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"A Star Is Born" Movies
1932, 1937, 1954, 1976, 2018

poster for 'What Price Hollywood?' 1932 movie by George Cukor

poster for 'A Star Is Born' 1937 movie by William Wellman

poster for 'A Star Is Born' 1954 movie by George Cukor, starring Judy Garland

poster for 'A Star Is Born' 1976 movie starring Barbra Streisand & Kris Kristofferson

synopses & history
screenplays & books

the movies
1932 • 1937 • 1954 •
1976 • 2018 remake

principals

image gallery

links

Synopsis

Days after

History of The Film Days after

Screenplays & Books

The script for the 1932 film "What Price Hollywood?" received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Story; directed by George Cukor; based on a story by Adela Rogers St. Johns;
credited writers are Rowland Brown, Gene Fowler, Ben Markson & Jane Murfin; uncredited writers {listed on IMDb} are Robert Presnell Sr., Allen Rivkin & Louis Stevens
screenplay in book form: Continuum Intl. 8x5½ pb [10/84] out of print/40+ used

Director George Cukor declined an offer to direct the 1937 film because he felt that it was too similar to his 1932 film; R.K.O. considered suing Selznick over the similarities, but ultimately did not do so. From a story by William A. Wellman & Robert Carson; credited writers are: Alan Campbell, Robert Carson & Dorothy Parker; uncredited writers/contributors {per IMDb} are: Ben Hecht, Ring Lardner Jr., John Lee Mahin, Budd Schulberg, producer David O. Selznick & Adela Rogers St. Johns.

George Cukor directed the 1954 musical film; written by Moss Hart, based on the 1937 screenplay.

The writer/s of the original 1976 spec script are unidentified; the script was brought to Barbra Streisand by her then-boyfriend producer Jon Peters; they attempted to get Elvis Presley to co-star, but the demands by his manager Col. Tom Parker were excessive. Based on the 1937 story (converted to the rock music industry); credited writers are: Joan Didion, John Gregory Dunne & director Frank Pierson; uncredited writers/contributors {per IMDb} are: Jay Presson Allen, Jonathan Axelrod & Alvin Sargent.

'A Star Is Born and Born Again' book by James Stratton "A Star Is Born and Born Again: Variations On A Hollywood Archetype" [2015]
by James Stratton
Author considers the style, structure, performers, production team, and historical context that distinguish each of the four films; close analysis appraises the contributions of producer David Selznick, director George Cukor, director William Wellman, Constance Bennett, Janet Gaynor, Judy Garland, James Mason, Barbra Streisand, Kris Kristofferson, and various other film artists and technicians.
Kindle Edition from BearManor Media [6/2015] for $9.95
BearManor Media 9x6 pb [4/2015] for $24.95
BearManor Media 9x6 hardcover [4/2015] for $34.95

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"What Price Hollywood ?"
[R.K.O. Pathé June 1932]
film credits at Internet Movie Database
film entry at Wikipedia

What Price Hollywood 1932 movie by George Cukor A waitress at the Brown Derby restaurant in Hollywood befriends a seldom-sober director and is soon in the big-time; she snags a millionaire socialite but he soon tires of the Hollywood lifestyle and of playing second fiddle to a star. Filming locations included the Brown Derby, Grauman's Chinese Theater, and Hollywood Blvd. Exec produced by David O. Selznick; directed by George Cukor; based on a story by Adela Rogers St. Johns; music by Max Steiner; starring Constance Bennett, Lowell Sherman, Neil Hamilton, Gregory Ratoff, Brooks Benedict, Louise Beavers, Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson, King Baggot & Heinie Conklin; Oscar nomination for Best Original Story
Warner Archive Collection b&w DVD-R [2/2014] for $21.99
Warner Home Video b&w VHS [1/91] out of prodn/scarce
11"x17" poster available for $14.99 at AllPosters.com
screenplay in book form [1981]
Continuum Intl. 8x5½ pb [10/84] out of print/40+ used

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"A Star Is Born"
[Selznick/United Artists April 1937]
film credits at Internet Movie Database
film entry at Wikipedia

Produced by David O. Selznick; co-written & directed by William A. Wellman; starring Janet Gaynor, Fredric March, Adolphe Menjou, May Robson, Andy Devine, Lionel Stander, Owen Moore, Peggy Wood, Elizabeth Jenns, Edgar Kennedy, J.C. Nugent & Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams; won Oscar for Best Original Story & Honorary Oscar for color photography; Oscar noms for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor (FM), Best Actress (JG), Best Assistant Director full credits from IMDb
FROM OSCARS 40 PAGE

