A Star is Born ( 1937 film ) - wikipedia A Star is Born ( 1937 film ) A Star Is Born Original theatrical poster Directed by William A. Wellman Produced by David O. Selznick Written by William A. Wellman Robert Carson Dorothy Parker Alan Campbell Starring Janet Gaynor Fredric March Music by Max Steiner Cinematography W. Howard Greene Edited by James E. Newcom Anson Stevenson Production company Selznick International Pictures Distributed by United Artists Release date April 20, 1937 ( 1937 - 04 - 20 ) Running time 111 minutes Country United States Language English Budget $1.2 million Box office over $2 million A Star Is Born is a 1937 American Technicolor romantic drama film produced by David O. Selznick, directed by William A. Wellman from a script by Wellman, Robert Carson, Dorothy Parker, and Alan Campbell, and starring Janet Gaynor ( in her only Technicolor film ) as an aspiring Hollywood actress, and Fredric March ( in his Technicolor debut ) as a fading movie star who helps launch her career. The supporting cast features Adolphe Menjou, May Robson, Andy Devine, Lionel Stander, and Owen Moore. The film was remade three times : in 1954 ( directed by George Cukor and starring Judy Garland and James Mason ), in 1976 ( directed by Frank Pierson and starring Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson ), and in 2018 ( starring Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, who also directed ). Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Production 4 Background 5 Soundtrack 6 Reception 7 Academy Awards 8 Adaptations to other media 9 Remakes 10 Ownership and copyright status 11 Home media 12 See also 13 References 14 External links Plot Janet Gaynor in A Star Is Born ( 1937 ) North Dakota farm girl Esther Victoria Blodgett yearns to become a Hollywood actress. Although her aunt and father discourage such thoughts, Esther 's grandmother gives Esther her savings to follow her dream. Esther goes to Hollywood and tries to land a job as an extra, but so many others have had the same idea that the casting agency has stopped accepting applications. Esther is told that her chances of becoming a star are one in 100,000. She befriends a new resident at her boarding house, assistant director Danny McGuire, himself out of work. When Danny and Esther go to a concert to celebrate Danny 's employment, Esther has her first encounter with Norman Maine, an actor she admires greatly. Norman has been a major star for years, but his alcoholism has sent his career into a downward spiral. Danny gets Esther a one - time waitressing job at a fancy Hollywood party. While serving hors d'œuvre, she catches Norman 's eye. He gets his longtime producer and good friend, Oliver Niles, to give her a screen test. Impressed, Oliver gives her a new name ( `` Vicki Lester '' ) and a contract. She practices her few lines for her first tiny role. When the studio has trouble finding a female lead for Norman 's current film, entitled The Enchanted Hour, Norman persuades Oliver to cast Esther. The film makes her an overnight success, even as viewers continue to lose interest in Norman. Norman proposes to Esther ; she accepts when he promises to give up drinking. They elope without publicity, much to press agent Matt Libby 's disgust, and enjoy a trailer - camping honeymoon in the mountains. When they return, Esther 's popularity continues to skyrocket, while Norman realizes his own career is over, despite Oliver 's attempts to help him. Norman stays sober for a while, but his frustration over his situation finally pushes him over the edge. He starts drinking again. When Esther wins the industry 's top award ( the Academy Award for Best Actress ), he interrupts her acceptance speech by drunkenly demanding three awards for the worst acting of the year. A stay at a sanatorium seems to cure Norman 's increasingly disruptive alcoholism, but a chance encounter with Libby gives the press agent an opportunity to vent his long - concealed contempt and dislike for Norman. Norman goes on a four - day drinking binge and winds up arrested for drunk driving. In court, the judge sentences him to 90 days of incarceration, but Esther pleads with the judge to put Norman under her care. The judge, who is impressed with Esther 's acting success, suspends Norman 's sentence and puts Norman 's custody into Esther 's hands. Esther decides to give up her career in order to devote herself to his rehabilitation. After Norman