Funeral Parade is proud to present Judy Garland, one of Hollywood's first gay icons, in A Star is Born, George Cukor's timeless showbiz fable about a tempestuous love affair between a living legend in decline and superstar on the rise. Esther Blodgett (Garland) was just a small-time singer making ends meet until she had a chance encounter Norman Maine (James Mason), a fading matinee idol. With Norman's help, Esther lands herself a contract at a major Hollywood movie studio, where she is primped and preened for stardom. Rechristened “Vicki Lester”, she quickly becomes a household name, while Norman, now her husband, slips further into irrelevancy and alcoholism. A brilliant example of both the musical and the melodrama, A Star is Born's unique mix of razzle-dazzle and high tragedy make it a key film for Garland's enduring status as a gay icon.
