A Star Is Born

- Well, home from the movies at last. - Looks like it aunt Mattie.

- Hi Dad. - Hello Son.

Well daughter, how was the moving pictured tonight?

Lovely.

Mice, that's what it was, just a lot of mice, There wasn't anybody killed, the whole thing.

No, well then I'll stick to these, these don't talk.

And that big clock Norman Maine was in the pictures tonight,

Never does anything but kiss a lot of girls.

Norman Maine is one of the best actors in pictures.

You and your movies, that's all you think about.

You shouldn't be allowed to go to them at all, if you're asking me.

Too bad I was so busy in the kitchen.

I didn't hear anybody asking you.

- Hello Granny. - Hello Darling.

- But of course, no one ever listens to me. - They do if they're within ten miles of you.

Gathering around picture shows. House all covered up with movies magazines.

And the other day I caught her talking to a horse with a Swedish accent.

Well Sis, you're only young once, you know.

Hollywood?

You'd better be getting yourself a good husband and stop mooning about Hollywood.

You know what she wants to do? She wants to go to Hollywood.

I've noted all along.

I've seen her making faces in the mirror and talking to herself.

That's what comes of your movies.

Why, what would you do if you did go to Hollywood?

I'd be an actress.

I would, I tell you I've always known I could.

Guys, wouldn't be wonderful to have a movie star in the family?

Oh Miss Blodgett, may I have your autograph?

You may not know it Alex but you're practically on your way to bed.

Oh Miss Blodgett, you're my favorite actress...

wouldn't you tell me the secret of your success?

Oh, let me alone.

- I asked her, what's come over you? - I'll tell you what's come over her.

She's just a silly little girl whose head is been turned by the movies.

And as soon as she forgets the whole thing, the better off she'll be.

Oh, why will I be better off?

What's wrong with want to go out and make something of myself?

What do you do that's so much better?

Just because you're satisfied to sit here all your life, you think you can laugh at me.

Well, some day you won't laugh at me.

I'm going out and have a real life, I'm going to be somebody.

If now happens to be spring, I'd say give her a good dose of sulfur and molasses.

I thought I'd find you up.

Oh, stop that.

Now stop crying, that isn't going to do you a bit good.

Oh, I'm crying because aunt Mattie and Alex make so mad.

Well, it's your aunt Mattie, Alex. They're not important.

You're the only one that counts.

Esther...

everyone in this world who has ever dreamed about better things...

- has been laughed at, don't you know that? - Oh, I suppose I do but...

But there's a difference between dreaming and doing.

The dreamers just sit around and moon about how wonderful it would be...

if only things were different.

And the years roll on and they grow old and by and by they forget everything...

even about their dreams.

I don't want to be like that, I want to be somebody,

Oh yes, oh yes. You want to be somebody but you want it to be easy.

Oh, you modern girls give me a pain.

When I wanted something better...

I came across those planes in the prairies with your Grandfather.

Oh, everyone laughed at us, they did to all the other pioneers.

They said this country will never be anything but a wilderness.

We didn't believe that. We were going to make a new country.

Besides...

we wanted to see our dreams come true.

- Granny, it must've been wonderful. - Was wonderful.

But don't you think for one single minute that it was easy Esther Blodgett.

We burned in summer and we froze in winter.

But we kept right on going and we didn't complain.

Because we were doing what we wanted to do.

Can you understand that?

Yes, I can.

Could you do it?

Could you do it even if it broke your heart?

Because remember Esther, for every dream of yours you make come true you'll...

pay the price in heartbreak.

I know what I'm talking about.

You may not believe it, but I was a young girl once.

A very pretty young girl, a lot prettier than you are.

And I was in love with your grandfather...

and when some Indian devil put a bullet through him...

felt like it had come straight through my heart too.

And I remembered all he taught me...

and I went right on him.

I buried him out there on that wilderness with my own hands.

I went right on that same day.

And I kept right on the way...

even when your mother was born.

Oh Granny, I would make it worthwhile.

You know Esther...

there'll always be a wilderness to conquer.

Maybe Hollywood is your wilderness now.

From all I hear, it sounds like it.

But if you got one drop of my blood in your veins...

you won't let Mattie or any of her kind break your heart.

You'll go right out there and break it yourself.

