Rating: 
Summary: JUDY`S COMEBACK OVERRATED
Review: You`ll relish the majestic opening credits of this film. The music is good.BUT George Cukor got overacting from his cast. It`s the same thing that happened on the GONE WITH THE WIND set. Seeing Vivien Leigh in the docu "The Making of a Legend" you`ll see a theatrical performance, not the Scarlett Victor Fleming gave us after replacing Cukor 2 weeks after the production started. Indeed, it is the same case here. All good actors, but they are not the least helped by an old warhouse of a script, based on the "What Price Hollywood"(1932)directed by GEORGE CUKOR. In addition, they are overacting. Witness Judy`s breakdowns in front of Charles Bickford in the dressingroom and the key scene in which she decides to retire in order to take care of Norman Maine(James Mason). Judy`s musical numbers are the highlights of this film. Judy really looks 2 old for a part who screams for a twentysomething of an actress. Another failure is the opening of the film. It`s clear where the Academy Award footage ends and where the original film footage begins and vice verca. It is not however a FAILURE. It is a competent production, but quite uneven. It you are to see Judy in good dramatic turns why not try A CHILD IS WAITING or even better; I COULD GO ON SINGING. And mind you. I have been a Judy Garland fan since I was 10 years old(32 now)...... See my MORE ABOUT ME page about my thoughts of JUDY GARLAND
Rating: 
Summary: A STAR IS ASTOUNDING1
Review: I love all of the great musicals. Fred, Gene, Doris day, Betty Grable, The Sound Of Music, Caberet, and so on up to this day. I have seen most of them and still intend to see the ones I have missed. Old and new alike ! However, when you take a talent like Judy Garland and James Mason you are taken completely by surprise by their power and intimacy. Not before or since has this story been portrayed so well. It has stood the test of time simply because it is honest and does not follow a trendy style which would date it. For Garland and Mason this movie was and will always be one of the greatest of their careers. We have the privelage of being astounded at their greatness and sad at the fact that Judy and James were robbed of the Oscar that year. Still they have a movie that we remember and love, which is more to the point. Who cares who won what for what at the end of the day 'A Star is Born ' is the ultimate winner. It's a smash of a movie, and worth seeing. Nuff said......
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful story of unrequited love
Review: I find this film special because, in an era where films focus so much on the sexual aspect of love, this film tells a story of two people whose love transcends the physical. Judy Garland is outstanding as Esther Blodgett / Vicki Lester in the role that should have won her an Academy Award (unfortunately, Grace Kelly won that year, in a role not totally unlike Judy's in this film); and James Mason is heartbreaking as Norman Maine, her alcoholic husband. If you're a romantic at heart, it will touch you to hear how they talk to and about one another - and the performances given by the actors keep the film from sliding into pure sentiment (another problem that today's romantic films seem to have). It's also amazing how much Norman's role parallels Judy's real life - it would be hard for me to believe that this dialogue was easy for her to listen to or speak. Just another tidbit: one of the things that makes this film so great to me was that it was co-scripted by Dorothy Parker, one of the greatest essayists / screenwriters of our time. But by all means, if you're a fan of romantic films, this film is a must have to your collection - and DO make sure you purchase the widescreen edition.
Rating:
Summary: JUDY'S GREATEST TRIUMPH
Review: From the glorious overture of "The Man That Got Away" to the penultimate closing line, this is Judy Garland's, (and one of Hollywood's) greatest triumph. After her four-year leave from Hollywood, Judy returned to the silver screen in Cinemascope, full of heart, joy, and everything that made us love her. In this great dramatic story of Hollywood and its tragic juxtaposes with reality, Judy plays Esther Blodgett, a singer with a great undiscovered talent... "a little something extra". She is discovered by alcoholic actor Norman Maine (beautifully and tragically played by James Mason)and becomes a star by her first picture. While a deep romance blossoms between the rising star and the fading actor, times are unkind... Norman is released from his contract and goes on a drinking binge. (In one of the film's most memorable moments, a drunken Norman interrupts Esther's Oscar acceptance speech to beg all of Hollywood for a job.)Judy brilliantly acts the ultra-dramatic role, running the full gamut of emotions from A to Z. She IS Esther Blodgett. Her dramatic intensity is so unexpected, it scares the viewer. Judy really should have won the Oscar for this performance. It would be in any book of legendary performances. On a lighter note, the picture has an absolute perfect, exciting score: the brilliantly lit, haunting "The Man That Got Away", the thrilling, over-brilliant "Swanee" and the amusing "Somewhere, There's A Someone" and the pensive "It's A New World", just to name a few. With an incredible supporting cast boasting the talents of Jack Carson, Charles Bickford, Tom Noonan, and Lucy Marlow, the genius script by Moss Hart, and the direction of George Cukor, "A Star Is Born" fills the eyes and ears...and the heart and soul. It should NEVER be seen without its Cinemascope format. Because you'll also miss out on Judy. Judy, who so perfectly plays this role...nobody else should have or should EVER tried to play it. Judy, you're marvelous, I love you, I always will. Thank you for giving the world such a remarkably incredible movie!
