A Star Is Born
The applause of the world... and then this!
1954 | 176m | English
Popularity: 3 (history)
| Director: | George Cukor |
|---|---|
| Writer: | Moss Hart, Robert Carson, William A. Wellman |
| Staring: |
| A movie star helps a young singer-actress find fame, even as age and alcoholism send his own career into a downward spiral. | |
| Release Date: | Oct 01, 1954 |
|---|---|
| Director: | George Cukor |
| Writer: | Moss Hart, Robert Carson, William A. Wellman |
| Genres: | Drama, Romance, Music |
| Keywords | husband wife relationship, career, musical, alcoholism, remake, fame, los angeles, california, partially lost film, fading star |
| Production Companies | Warner Bros. Pictures, Transcona Enterprises |
| Box Office |
Revenue: $12,000,000
Budget: $5,019,770 |
| Updates |
Updated: Aug 10, 2025 Entered: Apr 13, 2024 |
| Name | Character |
|---|---|
| Judy Garland | Vicki Lester |
| James Mason | Norman Maine |
| Jack Carson | Matt Libby |
| Charles Bickford | Oliver Niles |
| Tommy Noonan | Danny McGuire |
| Lucy Marlow | Lola Lavery |
| Amanda Blake | Susan Ettinger |
| Irving Bacon | Graves |
| Hazel Shermet | Libby's secretary |
| James Brown | Glenn Williams |
| John Alban | Academy Awards Attendee (uncredited) |
| Laurindo Almeida | Guitarist (uncredited) |
| Leon Alton | Usher (uncredited) |
| Rudolph Anders | Mr. Ettinger (uncredited) |
| David Armstrong | Soundman (uncredited) |
| Phil Arnold | Agent (uncredited) |
| Nadine Ashdown | Esther (age 6) (uncredited) |
| Gertrude Astor | Racetrack Spectator (uncredited) |
| Jack Baker | Father (uncredited) |
| George Becwar | Assistant Director (uncredited) |
| Don Beddoe | Studio Executive at Premiere (uncredited) |
| Rodney Bell | Malibu Party Guest (uncredited) |
| Oscar Blank | Vagrant (uncredited) |
| Lennie Bluett | Dancer (uncredited) |
| Lulu Mae Bohrman | Academy Awards Attendee (uncredited) |
| Willis Bouchey | McBride (uncredited) |
| Marshall Bradford | Academy Awards Attendee (uncredited) |
| Ruth Brady | Malibu Party Guest (uncredited) |
| Paul Brinegar | Man at Funeral (uncredited) |
| Tex Brodus | Dancer (uncredited) |
| Sheila Bromley | Shrine Auditorium Reporter (uncredited) |
| Paul Bryar | Bartender at Racetrack (uncredited) |
| Benny Burt | Courtroom Reporter (uncredited) |
| Boyd Cabeen | Racetrack Spectator (uncredited) |
| George Calliga | Academy Awards Attendee (uncredited) |
| Kathryn Card | Landlady (uncredited) |
| John Carlyle | Assistant Director (uncredited) |
| Beth Carter | Dancer (uncredited) |
| Spencer Chan | Actor at Payroll Window (uncredited) |
| Chick Chandler | Man in Car at Diner (uncredited) |
| Lauren Chapin | Little Girl at Boarding House (uncredited) |
| Beulah Christian | Academy Awards Attendee (uncredited) |
| Samuel Colt | Sammy the Stage Manager (uncredited) |
| Heinie Conklin | Benefit Comedy Team Member (uncredited) |
| Charles J. Conrad | Assistant Director (uncredited) |
| Tom Cound | Price Waterhouse Man (uncredited) |
| Oliver Cross | Academy Awards Attendee (uncredited) |
| Russell Custer | Courtroom Officer (uncredited) |
| Blythe Daley | Nora Fusselow (uncredited) |
| Havis Davenport | Paramount Starlet (uncredited) |
| Rudy Del Campo | Dancer (uncredited) |
| Harry Denny | Racetrack Spectator (uncredited) |
| Eddie Dew | Assistant Director at Train Station (uncredited) |
| Alan DeWitt | Makeup Artist (uncredited) |
