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A STAR IS BORN came into being when producer David O. Selznick decided to tell a "true behind-the-scenes" story of Hollywood. The truth, of course, was filtered a bit for box-office purposes, although Selznick and an army of screenwriters based much of their script on actual people and events. Janet Gaynor stars as Esther Blodgett, the small-town girl who dreams of Hollywood stardom, a role later played by both Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand in the 1954 and 1976 remakes. Jeered at by most of her family, Esther finds an ally in her crusty old grandma (May Robson), who admires the girl's "pioneer spirit" and bankrolls Esther's trip to Tinseltown. On arrival, Esther heads straight to Central Casting, where a world-weary receptionist (Peggy Wood), trying to let the girl down gently, tells her that her chances for stardom are about one in a thousand. "Maybe I'll be that one!" replies Esther defiantly. Months pass: through the intervention of her best friend, assistant director Danny McGuire (Andy Devine), Esther gets a waitressing job at an upscale Hollywood party. Her efforts to "audition" for the guests are met with quizzical stares, but she manages to impress Norman Maine (Fredric March), the alcoholic matinee idol later played by James Mason and Kris Kristofferson. Esther gets her first big break in Norman's next picture and a marriage proposal from the smitten Mr. Maine. It's a hit, but as Esther (now named Vicki)'s star ascends, Norman's popularity plummets due to a string of lousy pictures and an ongoing alcohol problem. The film won Academy Awards for director William Wellman and Robert Carson in the "original story" category and for W. Howard Greene's glistening Technicolor cinematography. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
W. Howard Greene Ben Hecht Ring Lardner, Jr. John Lee Mahin Dorothy Parker David O. Selznick William Wellman Budd Schulberg Adela Rogers St. John Alan Campbell Robert Carson
Set Designers
Edward Boyle
Others
Art Director - Lyle Wheeler
Cinematographer - W. Howard Greene
Composer (Music Score) - Max Steiner
Costume Designer - Omar Kiam
First Assistant Director - Eric Stacey
Production Designer - Lansing C. Holden
Special Effects - Jack Cosgrove
A STAR IS BORN showcased Janet Gaynor's last great performance and established one of the screen's most enduring tales of tragic love. A triumph of top-grade production values, writing, and acting, it represented the zenith of efforts from United Artists in the late 1930s, and remains entertaining and relevant when viewed by current-day audiences. This is one of the best films of the 1930s, particularly notable for the acting and the high level of technical work, as director William Wellman adroitly combines a rich visual style with the luminous performances of the film's stars. An honorary Oscar selected by a panel of cinematographers went to Howard Greene's Technicolor work, helping to change Academy rules two years later to recognize color cinematography as a separate category from Black & White. The film received seven Oscar nominations overall, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress for Gaynor, and Best Actor for Fredric March, winning for Wellman and co-scripter Robert Carson as "Best Original Story." ~ Richard Gilliam, Rovi
Fredric March : Best Actor - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sc, 1937
Janet Gaynor : Best Actress - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sc, 1937
Eric Stacey : Best Assistant Director - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sc, 1937
William Wellman : Best Director - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sc, 1937
William Wellman : Best Original Story - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sc, 1937
Alan Campbell : Best Original Story - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sc, 1937
W. Howard Greene : Honorary and Other Awards - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sc, 1937
Dorothy Parker : Best Screenplay - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sc, 1937
Robert Carson : Best Screenplay - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sc, 1937
Robert Carson : Best Original Story - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sc, 1937
