Review of A Star Is Born (1954) by Jim H — 12 Oct 2013
A has-been actor introduces and later marries a singer/actress.
An epic, grandiose, and timeless tale, George Cukor's remake of A Star Is Born is a fantastic tour de force for its stars and is a visual delight. The film's actors, Judy Garland and James Mason, are in top form (though I can't help noting how singularly similar Garland is to her daughter, Liza Minnelli; at times I didn't know whom I was watching). The spectacle of some of the musical numbers, which at times might be over-long, is beyond compare, and at its heart, the film is a very human story. Oddly feminist, the film privileges Vicki Lester's success over that of her husband, but at the same time there is no doubt that she could not have made it on her talent alone. Is this a condemnation of the business or latent misogyny?
Overall, whatever the film's meandering flaws may be, it is nonetheless a classic for a very good reason.
This review of A Star Is Born (1954) was written by Jim H on 12 Oct 2013.
A Star Is Born has generally received very positive reviews.
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