This remake of the 1937 Janet Gaynor movie is one of the superlative melodramas in Hollywood's history, and it contains the greatest ever performance by Judy Garland, paired with the brilliant James Mason - two stars at the height of their powers. Their portrayals, together with fine cinematography by Sam Leavitt and superb direction from George Cukor, ensure that this film enriches more lives each time it is screened. But on first release, the movie suffered from being overlong and was trimmed. The original release version was restored in 1983 by film historian Ronald Haver, who found much of the missing material - minus some scenes that he re-created using stills. This "restoration", though of historical value, doesn't especially help the movie, and can alienate a first-time viewer. It's rather like seeing the Venus de Milo with her arms stuck back on: it may be complete, but didn't everybody prefer her the other way? This stunning movie shows Hollywood at its self-centred best, and when Garland lost that year's Oscar to Grace Kelly (for The Country Girl), Groucho Marx immortally quipped, "it's the biggest robbery since Brink's!".

A movie star helps a young singer-actress find fame, even as age and alcoholism send his own career into a downward spiral.