Movie Background

A Star Is Born

A movie star guides a young singer-actress toward stardom, even as aging and alcoholism push his own career into a downward spiral.

Director(s)

George Cukor

Earl Bellamy

Edward Graham

Russell Llewellyn

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Cast & Crew

Frank Puglia

Frank Puglia

Bruno (uncredited)

Franklyn Farnum

Franklyn Farnum

Ray (uncredited)

Sam Harris

Sam Harris

Benefit Attendee / Racetrack Spectator (uncredited)

William H. O'Brien

William H. O'Brien

Academy Awards Attendee (uncredited)

Frank Ferguson

Frank Ferguson

Judge George J. Barnes (uncredited)

Al Hill

Al Hill

Shrine Auditorium Photographer (uncredited)

Frank Marlowe

Frank Marlowe

Shrine Auditorium Photographer (uncredited)

Harold Miller

Harold Miller

Benefit Attendee (uncredited)

Charles Morton

Charles Morton

Shrine Auditorium Photographer (uncredited)

Jack Pepper

Jack Pepper

Chef (uncredited)

Don Beddoe

Don Beddoe

Studio Executive at Premiere (uncredited)

Dick Johnstone

Dick Johnstone

Spectator (uncredited)

Richard LaMarr

Richard LaMarr

Benefit Attendee (uncredited)

Anton Northpole

Anton Northpole

Vagrant (uncredited)

Robert Haines

Robert Haines

Second Assistant Director (uncredited)

Harry Seymour

Harry Seymour

Wheeler (uncredited)

Eddie Dew

Eddie Dew

Assistant Director at Train Station (uncredited)

John Alban

John Alban

Academy Awards Attendee (uncredited)

Olin Howland

Olin Howland

Charley (uncredited)

John Saxon

John Saxon

Movie Premiere Usher (uncredited)

Stuart Holmes

Stuart Holmes

Spectator (uncredited)

Monty O'Grady

Monty O'Grady

Racetrack Spectator (uncredited)

Joan Shawlee

Joan Shawlee

Joan (uncredited)

Bess Flowers

Bess Flowers

Academy Awards Attendee (uncredited)

Raoul Freeman

Raoul Freeman

Academy Awards Attendee (uncredited)

Charles Watts

Charles Watts

Harrison (uncredited)

George Calliga

George Calliga

Academy Awards Attendee (uncredited)

Kenneth Gibson

Kenneth Gibson

Racetrack Spectator (uncredited)

Nita Mathews

Nita Mathews

Dancer (uncredited)

Tom Nolan

Tom Nolan

Child Dancer (uncredited)

Murray Pollack

Murray Pollack

Benefit Attendee (uncredited)

Leoda Richards

Leoda Richards

Party Guest (uncredited)

Geraldine Wall

Geraldine Wall

Esther's Neighbor (uncredited)

Richard Webb

Richard Webb

Wallace (uncredited)

Robert Strong

Robert Strong

Courtroom Reporter (uncredited)

Heinie Conklin

Heinie Conklin

Benefit Comedy Team Member (uncredited)

Charles Halton

Charles Halton

Paymaster (uncredited)

Rudolph Anders

Rudolph Anders

Mr. Ettinger (uncredited)

Robert F. Hoy

Robert F. Hoy

Soundman (uncredited)

Eric Wilton

Eric Wilton

Charles (uncredited)

Paul Bryar

Paul Bryar

Bartender at Racetrack (uncredited)

Frank Kreig

Frank Kreig

Man at Funeral (uncredited)

Oscar Blank

Oscar Blank

Vagrant (uncredited)

Oliver Cross

Oliver Cross

Academy Awards Attendee (uncredited)

Jack Gordon

Jack Gordon

Stagehand (uncredited)

George Nardelli

George Nardelli

Academy Awards Attendee (uncredited)

Dale Van Sickel

Dale Van Sickel

Photographer in a Dressing Room (uncredited)

Willis Bouchey

Willis Bouchey

McBride (uncredited)

Joseph Glick

Joseph Glick

Vagrant (uncredited)

Robert Locke Lorraine

Robert Locke Lorraine

Academy Awards Attendee (uncredited)

