A Star Is Born (1937)

A Star Is Born
Directed by William A. Wellman
Written by Dorothy Parker, Alan Campbell, and Robert Carson from a story by William A. Wellman and Robert Carson
1937/USA
Selznick International Pictures
Repeat viewing

[box] Matt Libby: That’s a charming match. A nice girl like Vicki and Public Nuisance Number One.[/box]

I enjoyed this more than my memory of it lead me to expect.

Esther Blodgett (Janet Gaynor) dreams of stardom on her South Dakota farm.  Her folks are opposed but her grandmother (May Robson) sympathizes and finances her trip to Hollywood.  Esther can’t get a break, though.  Then she chances to meet alcoholic movie star Norman Maine (Fredric March) and he helps her get a screen test.  They fall in love and, when Norman promises to reform, marry.  Everything starts coming up roses for Esther, who is rechristened Vicky Lester, but Norman begins a long slow slide.  With Adolphe Menjou as a producer, Lionel Stander as a caustic press agent, and Andy Devine as Esther/Vicky’s friend.

I had forgotten many things about this melodrama, notably what a cynical indictment of Hollywood is concealed behind the tears.  You can really sense Dorothy Parker’s hand in this.  Also, this has got to be one of Fredric March’s very best performances.  He is a wonderful drunk, not comic or exaggerated.  At times, you can kind of see Mr. Hyde peeking through.  Janet Gaynor is also still lovely and vulnerable at this late date in her career.

This was the first all-color film to be nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award.  The film won an Oscar for Best Writing (Original Story) and was nominated for awards for Best Actor (March), Best Actress (Gaynor), Best Director, Best Writing (Screenplay), and Best Assistant Director.  W. Howard Green won an Honorary Award for his color cinematography.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZS5GEVgnVk

Trailer