A Star is Born (1954): Reconstrcuted Theatrical Cut in HD

Updated
starborntheatrical_front
Faneditor Name:
Original Movie Title:
Fanedit Type:
Original Release Date:
1954
Original Running Time:
181
Fanedit Release Date:
Fanedit Running Time:
154
Time Cut:
27
Subtitles Available?
Available in HD?
Brief Synopsis:
The Restoration of A Star is Born was a tremendous accomplishment which was also the first of its kind.
It is also one which many believe to be flawed, due to its use of stills to fill in the visual gaps on what is a complete audio of the roadshow version.

This version reconstructs the unavailable and IGNORED 154 min Theatrical Version in its entirety with no bells or whistles.

Intention:
To bring back to everyone the version of this movie that most will recall and saw...THE THEATRICAL CUT at 154 mins; no longer ignored and available for the firt time in HD.
Additional Notes:
I applaud and acknowledge the huge effors that went into this restoration, and they are well documented in many articles and books, but for my taste, the Theatrical version should also have been assembled....instead, it was ignored (until now).
Other Sources:
A Star is Born VHS (as refernce)
Special Thanks:
Spence, ArtisDead
Release Information:
Digital
Editing Details:
All the material recoverd for the Blu Ray restoration has been removed to leave JUST the 154 min Theatrical cut.
Cuts and Additions:
All of the following are removed from the Restored version:

This edit tries to a number of things:
1. ALL the stills used to pad out the full audio that was discovered.
2. All additional Musical Numbers
3. The INTERMISSION card is gone
4. My Reconstrcuted George Cukor's orginally intended ending is NOt [resent...Just the original Theatrical version scoring.

User reviews

3 reviews
Overall rating
 
9.9
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0(3)
Audio Editing
 
10.0(3)
Visual Editing
 
10.0(3)
Narrative
 
9.7(3)
Enjoyment
 
9.7(3)
Overall rating
 
10.0
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
10.0
Enjoyment
 
10.0
What a special edit this is....Wraith has meticulously brought back to life the much-maligned 154 minute version of this film which is so important to the history of Hollywood and cinema.

I've been watching this movie since I as a kid and that was always the 1983 restoration, which is now the definitive version. But being a huge fan of Judy Garland I always longed to see what was in release from 1954-1982 and now I finally can!

Editing was seamless and the experience was something new and special. I can now really feel how the edits of this 154 minute version hurt the films chances at the box offices and the Oscars.

This edit is so important to film preservation and movie history...thank you!



User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
D
1 reviews
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Overall rating
 
10.0
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
10.0
Enjoyment
 
10.0
I was excited to see this version in order to experience the version of the time period. I love many old films. This is one of them now. I don't think it feels truncated like another review. The runtime is 2 hours 36 minutes. The extended version is important, but so to is this one, to me. I love the cinematography. Mason was a fantastic actor. The end is depressing though.

The editing by Wraith is great. The fact he oftentimes edits multiple versions of the films he is working on shows how dedicated he is to these. Anyone interested in historically significant, good ole fashioned Hollywood Cinema should see this. It has humor, humanity, heartbreak, and satire.

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 0 0
Overall rating
 
9.6
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
9.0
Enjoyment
 
9.0
While interesting to see the version that people knew and loved for nearly thirty years, this version of A Star is Born does feel truncated if you have seen any of the longer ones (including Wraith's other cuts), but that is hardly a comment on the skills of the editor!

Technically excellent with the only distractions noted seem to be distortion image that rears its head during panning shots. If I am right this is inherent to Cinemascope productions but releases of some other films appear to correct this, maybe a future restoration will do the same.

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
P
Top 50 Reviewer 82 reviews
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