A Star Is Born (1937)
It’s ironic that of the four versions of A Star Is Born, the original is my least favorite. Of course, I’m sure that ranking will be transferred to the newest remake once I actually bite the bullet and rent it. When you think about it, it’s a very simple story, but because Hollywood keeps remaking it, it’s one that resonates. In essence, a washed up star falls in love with his protégé, and her career skyrockets.
Fredric March played the original Norman Maine, and while he did give a very good performance, it’s a character he frequently played in the 1930s, so if you don’t feel like renting this one, you can check out Merrily We Go To Hell or My Sin instead. The Artist was a very thinly-veiled remake of A Star Is Born, and it’s very clear that Jean Dujardin patterned his performance after Fredric March’s in the 1937 classic. Freddie was a wonderful actor, and he was able to project bundles of energy into a performance of desperation.
Janet Gaynor played the discovered talent. There was nothing wrong with her performance, but in the three remakes, major stars—Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand, and Lady Gaga—were cast, to help the audience see what Norman Maine sees: a superstar who will blow audiences away. Janet was pretty and an adequate actress, but didn’t possess that “star quality” that’s necessary for the part. Maybe that’s the reason Hollywood can justify so many remakes!
If you like this franchise, it’s probably a good idea to pay homage to the original, especially if you’re planning on going to see the new one in the fall. This version isn’t bad at all, but compared to the middle two, it does fall short a little, so just be prepared. I’d recommend watching the 1954 version first.
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "mocha locha" for posting!
More Fredric March movies here!
Fredric March played the original Norman Maine, and while he did give a very good performance, it’s a character he frequently played in the 1930s, so if you don’t feel like renting this one, you can check out Merrily We Go To Hell or My Sin instead. The Artist was a very thinly-veiled remake of A Star Is Born, and it’s very clear that Jean Dujardin patterned his performance after Fredric March’s in the 1937 classic. Freddie was a wonderful actor, and he was able to project bundles of energy into a performance of desperation.
Janet Gaynor played the discovered talent. There was nothing wrong with her performance, but in the three remakes, major stars—Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand, and Lady Gaga—were cast, to help the audience see what Norman Maine sees: a superstar who will blow audiences away. Janet was pretty and an adequate actress, but didn’t possess that “star quality” that’s necessary for the part. Maybe that’s the reason Hollywood can justify so many remakes!
If you like this franchise, it’s probably a good idea to pay homage to the original, especially if you’re planning on going to see the new one in the fall. This version isn’t bad at all, but compared to the middle two, it does fall short a little, so just be prepared. I’d recommend watching the 1954 version first.
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "mocha locha" for posting!
More Fredric March movies here!