overhears her discussing her plan with Oliver, he drowns himself in the Pacific Ocean. Shattered, Esther decides to quit and go home. Soon afterward, her grandmother shows up once she hears Esther is quitting. Her grandmother tells her of a letter Norman sent her when they got married. The letter stated how proud he was of Esther, and how much he loved her. Because of her grandmother 's words, and the reminder of Norman 's deep love, Esther is convinced to stay in show business. At the premiere of her next film at Grauman 's Chinese Theatre, when Esther is asked to say a few words into the microphone to her many fans listening across the world, she announces, `` Hello, everybody. This is Mrs. Norman Maine. '' March and Gaynor Cast Janet Gaynor as Esther Blodgett / Vicki Lester Fredric March as Norman Maine Adolphe Menjou as Oliver Niles May Robson as Grandmother Lettie Andy Devine as Daniel `` Danny '' McGuire Lionel Stander as Matt Libby Owen Moore as Casey Burke Peggy Wood as Miss Phillips Elizabeth Jenns as Anita Regis Edgar Kennedy as Pop Randall J.C. Nugent as Mr. Blodgett Guinn `` Big Boy '' Williams as posture coach Clara Blandick as Aunt Mattie ( uncredited ) Jonathan Hale as Night Court Judge ( uncredited ) Lillian Harmer as wardrobe woman ( uncredited ) Carole Landis as girl in beret at Santa Anita bar ( uncredited ) George Chandler as Delivery Man ( uncredited ) Production A Star Is Born was filmed from October to December 1936 with an estimated budget of $1,173,639, and premiered in Los Angeles, California, on April 20, 1937, at Grauman 's Chinese Theatre. The film 's New York premiere took place two days later at Radio City Music Hall. It is not known how much Dorothy Parker contributed to the finished script. When she first saw the film, Parker was proud of her contribution and boasted about both the script and the film, but in later life she believed that she had contributed nothing of significance. Early in their careers, Budd Schulberg ( then a script reader for David O. Selznick ) and Ring Lardner, Jr. ( who was working in Selznick 's publicity department ) were assigned to write some additional dialogue for the film, a collaboration which produced Janet Gaynor 's ( and the film 's ) final words : `` This is Mrs. Norman Maine. '' The line was used again in the 1954 Warner Bros. musical remake starring Judy Garland and James Mason. George Cukor, who directed the remake, suggested adding the scene in the 1937 film where Menjou offers the fading star a supporting role. Adolphe Menjou ( left ) and Andy Devine ( right ) from the film 's trailer Background Some film historians believe that the marriage of Barbara Stanwyck and Frank Fay was the film 's real - life inspiration. John Bowers has also been identified as inspiration for the Norman Maine character and the dramatic suicide - by - drowning scene near the end of the film ( Bowers drowned in November 1936 ). The film contains several inside jokes, including Gaynor 's brief imitations of Greta Garbo, Katharine Hepburn, and Mae West ; the `` Crawford Smear '', referring to Joan Crawford 's lipstick ; and the revelation that the glamorous Norman Maine 's real last name is Hinkle. ( Hinkle was the real last name of silent film star Agnes Ayres, and not far removed from Fredric March 's real last name, Bickel. ) This film also has many similarities to the earlier film What Price Hollywood ? ( 1932 ), released by RKO Radio Pictures. The 1932 film 's original title was The Truth About Hollywood based on a story by Adela Rogers St. Johns. St. Johns loosely based her plot on the experiences of actress Colleen Moore and her husband, alcoholic producer John McCormick ( 1893 -- 1961 ), and the life and death of director Tom Forman, who committed suicide following a nervous breakdown. Four years after What Price Hollywood ? was released, Selznick approached George Cukor and asked him to direct A Star Is Born. Cukor felt the plot was too similar to What Price Hollywood ? so he declined. RKO executives considered filing a plagiarism suit against Selznick International Pictures because of the similarities in the story, but eventually chose not to take legal action. Cukor later directed the 1954 musical remake starring Judy Garland. A common Hollywood myth about the film is that Lana Turner appeared as an extra in one of the scenes in the film. Turner often denied the myth over the years, mentioning that she was discovered several