| Joe Dougherty | Makeup Artist (uncredited) |
| Helen Eby-Rock | Shrine Auditorium Reporter (uncredited) |
| Jack Ellis | Pinkerton Detective (uncredited) |
| Jean Engstrom | Malibu Party Guest (uncredited) |
| Harry Evans | Academy Awards Attendee (uncredited) |
| Rex Evans | Academy Awards Emcee (uncredited) |
| Franklyn Farnum | Ray (uncredited) |
| Timothy Farrell | Bailiff (uncredited) |
| Frank Ferguson | Judge George J. Barnes (uncredited) |
| Elizabeth Flournoy | Shrine Auditorium Reporter (uncredited) |
| Bess Flowers | Academy Awards Attendee (uncredited) |
| Almeda Fowler | Malibu Party Guest (uncredited) |
| Raoul Freeman | Academy Awards Attendee (uncredited) |
| Nacho Galindo | José Rodriguez (uncredited) |
| Kenneth Gibson | Racetrack Spectator (uncredited) |
| Joe Gilbert | Audience Member (uncredited) |
| Joseph Glick | Vagrant (uncredited) |
| Jack Gordon | Stagehand (uncredited) |
| Wilton Graff | Shrine Auditorium Emcee (uncredited) |
| Marion Gray | Racetrack Spectator (uncredited) |
| Robert Haines | Second Assistant Director (uncredited) |
| Charles Halton | Paymaster (uncredited) |
| Joseph Hamilton | Agent (uncredited) |
| Sam Harris | Benefit Attendee / Racetrack Spectator (uncredited) |
| Ray Heindorf | Movie Premiere Attendee (uncredited) |
| Percy Helton | William Gregory (uncredited) |
| Louis Jean Heydt | Ocean Scene Director (uncredited) |
| Al Hill | Shrine Auditorium Photographer (uncredited) |
| Stuart Holmes | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Olin Howland | Charley (uncredited) |
| Robert F. Hoy | Soundman (uncredited) |
| James Hyland | Assistant Announcer (uncredited) |
| Bob Jellison | Eddie (uncredited) |
| Jay Johnson | Musician (uncredited) |
| Dick Johnstone | Spectator (uncredited) |
| Arlene Karr | Malibu Party Guest (uncredited) |
| Fred Kelsey | Audience Member (uncredited) |
| Jack Kenney | Nightclub Patron (uncredited) |
| Tom Kingston | Reporter (uncredited) |
| George Kitchel | Reporter (uncredited) |
| Allen Kramer | Man (uncredited) |
| Frank Kreig | Man at Funeral (uncredited) |
| Henry Kulky | Cuddles (uncredited) |
| Nancy Kulp | Esther's Neighbor (uncredited) |
| Richard LaMarr | Benefit Attendee (uncredited) |
| Carl M. Leviness | Academy Awards Attendee (uncredited) |
| Paul Levitt | Malibu Party Guest (uncredited) |
| Carey Loftin | Signboard Man (uncredited) |
| Robert Locke Lorraine | Academy Awards Attendee (uncredited) |
| Frank Marlowe | Shrine Auditorium Photographer (uncredited) |
| Mae Marsh | Malibu Party Guest (uncredited) |
| Strother Martin | Delivery Boy (uncredited) |
| Dorothy Martinson | Woman (uncredited) |
| Louis Mason | Doorman (uncredited) |
| Nita Mathews | Dancer (uncredited) |
| Ila McAvoy | Mother in "Born in a Trunk" Number (uncredited) |
| Jack McCoy | Father in "Born in a Trunk" Number (uncredited) |
| Philo McCullough | Academy Awards Attendee (uncredited) |
| Don McKay | Dancer (uncredited) |
| Heidi Meadows | Esther (age 3) (uncredited) |
| Joseph Mell | Paymaster (uncredited) |
| Harold Miller | Benefit Attendee (uncredited) |
| Nolie Miller | Dancer (uncredited) |
| Patrick Miller | Shrine Auditorium Photographer (uncredited) |
| Todd Miller | Dancer (uncredited) |
| Wade Miller | Dancer (uncredited) |
| Mort Mills | Makeup Artist (uncredited) |
| John Monaghan | Male Secretary (uncredited) |
