Your favorite version of "A Star is Born"

I know it's not considered the best version, but the 1976 version was the one I liked best. When it was released the poster was painted on the side of the theatre it was going to be playing. Streisand and Kristofferson really big. The song Evergreen was played on the radio and the soundtrack was at all the record stores. Barbra had that big curly mop. I was too young to see it in a theatre at the time, but with all the advertising it was like the ultimate movie and Streisand was the ultimate star. I saw it on cable TV for the first time so this was my introduction to any Star is Born movie.

the 1976 version was supposed to be a rock n roll take on the original story, but Streisand just wasn't convincing as a rock star.

This right here.

R3 I love the way her hairdo is backlit with purple neon.

I've never seen the Gaynor version or the Gaga version. And have never made it through the entirety of the Judy version (I always fall asleep, it's loooong). I attempted for the first time to watch Barbra's version when it was on TCM a few weeks ago, but man was she annoying. I say that as someone who loves 1960s Barbra. The afro did her no favors and her character was grating. There is never a moment where you actually believe that Kristofferson would lust after her.

The “original” ASIB.

The 1937 version was so similar to What Price Hollywood, David O. Selznick was sued for plagiarism.

While I enjoy that Garland version for her singing, nothing beats Janet Gaynor's "Hello, everybody. This is Mrs. Norman Maine."

(Starting around 9:05)

How many more times do I have to vote for your version, honey?

The Barbra version is the best. Especially the first 15 minutes.

Wasn't The Rose supposed to be based on A Star is Born?

I thought The Rose was based on Janis Joplin.

The Gaynor/March version is the least pretend chess. The others are so calculated as to render even the fire cold, except for Judy singing “The Maine That Got Away'.

Chris Ward's 2003 treatment for Raging Stallion, "A Porn Star Is Born."

Gaynor/March, and it's not even close.

As a poster upthread noted, the Garland/Mason version is looooooonnnngggg, and easily 1/3 of it should have been edited out.

Of the four actresses, Gaynor is the only one who truly felt like an ingenue, and you FEEL March's excitement at meeting/falling for this gamine little thing, and his slow descent into jealousy and self-pity as he is eclipsed. Mason just comes off as bitter and mean, Kristofferson felt mostly checked-out, and Cooper is trying to be a combo of Mason/Kristofferson, and it doesn't work.

Are your kidding me? Kris Kristofferson and Babs hands down. Their sexual chemistry was explosive. You know she had a rocking bid back then. All tits and ass. And fingernails.

OP should have included a none of the above choice. I HATE HATE HATE all of them. None of the female leads are convincing, and Streisand as an unknown in her version is embarrassingly ridiculous, and I saw it at the movies - at the Ziegfeld movie theater on the Upper West Side in Jan 1977. It was below zero out.

Barbra - R15 - you must see and re-evaluate the film again.

Barbra is so ugly. She's not convincing as a romantic lead. Kris must have thrown up in his mouth a few times. Gag.

I think Babs is the best looking if all the female leads. As Kristofferson is for the men. His fucking leathery, sinewy arms and overtanned bod, the gravelly voice, the shaggy hair and beard? Yummo!

I would fuck the snot outta him.

[quote]Of the four actresses, Gaynor is the only one who truly felt like an ingenue

Interesting you say that, because especially at the time of the film's release, many people felt Gaynor was too old for that version of the role. The Garland character is really not written as an "ingenue," she's a woman who's already been touring with a band for a while.

R15, what is a rocking bid?

Rocking bod...not bid. Autocorrect error!

I don’t believe you, R22. Streisand had a big wager BID anyone would believe she was a hot new rock star. All the Bway producers paid in.

I like the 1957 version the best. I don't love it with an all-consuming love, but it's a heck of a movie, with a witty look at Hollywood and some real star performances from Garland and especially Mason. It's like a Douglas Sirk movie, all luscious photography and melodrama, and I tend to like the mid-century films that are so lush they border on unintentional camp.