months after the picture had finished production. March in the trailer Soundtrack `` A Star is Born '', sung by Buddy Clark with the orchestra of Eddy Duchin. The lyrics were written by Dorothy Dick to the music of Max Steiner. Reception Contemporary reviews were very positive. Frank S. Nugent of The New York Times called the film `` one of the year 's best shows '' as well as `` good entertainment by any standards, including the artistic, and convincing proof that Hollywood need not travel to Ruritania for its plots ; there is drama aplenty in its own backyard. '' Variety raved : `` A smash which unquestionably will rate among the half dozen best of the season... While the story is somewhat reminiscent of other behind - the - scene yarns, the manner of its telling makes it convincing and distinguished. '' Harrison 's Reports called it `` a powerful human interest drama '' and `` great entertainment. '' Film Daily said it was `` superbly done in all departments, '' and John Mosher of The New Yorker called it `` a pleasant movie '' with `` many nice touches. '' On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film received an approval rating of 100 % based on 11 reviews, with an average rating of 7.5 / 10. By the end of 1939 the film had earned a profit of $181,000. Academy Awards At the 10th Academy Awards, A Star is Born was nominated in seven categories, winning in one. Wellman won the award for original story, the only Oscar he was to win during his career. W. Howard Greene received an honorary Academy Award for the film 's color photography ; this award was recommended by a committee of leading cinematographers after viewing all the color pictures made during the year. Wins Best Writing ( Original Story ) : William Wellman, Robert Carson Special Award : W. Howard Greene Nominations Outstanding Production : Selznick International Pictures ; the first color film to be nominated for best picture. Best Director : William Wellman Best Actor : Fredric March Best Actress : Janet Gaynor Best Assistant Director : Eric Stacey Best Writing ( Screenplay ) : Dorothy Parker, Alan Campbell, Robert Carson Adaptations to other media At the time of the release of the film, a 15 - minute transcription -- a pre-recorded radio show issued on 16 - inch disc -- promoting the film 's release was made. The narrated promotional radio show included sound clips from the film. The show was recorded and released through the World Broadcasting System, with disc matrix number H - 1636 - 2. The film was adapted as a radio play on the September 13, 1937, episode of Lux Radio Theater with Robert Montgomery and Janet Gaynor, the November 17, 1940, episode of The Screen Guild Theater starring Loretta Young and Burgess Meredith, the December 28, 1942, episode of Lux Radio Theater with Judy Garland and Walter Pidgeon, the June 29, 1946, episode of Academy Award Theater, starring Fredric March, the May 23, 1948, episode of the Ford Theatre and the June 16, 1950, episode of Screen Director 's Playhouse starring Fredric March. Remakes A Star Is Born has been remade three times, in 1954 with Judy Garland and James Mason, in 1976 with Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson, and in 2018 with Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. Production on the 2018 version began in 2017, with the film released on October 5, 2018. Play media The entire film Ownership and copyright status See also : List of films in the public domain in the United States Selznick International Pictures dissolved leaving the film 's rights to financier John Hay Whitney. Whitney then sold the film to Film Classics, Inc. in 1943. With declining rerun revenue, Film Classics place the film up for sale with producer Edward L. Alperson with the intent to remake the film. Instead Alperson sold the film 's copyright including film, story, screenplay, and score to Warner Bros. in 1953. Warner in 1954 issued the first remake. In 1965, the film entered the public domain in the United States because Warner did not renew its copyright registration in the 28th year after publication. The original 35mm master elements remain with Warner Bros. The rights to the film 's story, screenplay, and score also remain with Warner Bros. ; thus it still has exclusive rights to all three remakes as well as any future remakes. Home media The film was released on Blu - ray in the US by Kino Lorber Inc. on February 2012, featuring an edition