A Star is Born

This movie, with stellar acting and newly restored color, will take your breath away. I guarantee you, you will not be disappointed.

This is probably my all-time favorite movie.First, I should mention there are 3 different films with the same title. The 1937 version, starring Janet Gaynor and Fredric March, is the one I'm reviewing. The 1954 film, starring Judy Garland and James Mason, and the 1976 film starring Barbara Streisand and Kris Kristofferson are both musicals, while the 1937 film is a drama. I found both musical versions disappointing compared to the 1937 version.The 1937 version, as other Amazon customers have mentioned, is truly a classic, in the best sense of that word. There is a sense of "freshness" about it that you only experience in the best of films. I'm happy that other Amazon customers have appreciated the movie as much as I have and have extolled many of its virtues. I'll only add one more virtue to that list: excellent editing. The pacing of the movie is flawless. There is never a wasted moment. Every scene contributes to the forward progression of the story. How many movies can one say that about? And yet, I never felt it was rushed.I must confess that none of my friends I've recommended the movie to were as enamored of it as I was. So I thought I'd first mention things about the film which might not be appreciated by some viewers.First of all, the film is definitely a tragedy. Even I must admit the Academy Awards scene is truly painful to watch. But the movie is not an unrelenting downer. There are comic interludes and scenes of optimistic enthusiasm. And I found the final scene at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre uplifting and redeeming.Second, admittedly (and embarrassingly), the movie does contain some "corn". This includes every scene with Andy Devine in it, and some of Janet Gaynor's naivete comes across that way too. But I take the corn as an artifact of its time and a small price to pay for the movie's many positive virtues.Third, one of my friends thought the movie was "overacted". There is some truth to that. I thought that Janet Gaynor's "overacting", such as her less-than-subtle facial expressions, might have been the result of her earlier silent film career, where such overacting might have been necessary. But it works. The viewer can't help but empathize with Janet Gaynor's character.Now, to the quality of the numerous transfers. Being my all-time favorite movie, I've bought many VHS and DVD versions of the film. (I assume it is in the public domain.). The best transfers, for which I've awarded my 5 stars to, are the Image DVD, the Kino DVD, and the Kino VHS. Although the differences between the Image and Kino transfers are noticeable, I found both were acceptable to me. I think it's partly a matter of personal preference rather than one being more accurately transferred than the other.I don't pretend to have the technical expertise of some of your reviewers. So I'll limit my comments regarding transfer quality to the opening scenes of the movie where many of the transfers I've viewed are totally unacceptable. Luckily, the first version of the movie I ever saw (on VHS) was complete or I might not have realized that part of the movie's opening is missing from many versions (on both DVD and VHS). The opening scene of the film shows the sign of the Selznick Studios, followed by the Southern-style mansion front of the studios. That scene is accompanied by a fanfare played first by the trumpets. The next scene shows a night time panoramic view of Hollywood over which appear ascending titles and credits, which remind me of a red neon sign. This scene is accompanied by a gorgeous melody by Max Steiner. The previous fanfare makes the perfect introduction for Max Steiner's melody. The effect of the rising "neon" titles accompanied by Max Steiner's glorious music is emotionally overwhelming. I wish I had been there in 1937 to experience this in the movie theatre on the big screen.Quite a few transfers of this movie are missing part or all of the opening scene of the Selznick Studios and the accompanying fanfare music. These "butchered" versions deprive the viewer of one of the most impressive openings to any movie ..... ever! Watching a butchered version is almost like listening to the first movement of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony from which someone had deleted the famous 4-note opening motif. The Image and Kino versions are all complete in the opening scene. If you have a different transfer, make sure you have the opening scenes as I've described them.

Everyone should watch the original. I love this version. I know I only gave it 4 stars, but that's because I don't like idea of Norman killing himself. He could have asked for a divorce or just left to allow her to live her life. Anyway, the film is great and shows how unselfish Vickie is. The grandmother is great, unselfish, and funny. Vicky no doubt gets her characteristics from her. I think this one, then the Judy Garland one is the best.

The colours just pop out at you!!! Great movie, I would very very much recommend this movie to everyone who loves technicolor movies. Get this here movie here and now folks!!! Harold Cooper 01/04/2023

Major scenes omitted from Direct tv version

This is a cheap way to acquire this classic film that has apparently fallen into the public domain. There is a copyright warning at the beginning from Digiview Productions, but I have my doubts. I was surprised to see it was made in China, but it played just fine. It claims to be digitally remastered. It might have been once. This seems like standard VHS quality. It's wonderful to see 1937 Technicolor. It's not awesome sharp, but it's perfectly watchable and the sound is fine. There are no special features. It lets you click on "Preview," but it just starts playing the film. It came in a slim case with a different photo. The photo shown here is on the disc inside. The cover on the one I received is March and Gaynor embracing.The film itself is a masterpiece. I cry at the last line every time. If you're only familiar with the Judy Garland / James Mason musical version, you have seen a totally different film. James Mason was one of the best actors ever on film, but Fredric March WAS Norman Maine. The Gaynor / March chemistry wasn't as amazing as that of Garland and Mason, but you will adore them both and get some good laughs. The color footage of the Chinese Theater in 1937 alone is worth the price of admission! A similar film that predated this was "What Price Hollywood?"

This restored Blu-ray is a masterstroke. It will never look better.You will not be disappointed.

I am so glad I was able to get it on streaming, because I've about had it with DVDs. The quality was fine, but if you are expecting the quality to be equal to something filmed in this millennium you have forgotten that cameras didn't do quite so well in the 1930's. This isn't a musical, the two stars were playing dramatic film stars, love interests, of the time. They do it within the social mores of the time... she is just too good to be true and he recognizes that incorruptible goodness and admires it.... I think it is quite possible that a return to some of that kind of thinking might be good for the country now, but, maybe not. Anyway, I've seen the movie at the theater, I've seen the movie on DVD, and I was happy to be able to buy a good quality copy of it for streaming.

The picture quality is not that great, but you can't expect too much from a colour film of this date (1937).Some people may find it dated, but if you like "Golden Age" movies, this is a "must".One thing to watch out for, this version is fine (note the cover,) but there is another version on sale on Amazon that has the end missing!

This is the original Star is Born and I had never seen it, now I have and have enjoyed it.

Well-acted and directed and the story stands out with more than a hint of 'it could, or did it, really happen'?

Brilliant film and a great copy.

Very poor picture quality,i found it barely watchable.Such a shame as it is a good story.