You won't be disappointed!

Very well executed

Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

There have been three versions of A Star Is Born, and a fourth is coming out this fall. It's a daunting task to figure out which one to watch first, but I'll help you out: watch the 1954 version first. The 1937 one isn't nearly as fantastic, the 1976 is incredibly different, and the 2018 one doesn't look like it'll be very good. The only exception to my recommendation is if you hate Judy Garland. She has several extremely lengthy-and pretty irritating-songs and if her voice gets on your nerves, you might want to watch the 1937 one instead. I don't have a problem with Judy, but even I keep my remote control handy during those scenes so I can fast-forward. The only good song to come out of A Star Is Born is the iconic "The Man That Got Away," so don't speed through that one. It's a classic Judy Garland spastic, emotional performance.James Mason starts the movie drunk off his adorable fanny. He's an actor whose off-screen behavior has wrecked his career, and during the Academy Awards ceremony at the start of the film, he makes an absolute fool of himself on national television. Judy Garland, an unknown singer at the time, sings a song at the Oscars and helps James maintain a hangnail of dignity. Once he hears her sing "The Man That Got Away" at a nearby nightclub, he sees her star quality and tries to help boost her career. And, since it's James Mason and he's ridiculously handsome, they fall in love.In case you're wondering why Judy Garland was also nominated for an Oscar in 1955, since all I've said she does is sing a bunch of songs, most of which even I fast-forward through, let me explain. In a movie, usually the person with the substance problem is given the only choice scenes, but in A Star Is Born, the woman who loves him is given just as many dramatic scenes. There's a famous scene, affectionately referred to as "the dressing room scene", in which Judy Garland tearfully describes to Charles Bickford how difficult it is to love someone who can't help but destroy himself. It's a very powerful scene, and one of the most famous monologues in classic screen history, because of the real-life undertones behind her lines. Believe me, she absolutely deserved her nomination.It's really too bad that this movie came out the same year as The Country Girl. Both movies center around a washed-up alcoholic actor, and both movies feature exceptional acting from the pair of leads. If it weren't for Bing Crosby's once in a lifetime performance, I would have given the 1954 Oscar to James Mason, hands down. His heartbreaking, harrowing performance makes me cry every time I watch it. It's not often a male actor at that time period felt comfortable sobbing in a closeup, and James Mason trusted the camera with his vulnerability as he's never done before. I know there are a lot of Brando fans out there, but do me a favor and rent The Country Girl, A Star is Born, and On the Waterfront during the same weekend. If you still think Marlon Brando's performance should have beat out the other two, then you and I have different tastes and count yourself on the side of The Academy. DLM warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. During one of the songs about two-thirds into the movie, there's a strobe light for about ten seconds, and it will make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"

There is no doubt Judy Garland was an extraordinary singing talent, with one of the best voices ever heard on the silver screen. However, I feel her actual talent as a dramatic actress was overlooked because of her ability as a singer. Here, she is able showcase both the singer and the dramatic actress.Some people think that Judy didn't have to stretch very far to act in this role (unlike Grace Kelly who won the Oscar that year which many thought was rightfully Judy's), but I have to disagree. She got the chance to stretch her dramatic acting skills plenty, and gave a performance that perhaps was not expected of her after spending the majority of her MGM career in musical comedies, minus her dramatic, non-singing performance as a young war bride in "The Clock." This is Judy's movie all the way, and she makes the most of every moment. Still, the charismatic James Mason's contribution to the film should not be overlooked. In my opinion, he was an extremely underrated actor. This is a great film that gives her fans the complete Judy Garland package. Definitely worth seeing.

I saw this yesterday at the Regent Street Cinema.I had no idea that it was the reconstructed version that they were showing,if i had know then i am not sure that i would have gone.To me the problem was that every time the drama seemed to gain momentum it was stopped in its tracks by yet another interminable musical number by Judy Garland.In fact it went on that i had to leave before the end to deal with more pressing matters.I have to say that Judy Garland did not look in good shape at times.It was rather difficult to understand why she would ever fall for someone so obnoxious as Norman Maine.Also it has to be said that the portrayal by Charles Bickford made him look more like Mother Theresa than the real article such as Jack Warner.Given the fact that this film cost over $5million and made a loss it is little surprise that Graland made so few films after this or that she failed to win an Oscar.She had rubbed enough people up the wrong way and was never likely to win a popularity contest.

In 1950, Judy Garland's contract with MGM was suspended when the turmoil in her personal life finally became too much for the studio to bear. For four years, she was away from movie screens until her then-husband Sidney Luft helped to her orchestrate a much-hyped comeback at Warner Brothers."A Star is Born" is a remake of David O. Selznick's film of the same name from 1937. That version garnered 7 Oscar nominations (resulting in one win), so the remake had a lot to live up to. In the end, it did more than live up to original, it surpassed it by becoming the definitive version of the story to date (out of three versions and counting).The story is a relatively simple one. A talented female singer is discovered by an alcoholic movie star whose best years are behind him. The two become romantically involved but her meteoric rise to fame starkly contrasts with his ever worsening fortunes. (This premise should sound vaguely familiar to anyone who's seen 2011 Best Picture winner "The Artist", which borrows liberally from both "A Star is Born" & "Singin' in the Rain".)As you might expect, the movie is first and foremost a showcase for Judy Garland. She did not disappoint, landing her first Oscar nomination for her iconic performance as the titular 'star'. However, to the surprise of many (including myself), she didn't end up winning. Also nominated in a losing cause was James Mason, whose excellent performance in the male lead was up against some stiff competition from Brando & Bogart. Supporting actors Jack Carson & Charles Bickford also delivered top-notch performances, though they received no recognition from Oscar voters.Musically, the movie stands out, mostly due to Garland's powerful voice. "The Man That Got Away" is today a recognized classic (for good reason) and the big production number, "Born in a Trunk", is outstanding too. The songs by Harold Arlen & George Gershwin are generally well done, though one or two (most notably, "Someone at Last") could have been dropped with minimal impact to the story.Visually, George Cukor's direction is well handled throughout as he takes full advantage of the CinemaScope frame. Meanwhile, Sam Leavitt's cinematography is drenched in beautifully saturated Technicolor.Unfortunately, for all of the movie's high points, there is a drawback. Prior to wide release, Warner Brothers somewhat haphazardly cut the film without the director's involvement. As a result, some of the original footage has been lost. The current version available on home video is a reconstruction that is almost complete but has some gaps filled in with still photos (with the complete soundtrack, though). This is a real shame but, thankfully, it isn't enough to wreck the film.In the end, "A Star is Born" qualifies as one of the best movie musicals of all time. The memorable musical numbers are augmented by a pair of stellar lead performances and high production values all around. Hopefully someday we'll be able to see the missing footage, which will only serve to enhance an already impressive cinematic experience.