A Star is Born (1954)

Any fan of Judy Garland's movies will tell you that A Star is Born ranks as one of her best. Rent this classic (the restored version is widely available) for her performances of "Swanee" and "The Man that Got Away," and for the fabulous '50s style that permeates the film. Don't think it's a beach flick? Wait 'til you see the beachside home that Garland shares with her husband, Norman Maine, played by James Mason: The oceanfront terrace alone will knock your socks off! And of course, that sandy stretch of beach below the house plays a central role in this tearjerker. (No hints―you'll have to watch to find out why.) With direction by the famed George Cukor and music by the incomparable Harold Arlen, this is one Hollywood tale you can't afford to pass up. ―James Schwartz

 
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