Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

The 1937 version of A Star is Born starring Janet Gaynor and Fredric March is the original screen rendering of this great story. The film has been remade twice again, the first time being in 1954, starring Judy Garland and James Mason and in 1977 with Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson.

A Star is Born is the bittersweet story of the fairy-tale rise to fame of Esther Blodgett (Janet Gaynor), girl from a small town with aspirations of Hollywood stardom. Ridiculed by others for her dreams, Esther receives the encouragement and money she needs for the trip to Hollywood from her grandmother (May Robson), who is quite unorthodox herself. She encourages Esther to follow her dream but warns her that her success will mean paying a price.

Upon her arrival, Esther finds that Hollywood is full of film hopefuls. She is discouraged temporarily but it does not last. She takes a job as a server at a party where she meets one of Hollywood's most famous actors, Norman Maine (Fredric March), who is involved in one of his numerous drunken antics. Norman is still sober enough to notice Esther and she makes a definite impression on him. When he finds that she is an actress, he convinces producer Oliver Niles (Adolphe Menjou) to give her a screen test. The test is a success, Esther is signed to a contract and Niles immediately changes her name to Vicki Lester.

Norman does everything he can to help Vicki make her career a success and soon the two fall in love. When Vicki's first film is released, it is a hit. Shortly after, Norman proposes marriage and promises to stop his drunken adventures. The studio plans a lavish wedding and extensive press coverage. However, the pair decide to elope and they leave a livid press agent, Matt Libby (Lionel Stander), holding the bag. This move will later prove unwise as Libby holds a grudge against Maine for defeating his publicity plans and vows revenge.

After the honeymoon, Esther and Norman move into a luxurious Hollywood home and are very happy for a time. However, as her career flourishes, Norman's career declines. Eventually, Norman is considered a liability and his contract is dropped. At home, with nothing to do but take messages for his wife and wait for her to return each evening, Norman becomes depressed. By the time Vicki wins an Oscar, Norman has started to drink again and shows up for her awards ceremony drunk, embarrassing both himself and his wife during her acceptance speech.

Norman enters a sanitarium to try to conquer his alcoholism and when he returns has a chance meeting with Libby, who publicly humiliates Norman by saying that Norman is a has-been who is being supported by Esther. Norman and Libby exchange blows and Norman begins drinking once again, not returning home for days. Worried, Vicki searches everywhere and finally finds Norman being arraigned in night court. She pleads with the judge in Norman's behalf and the judge, impressed with her celebrity, chastises Norman and releases him into her custody. This further shames Norman and damages his already fragile ego.

Esther now makes a pivotal decision. She realizes that her career is what stands in the way of a successful marriage and she makes a choice. When Norman finds out her plans to end her career, he is unable to deal with her sacrifice and, in one of the most dramatic scenes, walks into the ocean outside their home, committing suicide.

Vicki is inconsolable after Norman's death and no longer wishes to continue her career. As she prepares to leave Hollywood, her grandmother again appears, giving her encouragement and support to go on. In the memorable last scene, Vicki and her grandmother are shown attending a Hollywood premier. When asked to say a few words to the assembled crowd and radio audience, Vicki begins triumphantly, "Hello, this is Mrs. Norman Maine. . . .".

Janet Gaynor and Fredric March are both excellent in their roles in this movie. Gaynor is totally believable as the loyal and self-sacrificing wife and March injects just the right blend of humor, sentiment and drama as the handsome and talented, yet fragile, Norman. Gaynor had won the first ever Best Actress award in 1929 and was nominated for Best Actress in this film. March also received a Best Actor nomination but neither won. David O. Selznick also received an Academy Award nomination for producing this film. A Star is Born did win two Oscars for Best Original Story and Color Cinematography. Lionel Stander is superb as Libby, the press agent you love to hate. Adolphe Menjou's role as producer Oliver Niles was adequate yet there is the feeling that his talents were wasted on this small part.

A Star is Born is the beautiful, tragic, sometimes funny story of how dreams can come true. This 1937 movie is viewed by many as the best of the three film versions.



Recommended: Yes

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