How many star is born movies were there

”I was surprised when I saw how alike it was to the version that I did in 1976,“ actress says of Bradley Cooper’s film

Table of Contents Show

4. Kris Kristofferson and Barbra Streisand (1976)
3. Fredric March and Janet Gaynor (1937)
2. James Mason and Judy Garland (1954)
1. Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga (2018)
Which is best version of A Star Is Born?
Is the new A Star Is Born the same as the original?
Who did the original star is born?
Was A Star Is Born based on a true story?

Barbra Streisand has walked back some of her initial praise for Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga’s “A Star Is Born,” saying the 2018 remake was “the wrong idea” and was too similar to the version she made in 1976.

During the film’s production and awards cycle, Streisand gave the new “A Star Is Born” her blessing and praised Cooper and Gaga’s performances. But in an interview from this past weekend, she explained why she thought the new version didn’t stack up.

“At first, when I heard it was going to be done again, it was supposed to be Will Smith and Beyoncé, and I thought, that’s interesting. Really make it different again, different kind of music, integrated actors, I thought that was a great idea,” Streisand told The Project. “So I was surprised when I saw how alike it was to the version that I did in 1976.”

“A Star Is Born” has been remade four times — first in the ’30s with Janet Gaynor as a rising movie starlet, then with Judy Garland in the ’50s as another rising movie star, but in a musical. With her version, Streisand said she loved Garland’s performance but wanted to do something different, so she made the character a guitar-playing rock and pop star, with Kris Kristofferson playing the veteran, alcoholic rock star.

Cooper’s “A Star Is Born” most closely resembles that 1976 version, with Gaga also playing a rising pop star and Cooper portraying a Southern rock idol. Streisand previously said in 2018 that she envisioned a version that would cast people of color and use hip-hop music. And in fact, Clint Eastwood at one time eyed Beyoncé for the lead opposite Leonardo DiCaprio, while back in 2002, Will Smith reportedly courted Jennifer Lopez to star with him in another remake.

The 2018 version of “A Star Is Born” was nominated for eight Oscars, including Best Picture, and won one for Gaga’s Best Original Song, “Shallow.” The film also grossed $436 million at the worldwide box office. But despite its success, Streisand still attests it was the “wrong idea.”

“I can’t argue with success,” she said. “I don’t care so much about success as I do originality.”

Watch the full video of Streisand’s comments above.

“A Star Is Born” is born again.

Movies that share the same name usually come from a franchise, but the “A Star Is Born” movies – including the new Oscar-ready musical fable starring Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper – aren’t sequels or even conventional remakes. They’re more romantic revivals that happen every couple of decades when filmmakers and actors take the same template and narrative threads but put their own special sauce on them.

The central conceit is always an alcoholic male artist on a career downswing who helps to raise (and also hurt) the profile of an up-and-coming starlet, though there are other hallmarks: “Star Wars” movies have light saber battles; “A Star Is Born” has a guy telling a girl, “I just want to take another look at you.” The rest is what defines each in the canon of filmmaking.

Here is every version of “A Star Is Born,” definitively ranked:

3. Fredric March and Janet Gaynor (1937)

The original “Star” focused on Tinseltown itself: With the emotional and financial support of her grandma, Esther Blodgett (Gaynor) trades her North Dakota farm life for the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. She has trouble getting acting gigs, though things turn around when she's passing out appetizers at a party attended by A-lister Norman Maine (March). His drunkenness gives his studio pause, though Norman still has enough pull to get Esther a screen test and a plum role that launches her stardom.

It’s goofier than you’d expect – a woman smashes a porcelain tray over Norman’s head in one slapstick scene – which doesn’t quite jibe with the more tragic signature “Star” elements, but Gaynor and March have undeniable chemistry.

1. Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga (2018)

The newest take adds nuance and character development that's missing from its predecessors. Plus, it’s just a great modern cautionary tale. Getting his drink on after a show, country rocker Jackson Maine (Cooper) is smitten when he hears waitress Ally (Gaga) in a drag club. After a late night discussing life and songwriting, Jack has her flown to a gig, where she becomes a YouTube phenom when he brings her out to sing. Ally hits the road with Jack and begins a journey toward pop stardom, and Jack suffers from hearing loss and one unfortunate alcohol-fueled episode after another.

Also in the director’s chair, Cooper unleashes surprisingly good vocals and an emotional performance, Gaga is at the height of her acting powers (and like Garland, she takes over the film when she starts to sing), and the original tunes are all superb. Who knew the fourth time would be the charm?

Which is best version of A Star Is Born?

Although Hollywood had changed a lot in the 17 years since the first “Star is Born” was released, the 1954 version is a determinedly faithful remake of the 1937 film, practically scene for scene.

Is the new A Star Is Born the same as the original?

The overall plot of the 2018 A Star Is Born feels very similar to the 1976 version, but there are still some important differences. For the first time, it's not jealousy of his wife's fame as much as his own addictions that do in the male lead.

Who did the original star is born?

The first time A Star Is Born hit the silver screen was way back in the year 1937. The early Technicolor film was directed by William A. Wellman and starred celebrated actress Janet Gaynor opposite Fredric March. The script had four writers, including Dorothy Parker and her husband and writing partner Alan Campbell.

Was A Star Is Born based on a true story?

When the first film came out, there were rumours going around that said the story was based on the real-life relationship of Barbara Stanwyck and Frank Fay. However, there is no official confirmation that the theory is true.