QWhy is the movie interspersed with still photos?
AA Star is Born was restored in 1983 to it's original running time. The original (1954) release premiered at 181 minutes, but theater owners complained about the length, wanting a shorter film so they could have more showings per day, hence more money in the box office. Consequently, Warner Bros shortened it, cutting out 27 extra minutes. The excised footage was then carelessly handled, lost, or not filed properly. After an extensive search, about 20 minutes of actual film and the original soundtrack were found and re-added to the 154 minute film. Where film footage was not able to be restored, production stills were inserted. The missing seven minutes of footage has never been found. The whole story on what happened to the lost footage can be read here.
QIs "A Star Is Born" based on a book?
ANo. A Star Is Born is a remake of A Star Is Born (1937), which was based on a story by William A. Wellman and Robert Carson and a screenplay by Dorothy Parker and Alan Campbell who, in turn, based on a previous film in 1932. The 1932 film's original title was The Truth About Hollywood based on a story by Adela Rogers St. Johns. St. Johns loosely based her plot on the experiences of actress Colleen Moore and her husband, alcoholic producer John McCormick (1893-1961), and the life and death of director Tom Forman, who committed suicide following a nervous breakdown. Another remake, also titled A Star Is Born, was released in 1976, and yet another A Star Is Born is in development with a planned release in 2013.
QWhat is 'A Star is Born' about?
AStarry-eyed Esther Blodgett (Judy Garland) comes to Hollywood hoping to break into the movies. Her prayers seem to be answered when leading Hollywood actor, Norman Maine (James Mason), catches her eye and turns her into the famous actress Vicki Lester. Norman and Vicki marry, but it soon becomes apparent that Norman is an alcoholic and that it's up to Vicki to support him.
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