A Star Is Born (1954) & Grace Transcends

I love old movies. I have yet to see all the classics, but I did knock one off recently: A Star Is Born (1954 version.) Here’s the trailer:

Please follow me on Twitter, and “Like” the Facebook author page. Don’t forget to subscribe (the box is on the right side of the page) to be eligible for free e-books and other benefits!

This movie has been made several times, at least three under the same title. Why? It’s a star-making vehicle for the actress playing the role of Esther Blodgett, and a potential career killer for the male lead playing Norman Maine. With the opportunity to be a part of a great story, there have been miscastings in some of the versions, but the 1954 vintage movie is rightly hailed as a masterpiece.

I’ve always been a James Mason fan, far more so than Judy Garland. This movie was a restart for Garland after being gone from the screen for some years. But it’s Mason’s performance that held me in my seat for almost three hours.

James Mason is not trying to steal the scene, but his face is only a part of what’s happening on screen. His body language is perfect. No, make that exquisite, in this movie. Subtle things like hand tension, shoulders, and all the other “tells” that give away what the character is experiencing. Mason is perfect in this role, and he was rightly awarded the Golden Globe for the role in 1955.

The question you are probably asking is how does grace work its way into this film? Norman Maine is given grace by his wife, Vickie Lester, throughout the movie. She forgives him for the unforgivable because she loves him. In the end (spoiler alert) he returns her love by taking his own life to avert the destruction of her career. No matter what your thoughts on suicide, Norman Maine gives himself so that she may continue on and triumph. Not the equivalent of Jesus dying on the cross, but perhaps as close as a failed human can muster in the world of film.

Take some time to watch this movie next time it comes on TCM or get it on DVD. Sadly, the original cut has been lost, and when theater owners demanded a shorter movie so that it could be shown more times each day scenes were cut from the original and subsequently lost. They have been replaced with the soundtrack and production stills in the modern release. It only takes a little away from the film, not enough to pass on it.

********* ********** *********** ***********

I have a favor to ask of my readers: would you kindly share this blog with your friends, family, and colleagues? We hit a million views in 2014, and while the readership continues a nice growth trend, it could be a lot better. Just hit the Facebook like button, share it on your timeline, tweet the blog with a link, and tell that person at the next desk that there’s this lunatic who writes about all sorts of stuff that they might like.

I appreciate your help. When we hit 2,000,000 readers I will give away something cool to a drawing from the subscribers (that’s the box on the right toward the top) who have helped promote this mess. No used sheets, probably not honey, more likely gift cards. Be a part of it. I’ll update from time to time where we’re at in the count. Thanks.

Please follow and like us:
Pin Share

Comments are closed.