authorized by the estate of David O. Selznick from the collection of George Eastman House. See also List of films with a 100 % rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a film review aggregator website References Jump up ^ Hanson, Patricia King, ed. ( 1993 ). The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures Produced in the United States : Feature Films, 1931 - 1940. Berkeley and Los Angeles : University of California Press. pp. 2368 -- 2369. ISBN 0 - 520 - 07908 - 6. ^ Jump up to : Thomson, David ( 1993 ). Showman : The Life of David O. Selznick. Abacus. p. 245. ISBN 978 - 0 - 349 - 10523 - 9. Jump up ^ Brown, Gene ( 1995 ). Movie Time : A Chronology of Hollywood and the Movie Industry from its Beginnings to the Present. New York : MacMillan. p. 135. ISBN 0 - 02 - 860429 - 6. Jump up ^ `` 1937 ''. GraumansChinese.org. Retrieved September 6, 2015. Jump up ^ `` ' Courageous ' Set For Two - A-Day on Coast ''. Variety. New York : Variety, Inc. : 21 April 7, 1937. Jump up ^ `` The Broadway Parade ''. Film Daily. New York : Wid 's Films and Film Folk, Inc. : 2 April 19, 1937. Jump up ^ Meade, Marion ( 1989 ). Dorothy Parker : What Fresh Hell Is This ?. Penguin Publishing Group. p. 259. ISBN 978 - 1 - 101 - 46219 - 5. Jump up ^ McGilligan, Patrick ( 1997 ). `` Ring Lardner, Jr. : American Skeptic ''. Backstory 3 : Interviews with Screenwriters of the 60s. Berkeley : University of California Press. Retrieved September 4, 2015 -- via California Digital Library. Jump up ^ `` What Price Hollywood ? ''. TV Guide. Retrieved September 4, 2015. Jump up ^ McGilligan, Patrick ( 1991 ). George Cukor : A Double Life. New York : St. Martin 's Press. ISBN 0 - 312 - 05419 - X. Jump up ^ Levy, Emanuel ( 1994 ). George Cukor : Master of Elegance. New York : William Morrow & Company. ISBN 0 - 688 - 11246 - 3. Jump up ^ Nugent, Frank S. ( April 23, 1937 ). `` Movie Review - A Star is Born ''. The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved September 6, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Film reviews ''. Variety. New York : Variety, Inc. : 15 April 28, 1937. Jump up ^ `` A Star Is Born ''. Harrison 's Reports. New York : Harrison 's Reports, Inc. : 71 May 1, 1937. Jump up ^ `` Reviews ''. Film Daily. New York : Wid 's Films and Film Folk, Inc. : 7 April 23, 1937. Jump up ^ Mosher, John ( May 1, 1937 ). `` The Current Cinema ''. The New Yorker. New York : F-R Publishing Corp. : 81. Jump up ^ `` A Star Is Born ( 1937 ) ''. Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved June 7, 2018. Jump up ^ `` The 10th Academy Awards ( 1937 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Academy of Motion Picture Arts an Sciences ( oscars.org ). Retrieved February 18, 2014. Jump up ^ Booker, Keith M. ( 2011 ). Historical Dictionary of American Cinema. Scarecrow Press. p. 410. ISBN 978 - 0 - 8108 - 7459 - 6. Jump up ^ Franks, Don ( 2004 ). Entertainment Awards : A Music, Cinema, Theatre and Broadcasting Guide, 1928 through 2003 ( 3rd ed. ). McFarland. p. 214. ISBN 978 - 1 - 4766 - 0806 - 8. Jump up ^ `` Those Were The Days ''. Nostalgia Digest. 41 ( 3 ) : 32 -- 39. Summer 2015. Jump up ^ Lawrence, Derek ( December 20, 2017 ). `` Lady Gaga 's A Star Is Born shifts release date back to fall 2018 ''. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 5, 2018. Jump up ^ Jackson, Matthew ( March 6, 2017 ). `` 11 Classic Films in the Public Domain ''. Mental Floss. Retrieved June 12, 2018. ^ Jump up to : Hayes, David ( ed. ). `` Classic Film Museum, Inc. vs Warner Bros. Inc ''. Citations and Case Summaries. Copyright Registration and Renewal Information Chart and Web Site ( copyrightdata.com ). Retrieved May 24, 2012. Jump up ^ Fishman, Stephen ( 2014 ). The Public Domain : How to Find & Use Copyright - Free Writings, Music, Art & More. Nolo. p. 176. ISBN 978 - 1 - 4133 - 2028 - 2. Jump up ^ Pierce, David ( June 2007 ). `` Forgotten Faces : Why Some of Our Cinema Heritage Is Part of the Public Domain ''. Film History : An International Journal. 19 ( 2 ) : 125 -- 43. doi : 10.2979 / FIL. 2007.19. 2.125. ISSN 0892 - 2160. JSTOR 25165419. OCLC 15122313. