A Star Is Born
Is the price of stardom a broken heart?
1937 | 111m | English
Popularity: 1 (history)
| Director: | William A. Wellman |
|---|---|
| Writer: | William A. Wellman, David O. Selznick, Alan Campbell, Robert Carson, Dorothy Parker, Ben Hecht |
| Staring: |
| Esther Blodgett is just another starry-eyed farm kid trying to break into the movies. Waitressing at a Hollywood party, she catches the eye of her idol Norman Maine, is sent for a screen test, and before long attains stardom as newly minted Vicki Lester. She and Norman marry, though his career soon dwindles to nothing due to his chronic alcoholism. | |
| Release Date: | Apr 27, 1937 |
|---|---|
| Director: | William A. Wellman |
| Writer: | William A. Wellman, David O. Selznick, Alan Campbell, Robert Carson, Dorothy Parker, Ben Hecht |
| Genres: | Drama, Romance |
| Keywords | husband wife relationship, movie business, alcoholism, alcoholic, movie star, waitress, show business, hollywood, has been |
| Production Companies | Selznick International Pictures |
| Box Office |
Revenue: $2,370,000
Budget: $1,200,000 |
| Updates |
Updated: Aug 01, 2025 (Update) Entered: Apr 13, 2024 |
![A Star Is Born (1937) Original Trailer [FHD]](/extra_thumbs/SDsV85-UqO4.jpg)
| Name | Character |
|---|---|
| Janet Gaynor | Esther Blodgett / Vicki Lester |
| Fredric March | Norman Maine |
| Adolphe Menjou | Oliver Niles |
| May Robson | Lettie Blodgett |
| Andy Devine | Danny McGuire |
| Lionel Stander | Matt Libby |
| Owen Moore | Casey Burke |
| Peggy Wood | Miss Phillips |
| Elizabeth Jenns | Anita Regis |
| Edgar Kennedy | Pop Randall |
| J. C. Nugent | Mr. Blodgett |
| Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams | Posture Coach |
| Irving Bacon | Station Agent (uncredited) |
| Jane Barnes | Waitress #1 (uncredited) |
| Clara Blandick | Aunt Mattie (uncredited) |
| Wade Boteler | Santa Anita Cop (uncredited) |
| Sidney Bracey | Burke's Butler (uncredited) |
| Harry C. Bradley | Niles' Assistant (uncredited) |
| George Chandler | Deliveryman (uncredited) |
| Pat Flaherty | Cuddles (uncredited) |
| Francis Ford | William Gregory (uncredited) |
| Joe Gray | Garcia (uncredited) |
| Jonathan Hale | Judge George J. Parris (uncredited) |
| Chuck Hamilton | Cop Outside Courtroom (uncredited) |
| Lillian Harmer | Wardrobe Woman (uncredited) |
| Edward Hearn | Sanitarium Attendant (uncredited) |
| I. Stanford Jolley | Boxing Ringside Spectator (uncredited) |
| Carole Landis | Girl in Beret at Santa Anita Bar (uncredited) |
| Chris-Pin Martin | José Rodriguez (uncredited) |
| Edwin Maxwell | Vocal Coach (uncredited) |
| Marshall Neilan | Bert (uncredited) |
| David Newell | Sam (uncredited) |
| Robert Emmett O'Connor | Santa Anita Clubhouse Bartender (uncredited) |
| Dennis O'Keefe | Burke's Party Guest (uncredited) |
| Franklin Pangborn | Billy Moon (uncredited) |
| Jed Prouty | Artie Carver (uncredited) |
| Tom Ricketts | Ray (uncredited) |
| Paul Stanton | Academy Award Presenter (uncredited) |
| Fred 'Snowflake' Toones | Witness (uncredited) |
| Clarence Wilson | Justice of the Peace (uncredited) |
| A.W. Sweatt | Aleck Blodgett (uncredited) |
| Name | Job |
|---|---|
| William A. Wellman | Story, Director |
| Max Steiner | Original Music Composer |
| David O. Selznick | Writer |
| Val Lewton | Editorial Staff |
| Alan Campbell | Screenplay |
| Robert Carson | Screenplay, Story |
| Lansing C. Holden | Production Design |
| Hal C. Kern | Supervising Editor, Supervising Film Editor |
| Edward G. Boyle | Assistant Art Director |
| James E. Newcom | Editor |
| Charles Richards | Casting |
| Omar Kiam | Costume Design |
| Eric Stacey | Assistant Director |
| Jack Cosgrove | Special Effects |
| W. Howard Greene | Director of Photography |
| Lyle R. Wheeler | Art Designer |
| Oscar Lagerstrom | Sound Recordist |
| Elizabeth Arden | Makeup Artist |
| Dorothy Parker | Screenplay |
| Ben Hecht | Writer |
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| David O. Selznick | Producer |
| Organization | Category | Person | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academy Awards | Best Actress | Janet Gaynor | Nominated |
Popularity History
| Year | Month | Avg | Max | Min |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 15 | 21 | 9 |
| 2024 | 5 | 23 | 36 | 9 |
| 2024 | 6 | 15 | 27 | 7 |
| 2024 | 7 | 17 | 27 | 7 |
| 2024 | 8 | 14 | 19 | 9 |
| 2024 | 9 | 11 | 18 | 6 |
| 2024 | 10 | 28 | 95 | 7 |
| 2024 | 11 | 14 | 33 | 9 |
| 2024 | 12 | 14 | 22 | 8 |
| 2025 | 1 | 12 | 27 | 7 |
| 2025 | 2 | 9 | 15 | 3 |
| 2025 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 1 |
| 2025 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Trending Position
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | 476 | 483 |
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7 | 396 | 679 |
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | 747 | 782 |
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 910 | 921 |
Geronimo1967
7.0
Janet Gaynor was at the top of her game with the almost Dickens' inspired name "Esther Blodgett" - an aspiring actress who moves to Hollywood and happens upon a drunken, self-destructive "Norman Maine" (Fredric March) as she waitresses at a party. His star is definitely on the wain, but he sees some ... thing in her and before long she is topping the bill. No singing in this version, which I think makes it a grittier adaptation of the story. Oddly enough, I find that the colour is quite distracting - it would have looked much better in black and white. That said, the dialogue is sharp and the pace likewise and it's an enjoyable watch.
Jun 20, 2022