A Star Is Born: Classic Movies on the Radio [Dec 12, 2006] Unabridged by Lux Radio Theatre and Janet Gaynor
http://www.amazon.com/Star-Born-Classic-Movies-Radio/dp/B000LV6QOW/

A Star Is Born: VHS Video Movie [1985] Starring Fredric March, Janet Gaynor
http://www.amazon.com/Star-Born-VHS-Video-Movie/dp/B000QP17DI/

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"A Star Is Born"
[Warner Bros. September 1954]
film credits at Internet Movie Database
film entry at Wikipedia

directed by George Cukor, starring Judy Garland
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001A5HG24/ = A Star Is Born (Blu-ray Book)

"A Star Is Born: The Making of The 1954 Movie and Its 1983 Restoration" [1988] by Ronald Haver 9780060972745
http://www.amazon.com/Star-Born-Making-Movie-Restoration/dp/1557835632/
http://www.amazon.com/Star-Born-Making-Restoration-Hardcover/dp/B00POFNEE0/ FROM HISTORIANS PAGE

A Star Is Born (Vocal Selection) sheet music [Jun 1, 1983] by Ira Gershwin and Harold Arlen
http://www.amazon.com/Star-Born-Vocal-Selection/dp/0881885428/

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"A Star Is Born"
[Warner Bros./First Artists December 1976]
the second-highest grossing film of 1976
film credits at Internet Movie Database
film entry at Wikipedia

"A Star Is Born" novelization [1976] by Paul Williams
http://www.amazon.com/Star-Born-Paul-Williams/dp/B0015CP6RE/ only 1
http://www.amazon.com/Star-Born-Alexander-Edwards/dp/0446842141/

Kristofferson - Streisand A Star is Born - Vinyl LP [1976]
http://www.amazon.com/Kristofferson-Streisand-Star-Born-Vinyl/dp/B0054M5EVE/

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"Aashiqui (Love) 2" [India April 2013]
poster for 2013 'Aashiqui 2' Bollywood hit movie Bollywood musical film unrelated to the smash hit "Aashiqui" of 1990; singer Rahul's career is on the decline due to alcohol abuse; he supports lovely Arohi in her singing career and makes her a star; she wants to give up that career to take care of Rahul, but he feels unworthy of her sacrifice and commits suicide (writing credits do not mention "A Star Is Born" as plot source). The film made actors Shraddha Kapoor and Aditya Roy Kapoor famous and was declared a blockbuster in the third week of release, passing the 100 Crore Blockbuster threshold in its fourth week.
Produced by Bhushan Kumar & Krishan Kumar; directed by Mohit Suri; written by Shagufta Rafique; music by Jeet Ganguly, Mithun Sharma & Ankit Tiwari; starring Aditya Roy Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor & Shaad Randhawa
T-Series widescreen color Blu-ray w/English subtitles [6/2013] for $18.02
Vishesh Films widescreen color Blu-ray w/English subtitles [6/2013] for $18.25
145-minute Vishesh Films widescreen color DVD [6/2013] for $9.83
120-minute T-Series widescreen color DVD w/English subtitles [4/2013] for $16.98
T-Series audio CD [4/2013] 11 tracks for $9.06
T-Series MP3 album download [4/2013] 11 tracks for $7.99
full credits at IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia
watch Hindi-language official trailer [2:26] online at YouTube

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"A Star Is Born" remake
[Warner/Malpaso - in development for 2018?]
Announced 2012: remake being developed as a starring vehicle for singer Beyoncé Knowles, set in the world of rock music; to be co-produced by Clint Eastwood & Robert Lorenz and directed by Eastwood; script by Will Fetters; Beyoncé withdrew from the project in October 2012 • Announced 3/2015: actor Bradley Cooper entered negotiations to direct and co-produce the remake • Announced 8/2016: singer Lady Gaga has officially signed on to star opposite Bradley Cooper in the remake of ‘A Star Is Born’, for which she will write and perform original music; Cooper will make his directorial debut, while also co-producing with Todd Phillips, among others • Announced 10/2016: Warner Bros. has scheduled the film's opening for September 2018; added 3/2017: actor Sam Elliott is signed to star opposite Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga in the Warner Bros. remake • latest info at IMDb

Principals

actor-director Bradley Cooper

director George Cukor [1899-1983]

actress-singer Lady Gaga

Judy Garland [1922-69]

Janet Gaynor [1906-84]

Kris Kristofferson

Fredric March [1897-1975]

James Mason [1909-84]

Barbra Streisand

director William A. Wellman [1896-1975]

Image Gallery