A Star Is Born: The Making of the 1954 Movie and Its 1983 Restoration [Paperback]

Ronald Haver (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2002

"There is no book about Hollywood as riveting as this documentary." - Allan Carr, Vanity Fair There is no question that the 1954 version of A STAR IS BORN holds a special place in the pantheon of classic movies. It was director George Cukor's first foray into musicals, his first color film, and it was, without a doubt, Judy Garland's greatest screen performance.With incredible detail and color, Ronald Haver gives us the fascinating story of the making, marketing and restoration of this groundbreaking classic. Here is how producer Sid Luft orchestrated the deal for his wife, how Cukor was selected to direct, how James Mason was cast to co-star and how Moss Hart's script was developed. Here are the myriad techincal problems, the clashes of personalities and the shocking emotional ups and downs of the film's star. Here, finally, is the author's own mission to restore the film to its original length and glory in the 1980s.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This is a story in two parts. The first, based on original source material and interviews, painstakingly chronicles the making and subsequent cutting of the Judy Garland/James Mason film. The second details the author's efforts to restore a copy of the film to its original style and length. More than a discussion of a single film, the book portrays a Hollywood trying to cope with changing technologies and highlights the need for film preservation. For serious film buffs. Photos not seen. Barbara E. Kemp, Washington State Univ. Lib., Pullman
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Applause Books (May 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557835632
• ISBN-13: 978-1557835635
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,034,272 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful study in how to "uncover" a masterpiece!, March 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A Star Is Born : The Making of the 1954 Movie and Its 1983 Restoration (Paperback)

A great book by Mr. Haver, filled with facts on the making of "A Star Is Born", the masterpiece. It also shows that rumors have been wrong for many years,in blaming the high cost of filming on Ms. Garland and also why this masterpiece ended up being a disappointment at the box office, having been cut up by Warner's to appease the movie houses' demands for a shorter version so it could be run for more viewings. A shame, when you consider they would have made more if audiences had been allowed to see it in its entirety, as planned. However, we have this wonderful book to tell us and show us exactly what took place! Thank you again, Mr. Haver!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Very Best, December 26, 2006

By 

Joseph P. Naughton (Bronx, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Star Is Born: The Making of the 1954 Movie and Its 1983 Restoration (Paperback)

Not every movie deserves a book of this quality but the movie and the book are perfect matches. What a wonderful read and I highly recommend this book to any fan of the movie, Hollywood, or student of same. Very well done.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Part Hollywood part Sherlock Holmes Story, August 11, 2007

By 

Dave "Davelandweb" (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Star Is Born: The Making of the 1954 Movie and Its 1983 Restoration (Paperback)

What an amazing story of how the pieces of this edited masterpiece were found during a painstaking search. The story of the production of the film is riveting, but even more so is the tale of the search for the lost footage. At the end it is slightly disappointing that all of the missing pieces could not be found, but ultimately the book is a celebration because the majority of it was discovered, and in the process, the restoration of this movie served as a catalyst for many films thereafter. Well written and hard to put down once started.