i saw all three version of a star be bear in the past and and enjoy watch this original and the 1954 remake again after so many year . what superb act by frederic march a norman maine and janet gaynor a vicki lester or esther blodgett and and all of the rest of this excellent cast . after many year between viewing and i be strike by the uniqueness of this film . two aspect in particular stand out . first and that it be really three movie in one and with distinct story . second and that it have at least three major message . the latter be so carefully weave into the script and so well act out that most viewer may not be consciously aware of them . so and the genius of the script be in it put all of this together in a most enjoyable and watchable story and without hitch or glitch . most movie have a single story and with the different character and role a part of it . usually and they center on the hero or heroine and the romance of the two and or a major plot of war and crime and intrigue or adventure . but and in this original and we see first and a story of a young small town girl and esther or vicki and who dream of become a movie star . the opening scene set the stage for her escape to hollywood . the message be about take risk to chase one dream ( a her grandmother counsel and relates of past family history ) . the next scene show her difficulty in try to break into the movie . she be behind in her rent and find odd job a she look for a break . we see the hopelessness and little likelihood of someone make it in hollywood ( one in 100 and 000 and the woman at the act agency tell her ) . but and we also see her determination to keep try . now the second story begin to unfold . only and we understand that the male lead story ( norman maine ) have be go on for many year in hollywood . he have reach his peak and and while still near the top and he have become a headache and problem to his studio because of his drink the past several year . we do not know why he apparently have never marry and but it clear that his career have be his obsession . now he be become a big publicity problem for the studio . by coincidence and these two people meet and and the third story begin . a deep love blossom between the two with their ultimate marriage . lester star rise and the first story fade a her dream be fulfil she have become a star . the male lead story and the love story be now tightly ( no pun intend ) intertwine . in his love for her and and awareness of his drinking problem and act decline and maine bow out of film and stop drink . over time and he become distant a he realize that he be no longer recognize . finally and after a messenger boy call him by his wife stage name ( mr. lester ) and he snap and go back to drinking . after more run ins with the law and dry out in a sanitarium and maine be set to return home . but a chance encounter with the studio publicity man and matt libby ( excellently play by lionel stander ) and spell doom for maine . he can not stand the pr insult about be support by his wife and and after a brawl and he step up to the bar to resume his drinking . the next scene show lester and studio head oliver nile ( adolphe menjou ) worry about where maine be after four day . they get a call and lester get a judge to release maine to her care . the courtroom scene be a great example of the humiliation of the man and now have sober up and stand with other drunk and many of whom may live in the gutter and and be further embarrass by have his wife appeal for him . back in their california beachfront estate and lester and nile have put maine to bed . they think he be sleep but he hear them talk in the next room . because of her love for maine and lester tell niles that she be quit the movie and and that she and maine will go away together . maine can hear nile urge lester not to give up her career at it peak . we can see the anguish and torment on his face . in maine and we have a real story of conflict between the man and with his ego and no longer be revere a a movie idol and and his deep love for his wife and genuine respect and hope for her success . i would not describe the last scene of maine and lester . his story end on a tragic note . and the love story end on a sad note . the subtle message become clear . first and stardom and wealth and success do not buy happiness . remember the veranda scene when maine tell lester that she now own the world a they look out over the city light below . and then he say that he have never find happiness with success . second and that pride and ego can destroy love when one person can not humble himself and struggle to rise above his failing for himself and that love . even a an alcoholic and maine be able to quit once with help . but now he doesn not want to try again . third and we should not be fool by the allure of hollywood and success that come mostly from phony build ups and pr ( i. e. the fictitious bio and lie by the studio pr guy to the press and public ) . i couldn not help but think of the adulation so many still heap on the movie star and celebrity of today . and and how so few of them seem to have real happiness and love with their wealth and worldly success .