As for the 2018 version... it's a weak movie, with two really good scenes. The first is the scene where Lady Gaga takes the stage for the first time, and you can feel the thrill of someone coming into their own in a moment. The second is when Norman Maine embarrasses himself at the Grammy awards, which is hilarious. And I'm sure you can find both scenes on youtube, and don't have to bother with the rest of the movie.

R24, the Garland-Mason version was released in 1954, not 1957.

And if you find hilarity in that scene in the 2018 version where Norman embarrasses himself at the Grammys, you are an extremely sick puppy.

[quote]The Gaynor/March version is the least pretend chess.

Still, it was no "Queen's Gambit."

What Price Hollywood?1932 is the original version of the material and was directed by George Cukor Never saw it or the 1937 version.

The other 3 are pretty bad but the Cooper-Gaga version is the least interesting of the three; they have no chemistry, and you could care less what happens to them. 1954s is too long with too many musical numbers which even star James Mason felt weakened the film. The 1976 is mainly of interest because of the on-screen pairing of Streisand and Kristofferson

I love Constance Bennett.

[quote]The other 3 are pretty bad but the Cooper-Gaga version is the least interesting of the three; they have no chemistry, and you could care less what happens to them.

Seeing as how you're not smart enough to understand why the idiotic phrase "you could care less what happens to them" makes no freaking sense, I'm going to discount everything your wrote, including you're opinions.

Would you apply the same standard to the leader of the free world R29?

The 1976 version is the campiest, so it wins for me.

“couldn’t care less” is better than “I could care less” in conveying the same thought. If you keep using the non-preferred phrase, though, you will probably be in good company.

The two versions of the given statement have been used so often that both are well understood. In addition, because they are based on informal slang and sarcasm, neither expression will be found in serious reporting or academic work. That means you are more apt to find these constructions in everyday speech and the occasional blog post.'

"And if you find hilarity in that scene in the 2018 version where Norman embarrasses himself at the Grammys, you are an extremely sick puppy."

Well spotted, bitch!

You can trash Bradley's movie, but you're not gonna trash mine!

The 2018 version was nominated for 8 Oscars including Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress. Adapted Screenplay and Supporting Actor. Why? It's a lifeless retread that brings nothing new or original to the story.

I loved Gaga in her version. I know we're supposed to hate her, but I thought she was fantastic. I just didn't really care for Cooper performance. I also loved the soundtrack. It's the Gaga I've always wanted to hear: Grown up, piano ballads with a slight country edge and almost no "pop star" element.

But the Judy ASIB is my favorite. Hands down.

R29 and R27=Fani Willis to Jim Jordan

R22, Streisand’s bod was perfunctory at the time - everyone had the same type of figure, there was nothing remarkable about hers. Perhaps the push-up bras. Before implants, Streisand was obsessed in pushing those b-cups up for all to see while other actresses went braless.

R24, there was no 1957 version.

Both Gaynor and Garland seem too old for the part, more like “A Star is Perimenopausal,” but they create sympathetic and warm characters. Streisand and Gaga seem cold and calculating from the get-go.

[quote]“Couldn’t care less” is better than “I could care less” in conveying the same thought. If you keep using the non-preferred phrase, though, you will probably be in good company.

It's not that one is "better than" the other, the fact is that one is correct and the other isn't. I'm guessing that "I could care less" arose from people mishearing "I couldn't care less," but again, it makes zero sense, whereas "I couldn't care less" makes perfect sense -- as in "I care SO LITTLE about [FILL IN THE BLANK) that I couldn't possibly care less." If "I could care less" has any meaning at all, it means the opposite.

And while I'm sure it's true that more people nowadays say "I could care less," that doesn't make it correct. More people probably say "nucular" than "nuclear," to pick another example.

[quote]I loved Gaga in her version. I know we're supposed to hate her, but I thought she was fantastic. I just didn't really care for Cooper performance.

I thought he was great in it. You really understood that he was a wonderful, sweet guy doomed by some demons and circumstances, and I for one sensed that he was truly in love with her. Also, I thought it was a really smart addition to the story that hey had him suffering from severe tinnitus, which I imagine would be a truly awful ailment for anyone, but especially a musician.