Dub Taylor

Dub Taylor

Norman's Driver (uncredited)

Benny Burt

Benny Burt

Courtroom Reporter (uncredited)

Charles Sherlock

Charles Sherlock

Man Trying to Subdue Norman at Banquet (uncredited)

Jack Kenney

Jack Kenney

Nightclub Patron (uncredited)

Dick Simmons

Dick Simmons

Producer / Benefactor (uncredited)

Jack Mower

Jack Mower

Benefit Attendee (uncredited)

Pat O'Malley

Pat O'Malley

Racetrack Spectator (uncredited)

Frank Wilcox

Frank Wilcox

Frank (uncredited)

Ralph Volkie

Ralph Volkie

Courtroom Reporter (uncredited)

Mae Marsh

Mae Marsh

Malibu Party Guest (uncredited)

James Mason

James Mason

Norman Maine

Rex Evans

Rex Evans

Academy Awards Emcee (uncredited)

David Armstrong

David Armstrong

Soundman (uncredited)

Gertrude Astor

Gertrude Astor

Racetrack Spectator (uncredited)

Spencer Chan

Spencer Chan

Actor at Payroll Window (uncredited)

Harry Denny

Harry Denny

Racetrack Spectator (uncredited)

Joe Dougherty

Joe Dougherty

Makeup Artist (uncredited)

Jack Ellis

Jack Ellis

Pinkerton Detective (uncredited)

Harry Evans

Harry Evans

Academy Awards Attendee (uncredited)

Joe Gilbert

Joe Gilbert

Audience Member (uncredited)

Carl M. Leviness

Carl M. Leviness

Academy Awards Attendee (uncredited)

Barry Norton

Barry Norton

Benefit Attendee (uncredited)

Dick Ryan

Dick Ryan

Nightclub Man (uncredited)

Bernard Sell

Bernard Sell

Racetrack Spectator (uncredited)

Mary Young

Mary Young

Boardinghouse Woman (uncredited)

Louis Jean Heydt

Louis Jean Heydt

Ocean Scene Director (uncredited)

Mort Mills

Mort Mills

Makeup Artist (uncredited)

Irving Bacon

Irving Bacon

Graves

Louis Mason

Louis Mason

Doorman (uncredited)

Leon Alton

Leon Alton

Usher (uncredited)

Phil Arnold

Phil Arnold

Agent (uncredited)

Kay Tapscott

Kay Tapscott

Dancer (uncredited)

Strother Martin

Strother Martin

Delivery Boy (uncredited)

Judy Garland

Judy Garland

Vicki Lester

Percy Helton

Percy Helton

William Gregory (uncredited)

George Becwar

George Becwar

Assistant Director (uncredited)

Havis Davenport

Havis Davenport

Paramount Starlet (uncredited)

Chick Chandler

Chick Chandler

Man in Car at Diner (uncredited)

Tex Brodus

Tex Brodus

Dancer (uncredited)

Don Richards

Don Richards

Shrine Auditorium Reporter (uncredited)

Nancy Kulp

Nancy Kulp

Esther's Neighbor (uncredited)

Russell Custer

Russell Custer

Courtroom Officer (uncredited)

Ron Nyman

Ron Nyman

Stage Manager (uncredited)

Hilda Plowright

Hilda Plowright

Shrine Auditorium Photographer (uncredited)

George Cukor

George Cukor

-

Boyd Cabeen

Boyd Cabeen

Racetrack Spectator (uncredited)

Philo McCullough

Philo McCullough

Academy Awards Attendee (uncredited)

Fred Kelsey

Fred Kelsey

Audience Member (uncredited)

Marion Gray

Marion Gray

Racetrack Spectator (uncredited)

Arthur Space

Arthur Space

Night Court Clerk (uncredited)

Tom Wilson

Tom Wilson

Stagehand Carrying Poles / Passerby Outside Hotel (uncredited)

Charles Bickford

Charles Bickford

Oliver Niles

Carey Loftin

Carey Loftin

Signboard Man (uncredited)

Paul Brinegar

Paul Brinegar

Man at Funeral (uncredited)