| Hal J. Moore | Racetrack PA Announcer (uncredited) |
| Monette Moore | Blues Singer (uncredited) |
| Charles Morton | Shrine Auditorium Photographer (uncredited) |
| Jack Mower | Benefit Attendee (uncredited) |
| George Nardelli | Academy Awards Attendee (uncredited) |
| Tom Nolan | Child Dancer (uncredited) |
| Anton Northpole | Vagrant (uncredited) |
| Barry Norton | Benefit Attendee (uncredited) |
| Ron Nyman | Stage Manager (uncredited) |
| William H. O'Brien | Academy Awards Attendee (uncredited) |
| Monty O'Grady | Racetrack Spectator (uncredited) |
| Pat O'Malley | Racetrack Spectator (uncredited) |
| Leonard Penn | Train Station Scene Director (uncredited) |
| Barbara Pepper | Esther's Neighbor (uncredited) |
| Jack Pepper | Chef (uncredited) |
| Hilda Plowright | Shrine Auditorium Photographer (uncredited) |
| Mel Pogue | Autograph Hound (uncredited) |
| Murray Pollack | Benefit Attendee (uncredited) |
| Ezelle Poule | Shrine Auditorium Photographer (uncredited) |
| Frank Puglia | Bruno (uncredited) |
| Grandon Rhodes | Producer at Premiere (uncredited) |
| Don Richards | Shrine Auditorium Reporter (uncredited) |
| Leoda Richards | Party Guest (uncredited) |
| Kay Riehl | Hairdresser (uncredited) |
| Larry Rio | Soundman (uncredited) |
| Lotus Robb | Ms. Markham (uncredited) |
| Walter Rode | Courtroom Policeman (uncredited) |
| Patricia Rosemond | Dancer (uncredited) |
| Riza Royce | Secretary (uncredited) |
| Henry Russell | Studio Orchestra Leader (uncredited) |
| Loretta Russell | Racetrack Spectator (uncredited) |
| Dick Ryan | Nightclub Man (uncredited) |
| John Saxon | Movie Premiere Usher (uncredited) |
| Bernard Sell | Racetrack Spectator (uncredited) |
| Patrick Sexton | Bert (uncredited) |
| Harry Seymour | Wheeler (uncredited) |
| Joan Shawlee | Joan (uncredited) |
| Don Shelton | TV Director (uncredited) |
| Charles Sherlock | Man Trying to Subdue Norman at Banquet (uncredited) |
| Dick Simmons | Producer / Benefactor (uncredited) |
| Reginald Simpson | Academy Awards Attendee (uncredited) |
| Arthur Space | Night Court Clerk (uncredited) |
| Bert Spencer | Academy Awards Attendee (uncredited) |
| Buddy Spencer | Dancer (uncredited) |
| Eileen Stevens | Shrine Auditorium Reporter (uncredited) |
| Robert Stevenson | Boom Operator (uncredited) |
| Robert Strong | Courtroom Reporter (uncredited) |
| Grady Sutton | Artie Carver (uncredited) |
| Kay Tapscott | Dancer (uncredited) |
| Dub Taylor | Norman's Driver (uncredited) |
| Wayne Taylor | Autograph Hound (uncredited) |
| Al Thompson | Vagrant (uncredited) |
| Ted Thorpe | Soundman (uncredited) |
| Louis Tomei | Signboard Man (uncredited) |
| Emerson Treacy | Justice of the Peace (uncredited) |
| Dale Van Sickel | Photographer in a Dressing Room (uncredited) |
| Valerie Vernon | Marian (uncredited) |
| Ralph Volkie | Courtroom Reporter (uncredited) |
| Geraldine Wall | Esther's Neighbor (uncredited) |
| Ruth Warren | Shrine Auditorium Reporter (uncredited) |
| Charles Watts | Harrison (uncredited) |
| Harte Wayne | Man at a Funeral (uncredited) |
| Richard Webb | Wallace (uncredited) |
| Duff Whitney | Reporter (uncredited) |
| Shirley Whitney | Malibu Party Guest (uncredited) |
| Josephine Whittell | Shrine Auditorium Reporter (uncredited) |
| Frank Wilcox | Frank (uncredited) |
| Jean Willes | Fan at a Benefit Show (uncredited) |
| Tom Wilson | Stagehand Carrying Poles / Passerby Outside Hotel (uncredited) |
