Let me take you back to 1954, when all eyes were on Judy Garland at the premiere of A Star Is Born. But here’s the thing—Judy wasn’t about hogging the spotlight. She made sure to give a shout-out to her third husband, Sid Luft, the brains behind the operation. In an exclusive sneak peek from Closer Weekly at the upcoming Showtime documentary Sid & Judy, we see Judy showering praise on the legendary producer, the man who helped bring this epic film to life.
From Epic to Tragic: The Cutting of a Masterpiece
According to Sid & Judy director Stephen Kijak, the original three-hour version of A Star Is Born was nothing short of monumental. He told Closer Weekly, “By all accounts, it was as powerful as Gone With the Wind. This was a movie that could’ve redefined Hollywood history.” But here’s where the story takes a turn. Warner Bros., the studio behind the film, wasn’t a fan of the runtime. They wanted it shorter so theaters could squeeze in more screenings each day. “So they cut it and cut it and cut it,” Stephen explained. “In the process, they killed it.” It’s a heartbreaking tale of artistic vision sacrificed at the altar of commerce.
Big Dreams, Bigger Challenges
As the documentary reveals through Sid’s voiceover, performed by the ever-charismatic Jon Hamm, A Star Is Born was one of the most expensive films of its time. With a staggering budget of nearly $6 million—an astronomical figure back then—they knew they’d need to double that just to break even. The movie wasn’t just a remake of the 1937 classic starring Janet Gaynor; it was a labor of love. And while it’s been remade twice since then, with Barbra Streisand in 1976 and Lady Gaga in 2018, the original remains a pivotal moment in Hollywood history.
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Academy Snub and the Price of Politics
Everyone thought Judy Garland was a shoe-in for an Oscar. But when the dust settled, the golden statue went to Grace Kelly for her role in The Country Girl. Judy did, however, take home a Golden Globe, which is something, right? According to Stephen Kijak, part of the reason the movie didn’t sweep the awards was due to a conflict between Warner Bros. and the Academy. “It was really shut out,” he said. “Hollywood politics or the result of that film being sliced to pieces, it bombed. The initial reviews were glowing, but once it got chopped up, it just tanked. You can imagine how devastating that was for both Judy and Sid.”