Marshall Bradford

Marshall Bradford

Academy Awards Attendee (uncredited)

Joseph Mell

Joseph Mell

Paymaster (uncredited)

Rudy Del Campo

Rudy Del Campo

Dancer (uncredited)

Josephine Whittell

Josephine Whittell

Shrine Auditorium Reporter (uncredited)

Patrick Miller

Patrick Miller

Shrine Auditorium Photographer (uncredited)

Al Thompson

Al Thompson

Vagrant (uncredited)

Barbara Pepper

Barbara Pepper

Esther's Neighbor (uncredited)

Emerson Treacy

Emerson Treacy

Justice of the Peace (uncredited)

Paul Levitt

Paul Levitt

Malibu Party Guest (uncredited)

Robert Stevenson

Robert Stevenson

Boom Operator (uncredited)

Sheila Bromley

Sheila Bromley

Shrine Auditorium Reporter (uncredited)

Rodney Bell

Rodney Bell

Malibu Party Guest (uncredited)

Jack Carson

Jack Carson

Matt Libby

Almeda Fowler

Almeda Fowler

Malibu Party Guest (uncredited)

James Hyland

James Hyland

Assistant Announcer (uncredited)

Ted Thorpe

Ted Thorpe

Soundman (uncredited)

Beulah Christian

Beulah Christian

Academy Awards Attendee (uncredited)

Tom Cound

Tom Cound

Price Waterhouse Man (uncredited)

Loretta Russell

Loretta Russell

Racetrack Spectator (uncredited)

George Kitchel

George Kitchel

Reporter (uncredited)

Earl Bellamy

Earl Bellamy

-

Grady Sutton

Grady Sutton

Artie Carver (uncredited)

Ila McAvoy

Ila McAvoy

Mother in "Born in a Trunk" Number (uncredited)

Ezelle Poule

Ezelle Poule

Shrine Auditorium Photographer (uncredited)

Larry Rio

Larry Rio

Soundman (uncredited)

Eileen Stevens

Eileen Stevens

Shrine Auditorium Reporter (uncredited)

Tom Kingston

Tom Kingston

Reporter (uncredited)

Jean Willes

Jean Willes

Fan at a Benefit Show (uncredited)

Don Shelton

Don Shelton

TV Director (uncredited)

Russell Llewellyn

Russell Llewellyn

-

Lulu Mae Bohrman

Lulu Mae Bohrman

Academy Awards Attendee (uncredited)

Reginald Simpson

Reginald Simpson

Academy Awards Attendee (uncredited)

Tommy Noonan

Tommy Noonan

Danny McGuire

Lucy Marlow

Lucy Marlow

Lola Lavery

Amanda Blake

Amanda Blake

Susan Ettinger

Hazel Shermet

Hazel Shermet

Libby's Secretary

James Brown

James Brown

Glenn Williams (uncredited)

Laurindo Almeida

Laurindo Almeida

-

Nadine Ashdown

Nadine Ashdown

Esther (age 6) (uncredited)

Jack Baker

Jack Baker

-

Lennie Bluett

Lennie Bluett

Dancer (uncredited)

Ruth Brady

Ruth Brady

Malibu Party Guest (uncredited)

Kathryn Card

Kathryn Card

Landlady (uncredited)

John Carlyle

John Carlyle

Assistant Director (uncredited)

Beth Carter

Beth Carter

Dancer (uncredited)

Lauren Chapin

Lauren Chapin

Little Girl at Boarding House (uncredited)

Samuel Colt

Samuel Colt

Sammy the Stage Manager (uncredited)

Charles J. Conrad

Charles J. Conrad

Assistant Director (uncredited)

Blythe Daley

Blythe Daley

Nora Fusselow (uncredited)

Alan DeWitt

Alan DeWitt

Makeup Artist (uncredited)

Helen Eby-Rock

Helen Eby-Rock

Shrine Auditorium Reporter (uncredited)

Jean Engstrom

Jean Engstrom

Malibu Party Guest (uncredited)

Timothy Farrell

Timothy Farrell

Bailiff (uncredited)

