Judy Garland shines in this adaption of the often told story. The movie is a famous for its trouble production as the movie itself. What is not known to most people who grew up watching this film was that the film its self was cut by 30 minutes after it premiered. The effects on the film and Judy Garland herself took a toll. The movie in its shorten version made very little sense. The film lost many of Judy Garlands best scenes that she ever did. The film also lost some musical numbers.
In 1983 the movie was "RESTORED" as much as possible by the late Ronald Harver. Ron worked his ass off to find all the deleted footage. He turned Warner Brothers upside down to find all the missing footage. (In the 1950's it was not common practice to keep deleted scenes outtakes or alternated footage). With help of the AFI the Motion Picture Academy he was able to go coast to coast looking everywhere where any deleted footage might be. Some footage was never found but Ron Harver did a marvelous job using production stills to help complete the restoration this was done in 1983.
Its so sad is that Warner Brothers did not keep the deleted footage. The only reason why "Lose that Long Face" was restored was that in fact a film editor had stolen the negative. When A STAR IS BORN restoration was premiered without LOSE THAT LONG FACE re-inserted the editor was turned in by someone and I think he was fined or jailed. I am glad he had it though. The number is brilliant.
There is still about 8 minutes that can still be called missing. Rumors abound that after another 26 years after the first restoration that the final missing footage has been found. Again its rumors. The late Roddy McDowall has been rumored to have had this missing footage along with other missing footage from other movies.
In the very near future the movie will be released on Blu-Ray Dvd. I hope if there is a Making of special on the Blu-Ray that the efforts of Ronald Harver are not ignored. He was the true hero of this movie. He was a fan from the beginning. He always knew there were missing scenes from the movie. After growing up in Northern California he ended up working at AFI. To make a long story short he felt it was his mission in his life to help restore this movie. All the years as a fan of the movie were very helpful in his restoration. You can tell this movie in its restored format was restored with great love and attention. This movie would most likely not have me as a fan today if it were not for Ronald Harver.
So I am hoping that the Blu-ray DVD includes a story about him and all the work he did to help restore the movie. His passion for this movie was his gift to the world.
PS IF YOUR A FILM COLLECTOR WHO DOES HAVE THE MISSING FOOTAGE PLEASE CONTACT ME. THE MISSING FOOTAGE IS MISSING HOLLYWOOD HISTORY. IT COULD BE YOUR GIFT TO ALL AND FUTURE FANS OF JUDY GARLANDS. AFTER ALL YOU CAN BE COME A HERO
Ronald Harver I know you must be reading this in heaven so let me say "Thank You for your hard work". You are Hollywood's first SUPER HERO.
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