Another “Star is Born” Movie? Possibly, with Bradley Cooper as Director and Beyonce to Star!

A movie that’s already been done three times (at least) may just get yet another remake if the rumors are true that Bradley Cooper will direct and Beyoncé will appear in “A Star is Born.”  The original 1937 version, said to be inspired by (among others) the marriage of aging vaudeville star Al Jolson and rising movie star Ruby Keeler, starred Janet Gaynor as the fresh-faced newcomer and Frederic March as the once-powerful star who is now losing his lustre.

The second version starred Judy Garland and James Mason, with some of Garland’s best-remembered songs, including “The Man That Got Away,” “Swannee,” and “Born in a Trunk.”

The third version starred Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson.  “Evergreen” won an Oscar for best song.

Reportedly, Streisand begged Elvis to take the role of the fading rock star. That would have been something to see.

There are similar and related films, including the 1932 film “What Price Hollywood?” directed by George Cukor. Though he grumbled that the story was plagiarized from “What Price Hollywood?” he also directed the Judy Garland version. International adaptations include the Bollywood film “Aashiqui 2” and the Malayalam film “Bharatham.” Reportedly, the idea for “Nashville” came from a comment on a proposed country version of “A Star is Born” that unlike movie stars and rock stars, country stars never fade.