Frank Pierson’s classic romance film, A Star Is Born can be regarded as one of the best retellings of the original 1937 storyline. Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson were chosen as the main cast and this movie was finally available in theatres by December 19th, 1976 (US).
Revolving around the tragic tale of John Norman Howard and Esther Hoffman, A Star Is Born will take you through a one-of-a-kind story of love where a famous Rock star falls for an aspiring singer, only for him to lose his popularity as hers keeps rising. While out on a drinking spree, a drunk John discovers Esther’s talent as she performs at a bar.
The duo soon starts hanging out together and since John was popular and had contacts, he provides Esther with the correct exposure, one that would give her a chance to showcase her skills in front of the music producers and the audience. John does it out of love for Esther, but no matter how hard he tries to be happy for her, Howard’s own life seems to be crumbling right in front of him.
The storyline of A Star Is Born is so beautifully sad that it has been recreated multiple times, such as in 2013 with the Indian film Aashiqui 2 and the 2018 remake with Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. With a budget of just $6 million, A Star Is Born 1976 managed to cross over $80 million at the Box Office.
A Star Is Born 1976: Filming Locations
While the original film by David O. Selznick revolved around the movie industry, the 1976 version is based on the world of music. Filming for A Star Is Born 1976 mostly took place in locations around Arizona. Known for its Canyons and attractive grasslands, Arizona is a place where you can experience true Western history and culture.
Tempe, Arizona:
The concert scenes with John, and later with Esther were filmed in Tempe, Arizona. One of the concert scenes in A Star Is Born utilized the Sun Devil Stadium located at 500 East Veterans Way in Tempe. The fundraiser concert shots were taken at Grady Gammage Auditorium, Arizona State University.
Arizona is not new to hosting films as places like the Sun Devil Stadium have already served as filming locations for movies Jerry Maguire (1996), Raising Arizona (1987), and The Game Plan (2007).
Los Angeles, California:
The scene where Esther and John meet each other after Esther’s seen auditioning for the Cat Food commercial was filmed at Sunset Boulevard & Gordon Street in Los Angeles. Asides from Los Angeles, the Warner Brothers Burbank Studios also hosted the cast for some of the scenes.
After losing John, Esther returns to his home. She finds a recording of him from when he was still alive and breaks down in tears. Throughout the film, the huge mansion that John lived in was the Grayhall Mansion which is located at 1100 Carolyn Way in Beverly Hills.
Tucson, Arizona:
After getting married spontaneously, Esther and John decide to visit John’s property in Tucson. Esther’s surprised to find miles of land on the outskirts of the city that now belongs to both of them. To have a place that the pair can truly call home, the couple begins to build a beautiful home in the bright and warm lands of Tucson.
Parts of Old Tucson, which is a movie studio and Theme park located at 201 S. Kinney Road was also featured in the film. Its history goes back to 1939 when it was chosen as a set for the Wesley Ruggles film Arizona, which was released a year later in 1940.
Other areas in and around Tucson that were seen in this Frank Pierson movie are the Pima County Courthouse and the Music Hall of the Tucson Community Center.
Empire Ranch, Sonoita, Arizona:
Their newly built Honeymoon house is located at the Empire Ranch in Sonoita, Arizona, in contrast to being in Tucson as shown in the movie. This is where we see John speed off in his car, while Esther’s back at home worrying about him.
Sonoita is a scenic place filled with grasslands and vineyards. The San Rafael Ranch House at 2036 Duquesne Road, Patagonia, adds another location that the movie crew filmed in while in the state of Arizona.
This sums up the filming locations for the hit romance A Star Is Born, 1976. At present, the Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson movie is available to watch on Netflix.
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