That's your right.

Here. Oh here, here, stop that nonsense.

Here.

- Take this and go to your Hollywood. - Oh, I can't take your money.

- Well, why not? - It's your savings.

Well, I was only saving up for my funeral.

Now I don't think I'm ever going to die.

Oh, granny, how can I ever thank you?

By giving me your word of honor you'll never tell a living soul where you got that money.

I promise.

Remember, if you do, I'll have you arrested for robbing me.

Here we are.

- Want me to help you Granny? - Oh, I can make it dear.

Man, it's cold.

I kissed Dad goodbye, just a little kiss, he didn't even wake up.

I bet you didn't try that on your aunt Mattie.

Oh aunt Mattie, think of her face when you tell her.

I am thinking about it.

I've waited for that chance for thirty years.

- Fresh air of you own town. - Thank you Grelsy.

Well, come on, come on.

Sure it's very cool.

All aboard.

Oh Granny.

Come on, come on. Go on, go on.

- Good bye Granny. - Good bye.

I'll be waiting for you in those movies pictures.

Don't tell Mattie...

you know my eyes are not as good as they used to be but my ears are alright.

So you remember, talk up good and loud.

All aboard.

- Goodbye. - Goodbye.

Goodbye Granny.

Goodbye.

Don't you want to go home now?

I don't want to but I will.

- Good Afternoon. - Day, week or month?

But it's a little hard to say you see, I'm going into the movies.

Well you better take it for a week, it'll break your jump to Beverly Hills.

- Are all the studios really near here? - All except Gaumont British.

I suppose the best way to get a job is to go straight to the studios, isn't it?

I have many illusions you know...

I am perfectly willing to begin with a little bit of a part or even as an extra.

Six please, in advance.

I beg your pardon.

I'd like to register for extra work.

- How long have you been in Hollywood? - Well, it's about a month now.

We haven't put anyone on our books for over two years.

Come here,

I'd like to show you something.

- Try later. - No can't be, try later.

- Try later, thank you. - Not now, try later.

Every time you see one of those little lights flash it's somebody asking for a job.

Every time you hear them say try later, it means there isn't any job.

Can't keep the girls at the switchboard long they go crazy.

Every one of those little lights thought it was going to be a star.

Still want to go in the movies?

You know what your chances are?

One in a hundred thousand.

Maybe...

I'm that one.

- Any phone calls for me Mr. Randall? - Oh no.

Jesse Lasky and Sammy Goldwyn must be writing letters instead.

- How was the luck today? - There wasn't any.

Maybe you don't go at in the right way.

Now take Danny McGuire here, he knows the ropes, don't you Danny?

Sure, I've had them around my neck for years.

What?

Oh Miss Blodgett, Danny McGuire, our new tenant.

- How do you do? - Mr. McGuire is a big director.

Are you really?

Oh, could you possibly use me in a picture Mr. McGuire?

Of course I haven't had much experience but...

I don't think that really matters if you're willing.

- And I'm... - Now listen lady.

In the first place I'm not a director, I'm an assistant director, in the second place...

if I had any jobs to give away, I'd confirm one of them myself.

And in the third place, you should've stayed back home in the first place.

- Oh no, look what you've done. - Hey, wait a minute.

Hey, don't be that way.

Don't do that.

Gosh, I didn't mean to get tough.

A guy thinks he's being kidded when somebody asking for a job and...

he hasn't got one for himself.

After all, I'm not a big enough shot to hurt your feelings.

I, I'm sorry.

It wasn't just that, was a lot of things.

I've been for a job everyday and never getting any nearer to it.

I guess I was beginning to get a little scared.

I know. Lady, do I know.

Well, there's only one thing to do with that feeling when you're tire...

sunk and down to your last nickle. Come on and I'll buy you a drink.

Well, is not as bad as down to the last nickle, I've still got $11 left.

11 dollars? You're going to buy me a drink, come on.

That's right George, there's nothing like a little rum to take away that milk flavor.

- I beg your pardon. - Certainly.

And when I sign my contract...

the first thing I'm going to do is see that you direct every picture that I'm in.

That's to my pal.

Of course I'm going to be perfectly nice about it but I'll just insist.

Now, that's the way to talk.

- Don't let them lick you. - Oh, they can't lick me..