Product: Star Is Born (UK PAL Region 0)
Rating: 4.0
Original, Compelling Drama
"A Star Is Born" the 1937 release is excellent drama and with the theme of fame and popularity. It is done in Technicolor, and is not the musical version with Judy Garland done in the 1950's. This original stars Janet Gaynor as a promising Hollywood starlet known as "Vicki Lester" - she came from a farm family, and her original name was Esther Blodgett. Sometimes her character tends to be an overly sweet hayseed, but she keeps her vital with excellent acting. Frederick March stars as the established movie star, "Norman Maine" who falls in love with and helps Esther start her career, but he realizes as her star rises, his is fading. He is a heavy drinker, older and a proud man. Seeing that he is sinking into obscurity, he cannot play second fiddle and commits suicide.This version stands up well even today and has great stars such as Gaynor and March as well as supporting cast of Adolphe Menjou, Andy Devine, Carole Landis, and Lionel Stander.