Elizabeth Flournoy

Elizabeth Flournoy

Shrine Auditorium Reporter (uncredited)

Nacho Galindo

Nacho Galindo

José Rodriguez (uncredited)

Wilton Graff

Wilton Graff

Shrine Auditorium Emcee (uncredited)

Joseph Hamilton

Joseph Hamilton

Agent (uncredited)

Ray Heindorf

Ray Heindorf

-

Bob Jellison

Bob Jellison

Eddie (uncredited)

Jay Johnson

Jay Johnson

Musician (uncredited)

Arlene Karr

Arlene Karr

Malibu Party Guest (uncredited)

Allen Kramer

Allen Kramer

Man (uncredited)

Henry Kulky

Henry Kulky

Cuddles (uncredited)

Dorothy Martinson

Dorothy Martinson

Woman (uncredited)

Jack McCoy

Jack McCoy

Father in "Born in a Trunk" Number (uncredited)

Don McKay

Don McKay

Dancer (uncredited)

Heidi Meadows

Heidi Meadows

Esther (age 3) (uncredited)

Nolie Miller

Nolie Miller

Dancer (uncredited)

Todd Miller

Todd Miller

Dancer (uncredited)

Wade Miller

Wade Miller

Dancer (uncredited)

John Monaghan

John Monaghan

Male Secretary (uncredited)

Hal J. Moore

Hal J. Moore

Racetrack PA Announcer (uncredited)

Monette Moore

Monette Moore

Blues Singer (uncredited)

Leonard Penn

Leonard Penn

Train Station Scene Director (uncredited)

Mel Pogue

Mel Pogue

Autograph Hound (uncredited)

Grandon Rhodes

Grandon Rhodes

Producer at Premiere (uncredited)

Kay Riehl

Kay Riehl

Hairdresser (uncredited)

Lotus Robb

Lotus Robb

Ms. Markham (uncredited)

Walter Rode

Walter Rode

Courtroom Policeman (uncredited)

Patricia Rosemond

Patricia Rosemond

Dancer (uncredited)

Riza Royce

Riza Royce

Secretary (uncredited)

Henry Russell

Henry Russell

Studio Orchestra Leader (uncredited)

Patrick Sexton

Patrick Sexton

Bert (uncredited)

Bert Spencer

Bert Spencer

Academy Awards Attendee (uncredited)

Buddy Spencer

Buddy Spencer

Dancer (uncredited)

Wayne Taylor

Wayne Taylor

Autograph Hound (uncredited)

Louis Tomei

Louis Tomei

Signboard Man (uncredited)

Valerie Vernon

Valerie Vernon

Marian (uncredited)

Ruth Warren

Ruth Warren

Shrine Auditorium Reporter (uncredited)

Harte Wayne

Harte Wayne

Man at a Funeral (uncredited)

Duff Whitney

Duff Whitney

Reporter (uncredited)

Shirley Whitney

Shirley Whitney

Malibu Party Guest (uncredited)

Stephen Wyman

Stephen Wyman

Nigel Peters (uncredited)

Edward Graham

Edward Graham

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Details

GenresDrama, Music, Romance
Runtime2h 56 mins
Released on01 Oct 1954
Languageen
Age RatingPG
Produced InUnited States of America

Reviews

CinemaSerf

7/10

One cannot watch this nowadays without seeing parallels between the James Mason role as "Norman Maine" and Judy Garland's own later life. He is the falling star of Hollywood kept afloat by booze and the ceaseless efforts of his studio boss "Oliver Niles" (Charles Bickford) to keep him from complete self-destruction. Meantime "Esther Blodgett" (Garland) is a struggling chanteuse taking any job she can until good fortune strikes. One night, serendipity takes a hand in this and their paths cross. He hears her sing "The Man That Got Away" with her band in a bar and is smitten both professionally and emotionally. As the title suggests, a star is well and truly born. Soon "Maine" is but an appendage to the newly renamed "Vicki Lester" which sees him spiral even more out of control, despite her addictive love for him. It's long (over 2½ hours) so inevitably, it sags at times - I could have done with more singing, but it is still a fine, touching, piece of cinema.

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