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A Star Is Reborn: The Most Filmed Hollywood Story of Love Found and Lost
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Expected 27 Jan 26Win a free print copy of this book!
4 days and 14:13:46
100 copies available
U.S. only
Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the 1976 classic film version starring Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson, a riveting, juicy exploration of the history and popularity of Hollywood’s favorite story about itself, from its 1937 technicolor drama starring Janet Gaynor and the 1954 version with Judy Garland, through 2018’s blockbuster Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper remake.
A Star is Born is one of the most popular entertainment legends of all time—the story of a fading male star who falls in love with an ingénue whose fame quickly eclipses his own. It’s been a showcase for some of the most talented female artists of their time—Barbra Streisand, Judy Garland, Lady Gaga—yet it is also a fascinating rumination on the nature of fame and the fragility of the male ego.
Now, Robert Hofler offers a riveting behind-the-scenes journey through the movie’s history, starting with 1932’s What Price Hollywood?, based on the rocky real-life Hollywood marriage of silent movie star Colleen Moore and producer John McCormick. That storyline was reworked by producer David O. Selznick into 1937’s A Star is Born, starring Janet Gaynor and Fredric March in the first of four versions.
From Cary Grant’s refusal to star opposite Judy Garland due to her substance abuse (a problem that would cause the 1954 musical to go wildly over-schedule) to attempts to woo Elvis Presley to star in the 1976 blockbuster that eventually paired Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson, How a Star is Reborn delves into the juicy tales behind the scenes. Hofler also traces the evolution of the story itself, as successive versions pivoted away from Hollywood and towards the world of rock music, culminating in 2018’s wildly successful Bradley Cooper/Lady Gaga remake.
Captivating and superbly researched, How a Star is Reborn combines shrewd insights, little-known details, and Hofler’s storytelling flair in this must-read for every fan of modern cinema.
A Star is Born is one of the most popular entertainment legends of all time—the story of a fading male star who falls in love with an ingénue whose fame quickly eclipses his own. It’s been a showcase for some of the most talented female artists of their time—Barbra Streisand, Judy Garland, Lady Gaga—yet it is also a fascinating rumination on the nature of fame and the fragility of the male ego.
Now, Robert Hofler offers a riveting behind-the-scenes journey through the movie’s history, starting with 1932’s What Price Hollywood?, based on the rocky real-life Hollywood marriage of silent movie star Colleen Moore and producer John McCormick. That storyline was reworked by producer David O. Selznick into 1937’s A Star is Born, starring Janet Gaynor and Fredric March in the first of four versions.
From Cary Grant’s refusal to star opposite Judy Garland due to her substance abuse (a problem that would cause the 1954 musical to go wildly over-schedule) to attempts to woo Elvis Presley to star in the 1976 blockbuster that eventually paired Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson, How a Star is Reborn delves into the juicy tales behind the scenes. Hofler also traces the evolution of the story itself, as successive versions pivoted away from Hollywood and towards the world of rock music, culminating in 2018’s wildly successful Bradley Cooper/Lady Gaga remake.
Captivating and superbly researched, How a Star is Reborn combines shrewd insights, little-known details, and Hofler’s storytelling flair in this must-read for every fan of modern cinema.
- GenresNonfiction
336 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication January 27, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Hollywood in its current state may be veering towards extinction, so reading about a 'franchise' of remakes proved a great chronology of how Hollywood operated at various stages and how, stories about Hollywood, told by Hollywood, can make us sit down and take notice.
Hofler is a skilled writer who transforms the trivia-led reiterations of A Star Is Born into a peppy tale. A lot of this book was a natural 5, however, I was surprised at how much focus Hofler put on the final version. In some ways it makes sense, although the second and third (really great segments) films could have been fleshed out a little more. In general, it gets a 4 for being a great mix of gossipy tell-all mixed with a cultural edge for each version - beginning all the way with the deliciously titled What Price Hollywood?
We lost the famous "the biggest robbery since Brink's" quote, as well as (to my mind, a great shock) the absence of the article from the director of the third A Star is Born, Pierson. With the Gaga section, however, we have a lot of detail on technique and the making-of.
The chapter about how the films fused together Garland, Gaga and Streisand, as well as trailblazer Gaynor was inciteful and measured. Really through, it's worth mentioning just how objectively awful Streisand was in this book's coup de grace to Streisand's beleaguered legacy as a misunderstood diva. Really, just a very self-involved person.
This review was provided by me in exchange for Kensington Publishing and NetGalley giving me an advanced copy.
Hofler is a skilled writer who transforms the trivia-led reiterations of A Star Is Born into a peppy tale. A lot of this book was a natural 5, however, I was surprised at how much focus Hofler put on the final version. In some ways it makes sense, although the second and third (really great segments) films could have been fleshed out a little more. In general, it gets a 4 for being a great mix of gossipy tell-all mixed with a cultural edge for each version - beginning all the way with the deliciously titled What Price Hollywood?
We lost the famous "the biggest robbery since Brink's" quote, as well as (to my mind, a great shock) the absence of the article from the director of the third A Star is Born, Pierson. With the Gaga section, however, we have a lot of detail on technique and the making-of.
The chapter about how the films fused together Garland, Gaga and Streisand, as well as trailblazer Gaynor was inciteful and measured. Really through, it's worth mentioning just how objectively awful Streisand was in this book's coup de grace to Streisand's beleaguered legacy as a misunderstood diva. Really, just a very self-involved person.
This review was provided by me in exchange for Kensington Publishing and NetGalley giving me an advanced copy.
December 5, 2025
I received this book via NetGalley.
This is a must-read for any fans of ANY version of A Star is Born, including those (like me) who love What Price Hollywood?
It delves into the inspiration behind the story, (I had no idea Colleen Moore and her husband inspired Adela Rogers St Johns to write the story) and adaptation process of each version. I thought the comparison to the Newman/Woodward documentary was apt and a good way to round out this investigation into the various versions of A Star is Born.
This is a must-read for any fans of ANY version of A Star is Born, including those (like me) who love What Price Hollywood?
It delves into the inspiration behind the story, (I had no idea Colleen Moore and her husband inspired Adela Rogers St Johns to write the story) and adaptation process of each version. I thought the comparison to the Newman/Woodward documentary was apt and a good way to round out this investigation into the various versions of A Star is Born.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to the publisher for an advance copy!
A deep dive into the enduring Hollywood story of "A Star is Born", detailing the various versions...my favorite is the 1976 one. Kristofferson's John Norman breaks my heart every time!
Interesting for the behind the scenes info and trivia, but the writing could have been tighter...lots of repetitive passages.
A deep dive into the enduring Hollywood story of "A Star is Born", detailing the various versions...my favorite is the 1976 one. Kristofferson's John Norman breaks my heart every time!
Interesting for the behind the scenes info and trivia, but the writing could have been tighter...lots of repetitive passages.
December 9, 2025
This was amazing, so interesting! All of these stars were and are amazing! Great book and fantastic read!!!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews