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| Scene from A Star is Born (1954) |
As most people already know, yesterday marked the release of the fourth adaptation of Hollywood's favorite franchise A Star is Born, this time directed by Bradley Cooper and starring Lady Gaga. Early talk has been that it's great and that the song "Shallow" is set to dominate the Best Original Song category. While it's encouraged that you go out and see it just for the sheer energy on display, those who want to see the wide berth of history for this franchise need not go out and buy the DVD's. If that's too pricey of a measure, there is a simpler way, and it involves having a subscription to the great streaming service FilmStruck. Right now, you can go to their website and watch the 1937, 1954, and 1976 versions of the films that have in total earned 17 Oscar nominations (including 1 Best Picture), 2 wins, and an Honorary Award. It's a franchise that's likely to outlast us all, so get on board and see what all of the fuss is about.
It's easy to see why A Star is Born has been a big sensation all along. In 1937, the William A. Wellman-directed film was a more playful satire of Hollywood culture, making inside jokes as well as an inevitably scathing view of indulgence. Still, the story of one woman's rise as one man falls is a theme that remains very much a piece of the cinematic fabric. Each edition of the film has a lot of their own merits, in some ways being more indicative of the era in which they were created - with Wellman's version being a prominent example of the early promise of becoming an actor, and how the dreams can be shattered. Even for its time, its second act's downward spiral is a pretty dark narrative, and one that helped to add profound weight to the story at hand.
The same could be said for the 1954 version, directed by George Cuckor and starring Judy Garland; and the 1976 version, directed by Frank Pierson and starring Barbra Streisand. While they all share similar plot beats, the story has evolved with each era in ways reflective of the cinematic technique, ranging from Cuckor's nods to MGM musicals, to Pierson's grittier rock 'n roll drama. There is still a good chance that you'll prefer one over the other, but if you're new to the world of A Star is Born and have affection for Lady Gaga's recent turn, then it's more than recommended that you catch up with the series (please follow this link to see all of the options). FilmStruck also provides an interview with Cooper, who gives some insight into how his film connects to the bigger franchise.
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| Scene from A Star is Born (1976) |
So please, do yourself a favor and check out the other three adaptations. I'm personally a fan of the 1954 version, which is among Garland's best work and features some excellent direction by Cuckor. I also think it would be a great idea to revisit the Wellman original, if just to see where things evolved from. Though be warned, the 1937 version one is very much of its time aesthetically, and it does have a few slow sections. With that said, the franchise has always had an ability to entertain in effective and lasting ways. Even the more maligned Streisand version has plenty of solid songs and a strong performance by co-star Kris Kristofferson. There's plenty to get out of these films, even if they're decades apart and often very different.
If there's no other reason to check out the films on FilmStruck for personal pleasure, then check them out for the sake of The Oscar Buzz. Coming over the next week is going to be a look at the A Star is Born franchise in its multitudes. There will, of course, be a review for the new Cooper/Lady Gaga film coming very soon. However, there will also be a track-by-track review of the album to see which songs are Oscar worthy. There will also be a miniseries going in chronological order through the four adaptations to see how they're all different and similar, hoping to create a cohesive look into how this franchise operates. If there's time, there will also be other pieces dedicated to looking at the other films, or providing criticism for the various films.
The review is currently scheduled to be released on Sunday, along with a Best Song Bonus dedicated to the film's excellent soundtrack. So please, get in the spirit of the season and join in as I look back at the four films that make this one of Hollywood's most beloved and long lasting franchises out there. It's still up in the air how well the latest version will do at the box office with audiences, but things are looking good. So get ready to go off the deep end with me, because we're far from the shallow now.
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