| Eric Wilton | Charles (uncredited) |
| Stephen Wyman | Nigel Peters (uncredited) |
| Mary Young | Boardinghouse Woman (uncredited) |
| Diana Deane | Dancer (uncredited) |
| Name | Job |
|---|---|
| Moss Hart | Screenplay |
| Folmar Blangsted | Editor |
| Saul Steinberg | Set Decoration |
| Skip Martin | Orchestrator |
| Helen Young | Hairstylist |
| Gordon Bau | Makeup Artist |
| Alan Campbell | Original Film Writer |
| Charles David Forrest | Sound |
| Leonard Gershe | Songs |
| Mitchell Kovaleski | Other |
| Richard Barstow | Choreographer |
| Ray Heindorf | Music Director, Original Music Composer |
| Robert Carson | Original Film Writer, Story |
| Richard L. Wilson | Gaffer |
| Malcolm C. Bert | Art Direction |
| Russell Llewellyn | Assistant Director |
| Charles Lang | Sound |
| Jack Cathcart | Music Arranger |
| Hoyningen Huene | Other |
| Gene Allen | Production Design |
| Pat Clark | Still Photographer |
| Mary Ann Nyberg | Costume Design |
| George James Hopkins | Set Decoration |
| Edward Graham | Assistant Director |
| Hans F. Koenekamp | Special Effects |
| Del Armstrong | Makeup Artist |
| George Cukor | Director |
| William A. Wellman | Story |
| Jean Louis | Costume Design |
| Earl Bellamy | Assistant Director |
| Dorothy Parker | Original Film Writer |
| Irene Sharaff | Costume Design, Art Direction |
| Harold Arlen | Songs |
| Ira Gershwin | Lyricist |
| Sam Leavitt | Director of Photography |
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Sidney Luft | Producer |
| Vern Alves | Associate Producer |
| Jack L. Warner | Executive Producer |
| Organization | Category | Person | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academy Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Charles Bickford | Nominated |
Popularity History
| Year | Month | Avg | Max | Min |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 19 | 29 | 13 |
| 2024 | 5 | 20 | 28 | 12 |
| 2024 | 6 | 19 | 35 | 11 |
| 2024 | 7 | 21 | 40 | 11 |
| 2024 | 8 | 15 | 25 | 11 |
| 2024 | 9 | 13 | 19 | 8 |
| 2024 | 10 | 15 | 27 | 7 |
| 2024 | 11 | 15 | 30 | 9 |
| 2024 | 12 | 11 | 16 | 8 |
| 2025 | 1 | 14 | 24 | 9 |
| 2025 | 2 | 10 | 16 | 3 |
| 2025 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 1 |
| 2025 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2025 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
Trending Position
Geronimo1967
7.0
One cannot watch this nowadays without seeing parallels between the James Mason role as "Norman Maine" and Judy Garland's own later life. He is the falling star of Hollywood kept afloat by booze and the ceaseless efforts of his studio boss "Oliver Niles" (Charles Bickford) to keep him from complete ... self-destruction. Meantime "Esther Blodgett" (Garland) is a struggling chanteuse taking any job she can until good fortune strikes. One night, serendipity takes a hand in this and their paths cross. He hears her sing "The Man That Got Away" with her band in a bar and is smitten both professionally and emotionally. As the title suggests, a star is well and truly born. Soon "Maine" is but an appendage to the newly renamed "Vicki Lester" which sees him spiral even more out of control, despite her addictive love for him. It's long (over 2½ hours) so inevitably, it sags at times - I could have done with more singing, but it is still a fine, touching, piece of cinema.
Mar 28, 2022