A Star is Born 1954

Hello, everybody. This is Mrs. Norman Maine."


As in most of the opening sequences of George Cukoors films ,
the opening scene , whilst seeming meaningless gives a clue to the plot and its outcome ,this film is no exception showing a grand opening night in Hollywood where One Spotlight short circuits and becomes extinguished and another Spotlight being suddenly turning on,

This is the premise of a Star is Born.

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At an annual Hollywood Charity Event ,Norman Maine (James Mason) a Slipping Alist Actor with a percent for drinking at any time of the day for any reason at all , is so completely intoxicated they his minders are trying desperately to delay or defer him from appearing on stage in his embarrassing current state,as a result Esther Blodget (Judy Garland in the performance of her life) and her group of travelling musicians go on earlier to perform the routine,Norman Maines Minders cannot contain him or his wandering hands,any further seeing him coming from the sidelines Ester tries to stop him from coming on the stage by trying to corner him in the wings , but the spotlight hits them and to the surprise of the greater assembled company Norman Maine appears on Stage grasping a flustered Ester after being slapped in the face by him.this their first meeting ,

The concept of making a star is born a musical film as it was later with Barbra Streisand seems easy enough but when presented by the notion that Norman Maine, a Gary Cooper styled actor would know anything about music or singers and be able to give Ester the assurance to continue ,maybe its the performers or the Chemistry but it just works , and it works marvelously
Although it was intended as a vehicle for Judy Garland, you don't need to be a big Garland fan to enjoy it. It's seems more tragic than the '37 version (apart from Frederic March's and Janet Gaynors brilliant performance) because you can see Judy Garland is actually a star, its almost semi autobiographical is some scenes particularly the makeover scene which given Garlands treatment at MGM when she as a Child seems so cruel , needlessly heartless ,and clinical , it makes it seem almost chilling to watch .Her unnecessary guilt at husband Normans dying career and personal collapse is so poignant and heart wrenching it bars repeating the question why oh WHY did Grace Kelly Win the Oscar and Not Judy?.
James Mason expertly portrays Norman's struggle to be happy for his wife when his own career and life has hit rock bottom. the roots of which stem from actual sources such as Wallace Reed a silent movie Michael Fassbinder who after a accident on the set of 'The Land of Giants' and time constraints set up by shareholders and producers induced him to regular doses of morphine to complete the film without delays due to his injuries and constant pain,this lead to his addiction and subsequent death, The story is inherently tragic because it's so true but these two stars really add something that not only makes this work as a musical but as a dramatic testament to the trials and tribulations of creative people struggling for a personal life under the Hollywood Studio Machine .