A Star Is Born Page #3

Synopsis: Norman Maine, a movie star whose career is on the wane, meets showgirl Esther Blodgett when he drunkenly stumbles into her act one night. A friendship develops, then blossoms into romance before tensions increase as Esther's career takes off while Norman's continues to plummet.
Director(s): George Cukor
Production: Warner Bros. Pictures
  Nominated for 6 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 5 nominations.
 
IMDB:
7.8
Rotten Tomatoes:
96%
PG
Year:
1954
154 min
4,166 Views


Waiting on tables...

Wow, that was a low point.

I'll never forget it...

...and I'll never, never do that again.

No matter what.

But I had to sing.

I somehow feel most alive

when I'm singing.

It's like...

You don't want to hear all this, do you?

Do you mind?

Mind? No, I'm having a wonderful time.

Here, we turn here. I live on that street.

Is there anything more I should know

about your fascinating life?

There must be more.

There is. A whole scrapbook full.

Come in.

Well, have you had enough,

as the Republicans used to say?

You know about as much about me now

as I do myself.

But you see how long it's taken me

to get this far.

Now, all I need is just a little luck.

What kind of luck?

The kind of luck that every girl singer

with a band dreams of.

One night a talent scout

from a big record company will come in.

And he'll let me make a record.

Yes, and then?

The record'll become No. 1

on the hit parade.

Be played on the jukeboxes

all over the country and I'll be made.

End of dream.

- There's only one thing wrong with that.

- I know. It won't happen.

No, it might happen very easily.

Only the dream isn't big enough.

How long will you be playing at the Grove?

Tonight was our last night.

We leave for San Francisco in the morning.

Don't go.

What?

Quit. Leave the band. Stay on here.

Let me see what I can do for you.

I'll talk to Oliver Niles right away.

It's just a chance, but take it.

A chance?

Do you realize I'd be giving up everything

I ever worked for?

That's right. But it served its purpose.

Listen to me, Esther...

...a career is a curious thing.

Talent isn't always enough.

You need a sense of timing,

an eye for seeing the turning point...

...or recognizing the big chance

when it comes along and grabbing it.

A career can rest on a trifle.

Like us sitting here tonight.

Or it can turn on somebody's saying

to you:

"You're better than that.

You're better than you know."

Don't settle for the little dream.

Go on to the big one.

Scared? Scared to take the plunge?

Yes.

Say, what makes you so sure about me?

I heard you sing.

- Yeah, but that...

- I know, just my word.

But you know yourself, don't you?

You just needed somebody to tell you.

I'm certainly mixed up now.

I thought I was doing just fine.

Don't look so miserable.

You don't have to decide now.

Sleep on it. I'll call you in the morning.

Sleep on it.

You fixed me for sleep, all right.

Whether you do it or not,

don't ever forget how good you are.

Hang onto that.

Because I'm right.

Good night, Esther.

Good night, Mr. Maine. Thank you.

I just want to take another look at you.

Hello. Who is it?

Oliver?

Who?

Norman.

Oliver, just hold on a moment.

- Are you in jail? What have you done?

- Yeah, yeah...

No, no, I'm not!

This girl, it turns out, is a fabulous singer.

- You heard a girl sing.

- This girl...

- Isn't that nice?

- Don't make me mad.

Do you know the time?

This girl has a wonderful talent.

Listen, please.

Yes, yes, I hear you.

Every word.

You heard a girl sing.

What do you want me to do, applaud?

Yes.

Yes, I hear you. Yep.

Anything.

Anything.

Thanks, Oliver.

Now, you go on back to sleep...

...because I want you to be nice and fresh

in the morning when I bring her around.

Who is it?

It's me.

You asleep, Danny?

Not anymore. What's the matter?

I'm sorry, but I had to see you.

Something wrong? Hand me a cigarette.

A cigarette. Over there.

Sure.

I'm quitting the band, Danny.

I'm not going on to 'Frisco in the morning.

- You crazy or something?

- Maybe. Maybe, but I'm quitting.

Why? What happened?

Norman Maine is gonna get me

a screen test.

Go on back to bed, will you, Esther?

Well, it's true.

You been drinking with him?

Of course not.

When we get to 'Frisco,

I'll take you to a doctor...

...and have your head examined.

What's the matter with you?

He was making a conventional pass,

that's all.

No. No, it wasn't that, Danny.

What else is it then?

He just follows bands around

and gives singers screen tests?

What's got into you?

He gave me a look at myself

I've never had before.

He saw something in me

nobody else ever did.

And he made me see it, too.

He made me believe it.

Believe what? It's taken

all these years for you...

...to get with a big-name outfit.

You gonna toss it all in the ashcan?

And for what?

For a chance at being something...

...something bigger than I ever dreamed of.

And I'm not gonna turn back now.

Ever.

Coffee's almost ready.

I don't want any coffee.

I'm wide awake now.

Don't be mad at me.

I'll be up in time to see you off

in the morning.

I guess I'd better go.

How much money have you got, Esther?

Money?

A little.

Enough to last for a couple of weeks.

You'll be all signed up

and in front of the cameras by then.

You fool.

You fool!

You think so?

Then why do I feel like this?

- Goodbye, honey.

- 'Bye.

Good luck to you.

Wait a minute, Danny.

Wish me luck.

Luck? You silly...

All right, go ahead and say it.

No, no use. You're going for the ride.

Okay. Good luck.

Don't forget who makes

better vocal arrangements for you...

...better than anybody else in the world!

In his unusual wonderful shape, huh?

He'll sleep it off on the plane.

Any idea how long you'll be gone?

About five or six weeks at least.

This one's being shot mostly on location.

It's a big sea epic.

He won't see anything for a long time

but the stuff he hates, water!

So long.

All right, cut.

That's the one. Wrap it up.

Bring us in.

They got it.

Bring him on in here.

Bring him straight on in.

Very nice.

- Thank you. Eddie!

- Drink that coffee.

- Where's Eddie?

- You can talk to Eddie later.

There you are, Eddie. Any luck?

Did you find it?

Mr. Maine, there's about 300 bungalow

courts around Sunset and Highland.

- Can't you remember the number?

- No, just the neighborhood!

Go ahead, take that telephone book

and ring all 300. Go on!

Will you go down and dry off!

I need you in the cabin shot.

What's with this phone-book routine?

The usual, some dame.

Eddie! Hey, Eddie!

It has the name of a flower on the side.

A poinsettia, or zinnia, or something.

Get the studio to have someone take a car

and cruise around there.

For two days if necessary!

But find that place.

Four days?

But you're behind schedule now, Bob.

Is Maine drunk?

Tell me the truth. Don't cover for him.

I want to know.

Okay, we'll shoot around him.

Try and make up the time

as soon as he's up.

Cut some corners, Bob.

You've got to bring it on time.

You know how tough things are right now.

They're on my neck from New York

every day.

Okay, I understand.

What's so amusing?

Is Maine sick?

Bad case of flu. A 103 temperature.

Kept him in the water too long, I'll bet.

Water would have a bad effect on him.

Esther, somebody called you about a job.

Said to call them right back.

The number's on the phone there.

Thanks.

Mr. Blake?

Yes.

Singing?

Yes.

On the set at 9:
00.

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Moss Hart

Moss Hart (October 24, 1904 – December 20, 1961) was an American playwright and theatre director. more…

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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