Where to Watch Old Versions of ‘A Star Is Born’
There are high expectations in the air for Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’s interpretation of A Star is Born , but this star has been born several times. Here’s how to stream the 1937, 1954, and 1976 iteration of A Star Is Born if you just can’t wait for the latest version.
1937 g.
The original star Dorothy Parker also lacked the musical component of future remakes. In this story, Esther Victoria Blodget, renamed Vicky Lester, is an aspiring actress who gets a big break when a famous actor sees her serving guests at a party. He eventually becomes her alcoholic husband … and the rest is history. Amazon Prime members can watch it for free, while others can rent it for $ 1.99. For $ 2.99, you can find it on YouTube, iTunes, Google Play, Vudu and a service called Viki for free , but it includes ads.
And worth a look – the original reviews of the film were great. Variety called it “a success that will undoubtedly rank among the top half dozen of the season … While the story is somewhat reminiscent of other behind-the-scenes stories, the way it is told makes it compelling and outstanding.”
It’s also 100% on Rotten Tomatoes if you don’t trust an 81-year-old review.
1954 g.
The 1954 film A Star Is Born features the incomparable Judy Garland and her absolutely exquisitely emotional rendition of The Man Who Gone. The good news is, you can cry as her passionate marriage falls apart for about $ 2.99 on a number of streaming services including YouTube, Amazon, Vudu, iTunes are common suspects.
The film also received rave reviews when Bosley Crowther of the New York Times wrote :
“… Those who were just toddlers when this classic began to burst into tears can warm up in front of one of the greatest dramas of grief that has flooded the entire screen in recent years.”
1976 year
Good news everyone! Barbra Streisand has personally watched the reprise of her lead role in A Star Is Born, which is now streaming on Netflix. You will see the film told the way the lead actress would like it, not the director Frank Pearson himself. It’s also free on Viki with ads, Amazon Prime, and other usual suspects if you want to see the original version.
You might not want to, because, unlike its predecessors, this film has been criticized. Roger Ebert gave him 2.5 stars out of 4, up 31% on Rotten Tomatoes. But if you’re already on top, why not finish the collection?
These could be all the stars that you can see at birth. If not, then it looks like they are re-doing this movie at fairly regular intervals, so just wait for what comes out in 2045.