A Star Is Born (2018, 1976, 1954 and 1937)

In this new take on the tragic love story, Bradley Cooper plays seasoned musician Jackson Maine, who discovers--and falls in love with--struggling artist Ally (Gaga). She has just about given up on her dream to make it big as a singer... until Jack coaxes her into the spotlight. But even as Ally's career takes off, the personal side of their relationship is breaking down, as Jack fights an ongoing battle with his own internal demons.-Rotten Tomatoes

• Rating:
  R (for language throughout, some sexuality/nudity and substance abuse)
• Genre:
  Drama
• Directed By:
  Bradley Cooper (His directorial debut) 
• Written By:
  Will Fetters, Eric Roth, Bradley Cooper
• In Theaters:
  Oct 5, 2018  Wide
• Runtime:
  135 minutes
• Studio:
  Warner Bros. Pictures
  
  

  
  

This is the third adaptation from the 1937 motion picture Written and Directed by William A. Wellman with his Screenplay Collaborators namely Robert Carson, Dorothy Parker and Alan Campbell.  It starred Janet Gaynor and Fredric March.

"A Star Is Born" sung by Buddy Clark is its theme song.

The first adaptation starred Judy Garland and James Mason from Moss Hart's screenplay.  Moss's screenplay was very faithful to the original, but adapted it to the times. In both the original and first adaptation, the Star maker and husband dies of drowning(suicide). Both Janet Gaynor and Judy Garland are both named Esther Victoria Blodgett, and both Fredric March and James Mason are named Norman Maine.

The 1954 Soundtrack:

• Gotta Have Me Go with You (Harold Arlen and Ira Gershwin)
• The Man That Got Away (Arlen and Gershwin)
• Born in a Trunk (Roger Edens (music) and Leonard Gershe (lyrics))
• Swanee (George Gershwin)
• I'll Get By (Roy Turk and Fred E. Ahlert)
• You Took Advantage of Me (Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodgers)
• The Black Bottom (Perry Bradford)
• The Peanut Vendor (Moisés Simons)
• My Melancholy Baby (Ernie Burnett and George A. Norton)
• Here's What I'm Here For (Arlen and Gershwin)
• It's a New World (Arlen and Gershwin)
• Someone at Last (Arlen and Gershwin)
• Lose That Long Face (Arlen and Gershwin)

The second adaptation(1976) is the one I'm more familiar with. Even if I sing Judy Garland's songs, I'm just not a James Mason fan(that's why I preferred Jeremy Irons' portrayal of Humbert Humbert over his...), so I never familiarised myself with the movie.  It's not because James Mason is a bad actor.  He's great.  I'm just not an admirer, that's all.  It stars Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson.  Here, John dies by a car accident.  By the way, Barbra's role is named Esther, but they changed her surname to Hoffman then becomes a Howard when she marries John Norman.

The 1976 Soundtrack:

1. "Watch Closely Now" (Paul Williams, Kenny Ascher) – 3:49
2. "Queen Bee" (Rupert Holmes) – 3:55
3. "Everything" (Holmes, Williams)– 3:50
4. "Lost Inside of You" (Barbra Streisand, Leon Russell)– 2:54
5. "Hellacious Acres" (Williams, Ascher) – 2:58
6. "Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born)" (Streisand, Williams) – 3:04
7. "The Woman in the Moon" (Williams, Ascher) – 4:49
8. "I Believe in Love" (Kenny Loggins, Alan and Marilyn Bergman)– 3:13
9. "Crippled Crow" (Donna Weiss)– 3:30
10. Finale: "With One More Look at You"/"Watch Closely Now" (Williams, Ascher) – 7:43
11. Reprise: "Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born)" – 1:46
12. "Evergreen (Love theme from A Star Is Born)"- (Spanish version)- 3:05-(Import version only)

In this third adaptation(2018), we kind of expected the ending, but didn't know how it was going to happen.  I'm sure you'll still be surprised somehow because in the middle of the story you would wish it would be a little different, like on the positive side or something.  

This film, of course, adapted to the times.  The songs are wonderful, and I shed a tear or two.

Did I have a hard time because the name of the Director, Cowriter and Male Lead is BRADLEY COOPER? Of course not.  The only thing similar between them is the name and nothing else.

Speaking of Bradley Cooper, he acted so well that he became a totally different person.  He immersed into his role and he became Jackson Maine.  

I felt his pain and what he was going through, but at least he did something about it.

He also sang so well, by the way.

The premise and the storyline are of course the same, but it's also very different from all three predecessors.

STEFANI JOANNE ANGELINA GERMANOTTA more popularly known as LADY GAGA, besides being an outstanding singer/performer, is a very good actor.

I love this adaptation.  It's well-directed, well-acted, etc. plus the songs are great.

CHARLIE, their "child", is so adorable.  I'm sure you're going to love him too.

Oh, and I must say the stupendous cinematography of MATTHEW LIBATIQUE brought happy tears to my eyes even if I don't know him personally. He, by the way, appears as a photographer in this movie.

Kudos to everyone involved in this film.  Hats off to Mr. SAM ELLIOTT.  You're one of the best actors of all time.  

Screenplay by:

Eric Roth

Bradley Cooper

Will Fetters

The 2018 Cast:

• Bradley Cooper as Jackson Maine, an established singer-songwriter and alcoholic. He is Ally's mentor and love interest.
• Lady Gaga as Ally, an unknown singer-songwriter.
• Sam Elliott as Bobby Maine, Jackson's older brother and manager.
• Dave Chappelle as George "Noodles" Stone, Jackson's close friend, himself a retired musician.
• Andrew Dice Clay as Lorenzo, Ally's father.
• Anthony Ramos as Ramon, Ally's friend.
• Michael Harney as Wolfie, a limo driver and friend of Lorenzo.
• Rafi Gavron as Rez, a music producer and Ally's manager.

The 2018 Soundtrack:

Lady Gaga’s ‘Star Is Born’ Soundtrack Looking at Monster First-Week Sales

Thanks for dropping by.  :-)