[quote] I know we're supposed to hate her

Says who, R36? We're all supposed to think alike?

R41 I could care less what a tight ass frau like you thinks,

R44, if you want to remain blissfully ignorant and unteachable, that's your choice.

R45, what can you expect from a moron who doesn't know the difference between "I could care less" and "I couldn't care less"?

R46 Just thank God that moron is on DL and not the world stage. Any thoughts, professor?

R47, go fellate Donald Trump and leave us alone.

R48 Who is 'us' Sybil? BTW is ASFUTIMAEHAEFUTBW a colloquialism?

The THR review at R17 is wrong. Streisand wrote the music for Evergreen while Paul Williams wrote the lyrics. It’s such a unique musical composition because it doesn’t appear to have a chorus, does it? It seems like it’s just verse, verse, verse.

Streisand never sounded better which is likely what saved the entire enterprise. Her vocal performances are astounding and sound so effortless. Getting a good fucking from both Jon Peters and Kris Kristofferson must have really helped her singing. Kristofferson is just sex on legs through the entire film, gorgeous.

R1 is right. A Star is Born was the absolute zenith of Streisand’s career, definitely her apex mountain, that she could release such a mediocre film that was still a MASSIVE box office success, sell millions of records, have a No. 1 song, win an Oscar and seem sexy and fashionable. It think it just sated all of her desires which is why she got lazy and never really did anything of note again, despite directing Yentl (a very unique film) and Prince of Tides. She lost her hunger, right here.

I don’t find Gaynor very appealing and the idea of a romance with March isn’t credible at all.

I rate the 1954 at No. 2, 2018 at No. 2, 1937 at No. 3 and 1976 in last place at No. 4. I do love the story, in any version.

Unfortunately, Streisand's hairdo in ASIB reminded me of Harpo Marx.

R49 is just putting up bullshit to hide the fact she's a moron who doesn't know the phrase is "I couldn't care less." Poor dumb cunt.

R48 go ASUFUTIMAEHAEFUTBW yourself.

[Quote] go fellate Donald Trump and leave us alone.

R48 tell your cock hog father to move aside.

The next one should be Beyonce and Willie Nelson.

Is Willi Nelson still alive!

R52, I don't think it's accurate to say that Streisand "lost her hunger" after A STAR IS BORN. I think what happened was just that she continued to make very poor decisions regarding what films to work on (and star in).

[quote]Streisand never sounded better

OH, BROTHER

Streisand sounded just as good years before ASIB, and she had better material.

1987 - Brad Pitt / Thom Racina

WTF are you referring to, Miss R64?

The next one will star Dylan Mulvaney and Sam Smith.

How about Taylor Swift and Madonna?

You forgot New York, New York...the low key, boring Star is Born.

R68 I wonder if Liza was ever considered for the 1976 role.

Liza was careful to not do Judy retreads at that point, r69.

Why would Streisand hire Liza Minnelli for the 1976 movie? It was supposed to be about rock stars. Streisand in the role was ridiculous, Minnelli in it would be batshit crazy.

[quote]Streisand sounded just as good years before ASIB, and she had better material.

The other poster stated that Streisand never sounded BETTER than she did in ASIB, and I think that's an accurate statement.

Selznick produced both movies, r6. “What Price, Hollywood” was made at RKO when Selznick was head of production. Irene Selznick nagged her husband about making a movie about Hollywood. “What Price” wasn’t right in her opinion.

The woman’s role in ASIB has never been played by a newcomer. At least Eastwood was in to something fresh when he approached Beyoncé about playing the part. At one point Eastwood had the remake rights and then Cooper had them. I understand that they’re close so it appears Clint handed the movie to Cooper.

[Quote] Seeing as how you're not smart enough to understand why the idiotic phrase "you could care less what happens to them" makes no freaking sense, I'm going to discount everything your wrote, including you're opinions.

Buck would never have used the phrase 'I could care less'

Get the smelling salts!