Norman Maine (Don Lockwood) meets new-to-Hollywood Esther Blodgett (Cathy Selden). He is inpired by her innocence & ambition, and together they do battle with a supporting cast of cynical Hollywood types, amidst premieres, diction lessons, and lavish parties.
shareNow, isn't that bizarre! I happened to watch SiTR last week, so it was fresh in my mind when I saw this - but oddly enough, I didn't think about it until I saw the title of your thread. I'm gettin' old!
shareI think the only reason I noticed is that I've seen SiTR probably 30 times over the last two decades, but had never seen A Star is Born ever... until yesterday.
So it jumped right out at me.
Other similarities
- Cathy and Vicki are discovered the same way; working as the hired help at a Hollywood party.
- Both have harumphing but kindly Studio chiefs: Adolphe Menhjou / RF
There are differences of course.
- Antagonists: The bitter lacky of A Star is Born is replaced by Lina Lamont
- Cathy's ascent is pushed to the end of the movie in SiTR, perhaps to make way for the songs
- A "transition to sound" plot is added
SPOILER
- Don Lockwood is not in decline, and doesn't die.
Similar also in making a lot of pointed commentary about the way things work in Hollywood.
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