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to A Star Is Born ( 1937 film ). A Star Is Born on IMDb A Star Is Born is available for free download at the Internet Archive A Star Is Born at AllMovie A Star Is Born at the TCM Movie Database A Star Is Born at the American Film Institute Catalog Streaming audio A Star Is Born on Lux Radio Theater : September 13, 1937 A Star Is Born on Screen Guild Theater : November 17, 1940 A Star Is Born on Lux Radio Theater : December 28, 1942 A Star Is Born on Academy Award Theater : June 29, 1946 A Star Is Born on Ford Theater : May 23, 1948 A Star Is Born Films 1937 1954 1976 2018 Music 1954 soundtrack `` The Man That Got Away '' 1976 soundtrack `` Evergreen '' 2018 soundtrack `` La Vie en rose '' `` Shallow '' `` Always Remember Us This Way '' `` Is That Alright ? '' `` I 'll Never Love Again '' Related What Price Hollywood ? Films directed by William A. Wellman 1920s Second Hand Love The Man Who Won Big Dan Cupid 's Fireman Not a Drum Was Heard The Vagabond Trail The Circus Cowboy When Husbands Flirt The Boob You Never Know Women The Cat 's Pajamas Wings The Legion of the Condemned Ladies of the Mob Beggars of Life Chinatown Nights The Man I Love Woman Trap 1930s Dangerous Paradise Young Eagles Maybe It 's Love Other Men 's Women The Public Enemy Night Nurse The Star Witness Safe in Hell The Hatchet Man So Big ! Love Is a Racket The Purchase Price The Conquerors Frisco Jenny Central Airport Lilly Turner Heroes for Sale Midnight Mary Wild Boys of the Road Female College Coach Looking for Trouble Stingaree The President Vanishes Call of the Wild Robin Hood of El Dorado Small Town Girl A Star Is Born Nothing Sacred Men with Wings Beau Geste The Light That Failed 1940s Reaching for the Sun Roxie Hart The Great Man 's Lady Thunder Birds Lady of Burlesque The Ox - Bow Incident Buffalo Bill This Man 's Navy The Story of G.I. Joe Gallant Journey Magic Town The Iron Curtain Yellow Sky Battleground 1950s The Next Voice You Hear... The Happy Years Across the Wide Missouri It 's a Big Country Westward the Women My Man and I Island in the Sky The High and the Mighty Track of the Cat Blood Alley Good - bye, My Lady Darby 's Rangers Lafayette Escadrille Television Light 's Diamond Jubilee ( co-directed ) Filmography of David O. Selznick Roulette ( 1924 ) Forgotten Faces ( 1928 ) Chinatown Nights ( 1929 ) Betrayal ( 1929 ) The Man I Love ( 1929 ) The Four Feathers ( 1929 ) Street of Chance ( 1930 ) What Price Hollywood ? ( 1932 ) A Bill of Divorcement ( 1932 ) Rockabye ( 1932 ) The Animal Kingdom ( 1932 ) Topaze ( 1933 ) Our Betters ( 1933 ) Christopher Strong ( 1933 ) Dinner at Eight ( 1933 ) Night Flight ( 1933 ) Meet the Baron ( 1933 ) Dancing Lady ( 1933 ) Viva Villa ! ( 1934 ) Manhattan Melodrama ( 1934 ) David Copperfield ( 1935 ) Vanessa : Her Love Story ( 1935 ) Reckless ( 1935 ) Anna Karenina ( 1935 ) A Tale of Two Cities ( 1935 ) Little Lord Fauntleroy ( 1936 ) The Garden of Allah ( 1936 ) A Star Is Born ( 1937 ) The Prisoner of Zenda ( 1937 ) Nothing Sacred ( 1937 ) The Adventures of Tom Sawyer ( 1938 ) The Young in Heart ( 1938 ) Made for Each Other ( 1939 ) Intermezzo : A Love Story ( 1939 ) Gone with the Wind ( 1939 ) Rebecca ( 1940 ) Reward Unlimited ( 1944, short ) Since You Went Away ( 1944 ) I 'll Be Seeing You ( 1945 ) Spellbound ( 1945 ) Duel in the Sun ( 1946 ) The Paradine Case ( 1948 ) Portrait of Jennie ( 1948 ) The Third Man ( 1949 ) Gone to Earth ( 1950 ) Stazione Termini ( 1954 ) Light 's Diamond Jubilee ( 1954, TV ) A Farewell to Arms ( 1957 ) WorldCat Identities LCCN : n80016857 VIAF : 182657814 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A_Star_Is_Born_(1937_film)&oldid=866448981 '' Categories : 1937 films English - language films 1930s drama films American films American drama films Films based on short fiction Films about actors Films shot in Lone Pine, California Films set in Los Angeles Films set in North Dakota Films that won the Academy Award for Best Story Selznick International Pictures films United Artists films Films directed by William A. Wellman Screenplays by Dorothy Parker Films scored by Max Steiner Hidden categories : Use mdy dates from May 2017 Articles with Internet Archive links Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Articles containing video clips Talk Contents About Wikipedia Dansk Deutsch Español Euskara فارسی Français 한국어 Bahasa Indonesia Italiano Magyar Nederlands 日本 語 Plattdüütsch Polski Português Русский Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska Türkçe Українська Tiếng Việt 15 more Edit links This page was last edited on 30 October 2018, at 12 : 01 ( UTC ). Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: who starred in the first make of a star is born
Answer: Janet Gaynor