Rating:
Summary: Great Masterpiece
Review: Only the truly great films are done in by executives who think they know more about the art. Its all here even with the added stills to represent what could not be retrieved. Judy is stunning and Mason matches her all the way. Any description would still not give this film justice..with a great supporting cast ..a one of a kind film experience. Imagine going to a theater tonight and instead of some cuurent fare the house played " A Star is Born" what an evening. Unique
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant movie and Judy so deserved an Oscar.
Review: I want to concentrate on what a great movie this was and not pathetically correct someone. Judy's acting was so subdued but explosive that it does seem shady that her film was cut up to pieces and not able to be put back together. One of Hollywoods great mysteries. James Mason was so powerful that you feel you are watching very private moments that you shouldn't see. Their chemistry is beyond excellent. This DVD is the chance to get to see this film as close to the original intentions as has been possible yet. Don't let it slip away agian.
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Summary: Grace Kelly won the oscar for 1954 not Loretta Young
Review: ...Just wanted to correct Gary's revie
Rating:
Summary: This movie made me believe in Conspriacy Theories!
Review: This was a great film! Truly one of the greatest and it was chopped to pieces and whole scenes were conveniently "lost". Might this have been to control and put Judy Garland in her place. The answer has to be yes. Her performance was so brilliant (a real shock to people who think she only sang) and the film such a masterpiece that the money people were afraid to let her have a success. Garland so obviously deserved to win the oscar but did not (the excellent Loretta Young did) and the studio and money people had so many excuses to bury the film and it's potential. So now that it is finally arriving on DVD we finally get a chance to see more of what should have been.
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Summary: A Star is Born-THE Star Is Born
Review: Although this film was a remake of the 1937 Janet Gaynor/Frederick March film, that version cannot touch the brilliance, luster, intensity and artistry of the 1954 film. Garland is at her peak, giving one of the finest acting performances in the history of films. Garland did not win the Oscar, which was, is, and always will be a travesty an inexcusable miscarriage of justice. For those unfamiliar with Garland who are interested in the story of "A Star Is Born," the Garland version stands head and shoulders above the other two films that bear this name. The third version, with Barbra Streisand, would best be re-titled "A Bore Is Starred."
Rating:
Summary: I'VE BEEN HEARD!! THE BEST "JUDY" AND BEST "STAR"
Review: I saw this recent reissue of the 1954 STAR IS BORN in a store, but did not see it in Widescreen. I was intrigued by all the added attractions, including the Premiere, Original Trailer, the deleted WHEN MY BABY WALKS DOWN THE STREET, and the fabulous alternates of MAN THAT GOT AWAY. The next day in another store, I find the WIDESCREEN EDITION!! Hallaluah!! I have been writing to Warner Brothers since the first edition of the Restored Version was released to try to get it out in Widescreen, THX, Surround, etc. Hence, I've been heard! Granted, though not THX, Warners did a superb job in enhancing the restored version. Even on a mono VCR, you can tell the difference in the soundtrack, and the widescreen edition gives you the FULL effect of this great film. Pan and Scan does not do it justice. I was one of many who saw this restored film during its 1983 tour, featuring personal appearances at the theatre by major stars, including the fabulous James Mason. I was at the Dallas engagement and was waiting for Liza or Lorna to appear, as Liza did in NY. However, I got the great suprise to have Ginger Rogers come out and say a few words, as did Fay Kanin of the Academy and Mr. Mason. We were then treated to this restored "wonder", and the additions of what was deleted added so much to the story, that it made more sense. I loved the shortened version, but did not know until this re-release it had been chopped down. With the extra bits for MAN THAT GOT AWAY and WHEN MY BABY that have been added as supplemental footage, someday someone at Warners will stumble on the cut footage of the actual scenes that were reconstructed using the still shots and other supplemental pieced footage. With the way Film Preservation has advanced, we may one day see this film in its full form. As of today, this new version, including the DVD to come out, is the ultimate version to have in your collection. Though it is not labled as a 45th Anniversary Edition, 1999 makes the 45th anniversary of release for this incredible film. It is a shame Mr. Cukor did not see the completed reconstruction prior to his passing, but I am sure God has found a way for him to see it. It is marvelous. Buy it, put your feet up for a few hours and ENJOY!!
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