A Star Is Born

This is a great night in Hollywood, ladies and gentlemen.

I might even say a fabulous Hollywood night.

This is the Shrine Auditorium's great evening...

...for the Motion Picture Relief Fund...

...the benefit show called Night of the Stars, for Hollywood's own.

The motion-picture stars never forget their own.

And tonight, all the proceeds will go to the Motion Picture Relief Fund.

Wait a minute, folks. I think I see--

Yes, it is, it is.

Oliver Niles' car is just driving up.

And waving to her fans is Lola Lavery.

Lola, nice to see you. So wonderful. Oliver Niles, the famous producer.

Ladies and gentlemen, may I present lovely Lola Lavery.

Thank you, George, sweetie. It's so divine being here tonight.

And I know you're all looking forward to seeing your favorite star and mine.

And, of course, you know, Norman Maine is the great attraction...

...here at the Shrine Auditorium tonight.

And of course, wherever Norman Maine goes...

...lovely little Lola is sure to be there.

- Joan, doesn't she look beautiful? -She looks gorgeous.

- Good to see you. -How are you? Isn't she adorable?

You're looking divine. What are you wearing?

She's wearing a black sheath. Isn't it divine?

And a white fox. And the diamonds in the hair.

Did you ever? It's adorable.

Joan!

Ladies and gentlemen, we've had the pleasure...

...of having lovely Lola Lavery at our microphones.

Did you ever see anyone so sweet, so unspoiled and down-to-earth?

- She's a darling girl. -Definitely.

Lola, please, just one shot.

Thank you.

- Hello, Lola. -Libby, darling.

- Norman's not here. Not a sign. -Didn't you call for him?

- That was the plan. -Wasn't there. I've been all over town...

...the usual places. Not a sign of him.

Libby, Normie loves being late. He's always late with me.

You're not exactly a public performance, my dear.

- You know where I'm sitting. - I'll check backstage.

He's here. Good.

He's drunk.

- How bad? -Very. What do you want me to do?

Keep him off.

- Don't let him go on. -ls anything wrong? ls Normie all right?

It's all right.

Norman Maine.

Probably drunk.

Let go, you're breaking my camera.

Norman.

Norman, we have our cue.

- Take it easy. Please. What? Oh, yes.

Where are you going, Norman?

Hey, grab him. Grab him quick.

A horse!

A horse for my kingdom.

Hey! Get him here. Get him here.

Get him off the stage.

What are we gonna do, Libby?

- What's the act that follows Maine'? -The Glenn Williams' Orchestra.

- They here? -Yes.

- Ready? All right. -Yes.

On the stand, we're on next. Will you help rush them up, please?

In your places, we're on next. Snap it up.

Who didn't show?

Regular opening, verse and chorus?

Yeah, that's right.

Get a load of Norman Maine, will you?

- Where? -Look.

Mr. Maine is feeling no pain.

Oh, how I hate benefits.

Better make it snappy, Esther. Neil, is all the music out?

I'll get it now.

Hi, Norman.

Hello, Matt, old boy.

We seem to have missed each other. Been searching for me?

That's all right. I knew you'd turn up.

Touching, your faith in me, Matt. Touching.

Mr. Libby looks after me like a fond mother with a good sense of...

...double-entry bookkeeping.

Mr. Libby, I should explain, is in charge...

...of the public relations at the studio. How is the AP and the UP--

Fine, fine. Norman, I got some of the boys--

How many lies have you told the public today?

A couple of hundred. I need you for an interview and pictures.

I don't need more pictures, I don't need more interviews...

...because the public loves me. -Sure they do.

- But just a few. I promised the boys. -Take your hands off me.

And don't make any promises for me for I will break them. A horse!

My kingdom for a horse.

- I'll tell you what, Libby. - What?

I'm thirsty. I need a drink before I go on.

If you get me a drink, I'll let you take a picture.

- That's a deal. -Two drinks, two pictures.

Three drinks, three pictures.

Three pictures.

You're not a bad fellow, Libby.

Why do you disgust me? Why do I hate you so, Libby?

I wouldn't know about that, Norman.

Just one more. Smile.

Let's have another one. -That does it.

Give us more. -I said, that does it.

But you've got plenty of time. All right, all right, no more pictures.

Get your pencils out, boys.

I'm sorry, gentlemen, no time.

- You got plenty of time. -Come on.

- Plenty of time. -Are you trying to stop me?

You trying to stop me from going on?

- Is that it? -No.

What a story this will make. This guy is stoned.

What a spot this Not so hot this

Hey, there, shy one Come be my one

Please don't rush off Want no brush-off

I can't compel you to buy What I'd sell you

But I'd like to tell you Like so

You wanna have bells that'll ring

You wanna have songs that'll sing

You want your sky of baby blue

You gotta have me go with you

Hey, you fool, you Why so cool, you?

When I'm ready To go steady

You wanna have eyes that'll shine

You wanna have grapes on the vine

You want a love that's truly true

- You gotta have me go with you - You gotta have me

- Why the hold out? -And me

ESTHER". Have you sold out?

Time you woke up

Time you spoke up

This line I'm handing you

Is not a handout

As a team, we'd be a standout Ba-dop

You wanna live high on a dime

You wanna have two hearts in rhyme

- Gotta have me go with you -Don't forget about baby

- You gotta have me - Gotta have me

Gotta have me

All the time

- Ba-ba-bah -Ba-ba-bah

Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba Ba-ba-ba-ba

Ba-ba-ba-ba Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-bah

Bah

Ooh-ah Boo-de-boo

Why the hold out?

Have you sold out?

Time you woke up

Time you spoke up

ESTHER". Want your sky of baby blue

You gotta have me go with you

Why the hold out?

Have you sold out?

Time you woke up

Time you spoke up

This line I'm handing you

Is not a handout

As a team, we'd be a standout

You wanna live high on a dime

You wanna have two hearts in rhyme

Gotta have me go with you

All the time

- Esther? Yes.

Hi, girls.

- Esther, if you hurry we can have coffee. All right.

- Good night. -Goodbye.

- Danny. -Yeah?

- Wait-- Here, wait just a second. -Okay.

I think I must've chewed my lips off wondering...

...if he was gonna come staggering back.

I've never been so frightened. My knees were shaking--

- Was I on key? I couldn't hear. -On pitch all the way.

It's a wonder.

And it's a wonder to me Mr. Norman Maine is still in pictures.

It is indeed.

In fact, I ask it myself every morning when I'm shaving.

I say, "Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the greatest star of them all?"

Do you know what the mirror answers?

Norman Maine?

RAUGHS]

Absolutely correct, Miss...

Blodgett. Esther Blodgett.

You must've been born with that name. Couldn't have made it up.

- I was born with it. -Excuse me.

You wouldn't make up a name like that, would you?

- Oh, it's a brand-new lipstick. -To mark the occasion when...

...Esther Blodgett...

...saved Norman Maine...

...from making even more of a fool of himself than usual.

I thank you.

My studio thanks you. All the legions and codes...

...that watch over our industry will be equally pleased, I'm sure.

- Would you take supper with me? -Oh, I--

And all the people with you too.

I'm afraid we can't, Mr. Maine. You see, we're working at the Grove.

- This is Danny McGuire, our pianist. -Oh, bring your piano along, Mr. McGuire.

Nobody can object to a good, clean-living American piano.

But I insist on your taking supper with me.

Come on.

Don't you try to stop me, Mr. McGuire. I know myself extremely well.

I'm just near the fighting stage at the moment.

If I don't get my way, I'll begin to break up people and things at this moment.

- You understand, don't you? -Yes, I understand.