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A Star Is Born (1954)

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  • Award Snub:
    • Judy Garland losing the Best Actress Academy Award to Grace Kelly is still considered one of the most infamous snubs in Academy history. Groucho Marx himself considered it "the biggest robbery since Brink's."
    • The film wasn't up for either Best Picture or Director.
  • Awesome Music: "The Man That Got Away" and the "Born in a Trunk" sequence.
  • Big-Lipped Alligator Moment: If you're unaware of the film's unfortunate history with restoring missing scenes, seeing a huge chunk of the film told via production stills will come off as this. Even those aware of the history might still find it off-putting as it feels like the movie becomes a photo album all of a sudden.
  • Harsher in Hindsight: Although her performance was highly praised, Judy Garland continued to be plagued with substance abuse issues, culminating in her 1969 death from a drug overdose. Accordingly, Garland was the only leading lady of any version of A Star is Born who failed to live to see the next version's release.note 
  • She Really Can Act: This film proved that Judy Garland could handle a dramatic role.
  • Signature Scene: Esther/Vicki's Dressing Room Breakdown when finally confronting her husband's alcoholism, a scene many believe should have won Judy Garland the Oscar.
  • Tear Jerker: Norman's suicide by drowning underscored by an oblivious Esther wistfully singing from the kitchen window.

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