A Star is Born (1954)
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.
Judy and James have a darling chemistry together, and he looks at her so tenderly, it's hard to believe he made a career out of playing villains. Unlike some of her other screen partners, he makes her seem more human instead like a stylized musical character. Plus, when you look up backstage photos, it looks like they really got along!
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.
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.
Judy and James have a darling chemistry together, and he looks at her so tenderly, it's hard to believe he made a career out of playing villains. Unlike some of her other screen partners, he makes her seem more human instead like a stylized musical character. Plus, when you look up backstage photos, it looks like they really got along!
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!”
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "The Projection Room" for posting!
More Judy Garland movies here!
More James Mason movies here!
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!”
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "The Projection Room" for posting!
More Judy Garland movies here!
More James Mason movies here!
Hot Toasty Rag Awards:
Best Actor of 1954: James Mason
Best Actress: Judy Garland
Hot Toasty Rag Nominations:
Best Picture
Best Original Song: "The Man That Got Away"