Remakes Written in The Stars: A Star is Born

From Full House to Sex and the City, it seems almost every popular show and movie get remakes/reboots that to appeal to the audience’s nostalgia as they age. In this series, I will look at the best and worst remakes of all time and breaking down scenes from each to see how they stack up.

The Evolution of A Star is Born:
 
A Star is Born is a rare case in movie history, having four distinct remakes of the same story. Each is set in very different time periods, but the essence of the story remains the same: (an alcoholic) boy meets girl, makes her a star, and teaches her the price of fame. The film was originally made in 1937, followed by remakes in 1954, 1976, and 2018. After watching the original film, starring Janet Gaynor and Fredric March, I was amazed by all of the similarities between that version and the latest remake, starring Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga. The most notable difference is the lack of music in the original.

The Characters:

Instead of a singer, the original film focuses on a woman, Esther Blodgett, who moves to Hollywood in hopes of becoming a big-time movie star. The second film, starring Judy Garland as Ether, paints the character as an aspiring actress and singer. In the versions that followed, the actress element was eliminated from the character’s storyline. This decision makes sense considering the future actors to take on the role (Lady Gaga and Barbara Streisand) both have prominent careers in music. Like Gaga, Gaynor’s Blodgett is considered an unconventional beauty on screen when compared to other stars but attracts Mr. Maine’s attention with her distinct look and kind demeanor.
The changes made to the film for the 2018 rendition were necessary to account for the inevitable social and cultural changes since 1937. For instance, they changed the main character names from Norman to Jackson and Esther to Alli, which fit the time period much better. Ally (Lady Gaga) also plays a much less naïve women than the leads in the other versions of the film. While Esther from the original movie seems to be waiting around for money and fame to find her, putting in minimal effort, Ally makes ends meet by working several jobs while still finding time to write music.
All of the women chosen to play the female lead in the remakes are stars in their own right, which probably contributed to the story’s long-lasting success. I would argue that Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper had the most successful onscreen chemistry (Although I might be a little biased). The music played a key role in their relationship and adds to the appeal of the movie. Gaga and Cooper’s music in the movie mirrors today’s popular music so well that it makes the audience feel like they’re watching a celebrity relationship unfold in real life.

The Story:

It is remarkable that a storyline from over eighty years ago still resonates with audiences today with only minor changes to the plot. It is even more impressive that it was successful enough to be remade three times. Across all versions of the film, the characters paint a vivid image of how damaging Hollywood, or fame in general, can be, as well as the perils of addiction.
While watching the different renditions of the film, I was shocked to discover that there was one scene that remained nearly identical in three out of four of the films, all except for the version starring Barbara Streisand. Instead, the 1976 version shows John Norman dropping Esther off and trying to go inside with her, which she proceeds to shut down. This scene was, of course, the most “memed” scene from the latest movie, when Jackson Maine (Bradley Cooper) calls out to Ally as he’s dropping her off, saying, “I just wanted to take another look at you.” It’s a sweet moment across the films that solidifies Maine’s infatuation with Esther/Ally.
Aside from the differences in scenes that helped establish the love connection between the characters, the scenes that showcased Jackson/Norman’s addiction were essential to the movie’s storyline. The last two versions of the movies were strongly aligned in that aspect; both films open to a concert scene where the audience gets a feel for where Jackson/John Norman stands in his career. We also begin to understand how addiction has affected him. The story comes full circle at the end of both versions as Ether/Ally performs a final song to express her grief in an emotional performance which successfully captures the character’s longing and frustration.

Key Themes:

Another thing that makes this story a success in all forms is the relatability of its content. Struggles with addiction have remained a relevant issue across every generation of audiences, though our attitudes about it have changed over time. This change is reflected in how each actor portrayed Norman/Jackson Maine’s alcoholism in a very different way. The last two renditions of the film were most similar in that regard. Both Kris Kristofferson and Bradley Cooper gave the character a more reckless, “rock and roll” persona that makes them seem too wrapped up in fame and performing to properly care for the people around them (their long hair and scruffy appearances also helped). The 1937 and 1954 films, on the other hand, offered version of the character that seemed more clean-cut, perhaps to appeal to the audience at the time. However, those versions of the character seemed more manic and strung-out in their careers and less favored by the public within the films.

Who Did it Best?:

When faced with the question of which version of A Star is Born is best, my answer would have to be the 2018 version directed by Bradley Cooper. However, I think having the context of the versions of the film that preceded it helped me appreciate this specific rendition further. While many people believe that originals are always better, in this case, the long timespan between each film and developments in film production quality prove that films can get better with age.  

Written by & Art by: Isabella Harrison