored as he becomes unemployable, falling first to a sanitorium, then to jail, and, finally, to suicidal despair. The marvelous, fully imagined characters borrow aspects of the lives of classic-era stars such as John Gilbert, John Barrymore, and Wallace Reid. The script was worked by many hands, but the biting dialogue bears the stamp of famed wit Dorothy Parker. This fascinates film fans for its insider's look at the making of a star and life at the '30s-era studios. It also inspired three remakes, in 1954, 1976 and 2018.
(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).
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Academy Awards 1937 --- Ceremony Number 10 (source: AMPAS)
| Award | Recipient | Result |
| Best Actor | Fredric March | Nominated |
| Best Actress | Janet Gaynor | Nominated |
| Best Director | William A. Wellman | Nominated |
| Best Picture | Selznick International Pictures | Nominated |
| Best Writing | William A. Wellman, Robert Carson | Won |
| Best Writing | Dorothy Parker, Alan Campbell, Robert Carson | Nominated |
| Special Award | To W. Howard Greene for the color photography of A Star Is Born. (This Award was recommended by a committee of leading cinematographers after viewing all the color pictures made during the year.) | Won |
BlogHub Articles:
ONE MOVIE, THREE QUOTES: A Star is Born (1954)
By Carol Martinheira on Jun 13, 2022 From The Old Hollywood GardenONE MOVIE, THREE QUOTES: A Star is Born (1954) On June 13, 2022 By CarolIn Uncategorized Image from Pinterest June 2022, the 10th to be precise, marks the centenary of Judy Garland?s birth. The BFI in my city is having a Judy season and I am, logically, there like a ... Read full article
Five Fun Facts: A Star is Born (1937)
By Annmarie Gatti on May 15, 2022 From Classic Movie Hub BlogFive Fun Facts: A Star is Born (1937) 1) Pick a number, four or five… So, how many versions of this movie are there, really? Well, most classic film fans would say a definite ‘four,’ end of story — which would be the 1937 film starring Janet Gaynor and Fredric March... Read full article
Free Streaming in August on the CMH Channel at Best Classics Ever ? A Star is Born, Penny Serenade, House on Haunted Hill and More
By Annmarie Gatti on Aug 10, 2020 From Classic Movie Hub BlogOur August picks for the Classic Movie Hub ChannelMore than 40 Titles Streaming Free All Month Long! As we announced in June, we are thrilled to have partnered with Best Classics Ever (BCE), a mega streaming channel dedicated to classic films and TV shows! And, we are proud to have our own Class... Read full article
Bette Davis in Of Human Bondage (1934) – a star is born
By Carol Martinheira on May 24, 2019 From The Old Hollywood GardenBette Davis in Of Human Bondage (1934) – a star is born On May 24, 2019 By CarolIn Uncategorized Sometimes it’s hard to believe there was a time when Bette Davis was not a star. Yet, between 1930 and 1933 she was mostly a supporting player with little scree... Read full article
A Star is Born (2018)
By Alyson on Jan 23, 2019 From The Best Picture ProjectA Star is Born is a story that seems to be revived every couple decades. The first film was in 1937. A remake with Judy Garland and James Mason came in 1954. And another came to be with Barbara Streisand in 1976. Now, with Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper stars and has made his directorial debut with his n... Read full article
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Quotes from
Aunt Mattie: Of course, no one ever listens to me!
Grandmother Lettie: They do if they're within ten miles of ya.
Norman Maine: What do they do with the actors while you're away?
Matt Libby: Oh, they cut 'em into slices and fry 'em with eggs.
read more quotes from A Star Is Born...
Facts about
Plans were announced in 1938 for a sequel entitled Heartbreak Town, about a child actor but it was never made.
When the drunken Norman Maine character raucously interrupts the Oscar presentation, it was déja vu for Janet Gaynor. She had brought her sister to the Academy Awards ceremony in 1929, when she won the first Best Actress Oscar ever awarded, for 7th Heaven. Her sister became very drunk and completely out of control, thoroughly embarrassing Gaynor.
read more facts about A Star Is Born...
