A Star Is Born (1976 film)
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| A Star Is Born | |
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| Directed by | Frank Pierson |
| Produced by | Jon Peters Barbra Streisand |
| Written by | William A. Wellman Robert Carson John Gregory Dunne Joan Didion Frank Pierson |
| Starring | Barbra Streisand Kris Kristofferson Gary Busey |
| Music by | Kenny Ascher Rupert Holmes Roger Kellaway Kenny Loggins Leon Russell Paul Williams Barbra Streisand |
| Cinematography | Robert Surtees |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. Pictures |
| Release date(s) | December 17, 1976 (U.S. release) |
| Running time | 140 Min. |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
A Star Is Born is a 1976 rock music film telling the story of a young woman, played by Barbra Streisand who enters show business, and meets and falls in love with an established male star, played by Kris Kristofferson, only to find her career ascending while his goes into decline. It is a remake of two earlier versions – the 1937 version was a drama starring Janet Gaynor and Fredric March, and the 1954 version was a musical film starring Judy Garland and James Mason.
Directed by Frank Pierson, the film updates the original story and screenplay of William A. Wellman and Robert Carson with additional contributions by Pierson, John Gregory Dunne and Joan Didion. It also features Gary Busey and Sally Kirkland. Venetta Fields and Clydie King perform as Streisand's backing vocalists "The Oreos". Kristofferson's wife Rita Coolidge and Tony Orlando appear briefly as themselves.
The earlier films had portrayed the behind-the-scenes world of Hollywood film making; however, this version adapted the story to the music business. For example, the 1937 and 1954 films each portrayed the lead female character winning an Academy Award, while the 1976 version depicted the heroine winning a Grammy Award instead.
A Star Is Born was coproduced by Streisand and her then-partner Jon Peters for Barwood Films and Warner Brothers. Among the actors considered for the male lead were Neil Diamond and Marlon Brando. Both Streisand and Peters tried without success to convince Elvis Presley to accept the role. The film cost around six million dollars to produce, and was a substantial hit, ultimately grossing more than 70 million dollars worldwide. Its soundtrack album was also an international success. It featured the ballad "Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star is Born)", which became one of the biggest hits of Streisand's career, spending three weeks at number one in the United States, and peaking at number three in the United Kingdom.
The film won the Academy Award for Best Song for "Evergreen" with the award shared by its songwriters, Streisand and Paul Williams, and was also nominated in the categories of Best Cinematography (Robert Surtees), Best Sound (Robert Knudson, Dan Wallin, Robert Glass and Tom Overton) and Original Music Score (Roger Kellaway). It won five Golden Globe Awards for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy, Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (Streisand), Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (Kristofferson), Best Original Score (Paul Williams and Kenny Ascher) and Best Original Song, (Steisand and Williams for "Evergreen").
According to at least one Streisand biography, unhappy with a few of Frank Pierson's scenes, Streisand later directed them herself (a claim also made for 1979's "The Main Event"), adding to the rumors that she and Pierson clashed constantly during production.
The film was a runaway hit in theaters, and became the second-highest grossing film of 1976.
This version of "A Star Is Born" became the basis for the music video "Unbreak My Heart" by Toni Braxton. The video was directed by Bille Woodruff and co-starred model Tyson Beckford as her lover. A keen eye will see the similiarities between the two...from the leading man's tragic automobile related death in the middle of the desert to the climatic ending performed in an all white ensemble topped off with a full afro-like natural hairstyle.
