Luft and Garland met briefly in 1937, on a Hollywood setGarland, a young star, was celebrating her fifteenth birthday between takes, and Luft, who was running a car-customizing shop and generally living as a man-about-town, was visiting his girlfriend, Eleanor Powell, the movies star. He is most remembered for North by Northwest, The Seventh Veil. At the Register Office in the Chelsea Old Town Hall on the King's Road, Judy Garland, wearing a blue chiffon mini dress, with a draped neck and ostrich feather sleeves, married a gay ex-discotheque manager and part-time jazz pianist called Mickey Devinko, better known to his friends and associates as Mickey Deans. Movie Musical: A Star Is Born (1954) - CLASSIC MOVIE FAVORITES RCP Takeaway; Peak Population; A Star Is Born | RealClearPolitics Reports suggest Prince Charles will live "in a flat above the shop" when he becomes king. ADRIAN THRILLS: A new anthology, The Songs Of Bacharach & Costello , contains every tune the pair wrote together, many previously unreleased. The Wizard of Oz musical runs this month at King Abdul Aziz Center for World Culture in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, while a new biopic, Judy, which stars Rene Zellweger as Garland, lands in cinemas in the UAE later this year."Until I see it, I want to reserve my judgement," says Minnelli when asked about the . When she arrives on stage, the master of ceremonies tells her the event is being broadcast worldwide, and asks her to say a few words to her fans. He also added: "The whole thing runs for three hours, and during this extraordinary time a remarkable range of entertainment is developed upon the screenNo one surpasses Mr. Cukor at handling this sort of thing, and he gets performances from Miss Garland and Mr. Mason that make the heart flutter and bleed. Daniel's 5th outing as Bond gets bums back on seats in the cinema. All of the instrumental tracks are in mono as well due to the fact that the original elements have been lost or destroyed. 1960, Zsa Zsa Gabor{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Zsa Zsa Gabor", "gender": "Female" } He learned to fly, joined the Royal Canadian Air Force, and then, back in Los Angeles during the Second World War, earned a living as a test pilot. English Actor James Mason was born James Neville Mason on 15th May, 1909 in Yorkshire, England, UK and passed away on 27th Jul 1984 Lausanne, Switzerland aged 75. Every man has a grand idea of self-fulfilment which inevitably he then falls short of.. Yet the old-line moguls and their studios didnt go away, they just dealt differently, and this, too, is part of the story of A Star Is Born., In addition to physical dependency on amphetamines, Garland was motivated to take stimulants as diet pillsshe struggled to keep her weight down for the purpose of being camera slim, as did many Hollywood actresses and aspirants. In December 1952, George Cukor was approached by Sid Luft, who proposed the director helm a musical remake of the 1937 film A Star Is Born, with his then wife Judy Garland in the lead role. Jaynes, Barbara Grant; Trachtenberg, Robert. Click here to Start FameChaining. The New Yorker may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. Above all, Lufts book is the definitive corrective to the very movies that made Garland famous, the lets-put-on-a-show adolescent adventures in which she co-starred, as a teen-ager, with Mickey Rooney. and her former lover James Mason delivered her touching eulogy. It is believed to be correct at the time of inputting and is presented here in good faith. Garland had an abortion (which was, of course, illegal at the time). When he arrives intoxicated at a function at the Shrine Auditorium, studio publicist Matt Libby attempts to keep him offstage. 1935, Walt Disney{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Walt Disney", "gender": "Male" }, Vivien Leigh{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Vivien Leigh", "gender": "Female" } [17] Alongside archivist Don Woodruff and editor Craig Holt, Haver located four minutes of the missing thirty minutes inside a storage facility that belonged to film librarian Merle Ray Harlin, who had been recently convicted of grand theft of motion pictures. When Judy Garland died of an accidental drug overdose, James Mason gave the funeral eulogy. It was originally released by Columbia Records in 1954 in 10-inch 78 rpm and 12-inch .mw-parser-output .sfrac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .sfrac.tion,.mw-parser-output .sfrac .tion{display:inline-block;vertical-align:-0.5em;font-size:85%;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .sfrac .num,.mw-parser-output .sfrac .den{display:block;line-height:1em;margin:0 0.1em}.mw-parser-output .sfrac .den{border-top:1px solid}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}33+1/3 rpm editions, and also on 7-inch 45 rpm records. In it, he said that posterity does not remember entertainers. Bette Davis is a good example, but Judy Garland is the best. Their 23-year-marriage finally ended in 1964, with Pamela coming out on top in the divorce settlement. Judy Garland's ex-lover John Meyer recalls the star's final tumultuous Al Sharpton, Glenda Brawley, mother and Ralph King stepfather of Miss Brawley and two year old Trice whose relationship to . Plagued by debt. The Making of the 1954 Masterpiece A Star is Born starring Judy Garland Mickey Rooney was a FREAK! His EXPLICIT stories of Ava - DangerousMinds When in . "She had a suitcase, a little black dress, a pair of fishnet. James Mason, and rekindling her affair with Sinatra. Unedited Historical Photos That Expose The Unexpected - groovyhistory.com Garland wanted Frank Sinatra to play opposite her as the fading starhe was, in fact, fading professionally (though, of course, he soon bounced back), and Warner wouldnt have him. The film received critical acclaim; on the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 98% based on 40 reviews, with an average rating of 8.1/10. While critically acclaimed for many different roles throughout her career, she is widely known for playing the part of Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz (1939). Judy Garland's 20 best films - ranked! - the Guardian Realizing that Esther has saved him from public humiliation, Norman thanks her and draws a heart on the wall with her lipstick. (He seems to have spent most of his youth fighting, flying, and fucking, not necessarily in that order.). To make A Star Is Born, Luft needed the backing of a studio for upfront financing, production facilities and crew, and distribution. Judy Garland was different from her peers, she could be easily picked out from the crowd, all thanks to her innate abilities . While that show was in rehearsals, in 1951, Garland realized that she was pregnant; Luft firmly advised her to get an abortion (I was as unjustified as I was insensitive), fearing both for the show and for the publicity that would resultboth he and she were still married to other people, and he knew the strict moral code that was publicly enforced. 1960's His zodiac sign is Taurus. Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures, Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, Best Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, On the Atchison, Topeka, and the Santa Fe, List of films cut over the director's opposition, "Librarian of Congress Names 25 More Films to National Film Registry", "Judy Garland Database film review: "A Star Is Born", "More Films Identified in TV Studio Librarian's Cache", "Thanks to Sleuth, 'A Star is Born' Takes A New Leash on Life", "Ronald Haver, 54; Was Film Restorer Of 'A Star Is Born', "Judy Garland finds justice with restored 'Star', "The 27th Academy Awards (1955) Nominees and Winners", Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, "1954 New York Film Critics Circle Awards", Personal letter from Gershe to Jim Johnson, "Lady Gaga-Bradley Cooper's 'A Star Is Born' Gets 2018 Release Date", "Here's how all 4 versions of 'A Star Is Born' did at the Oscars", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A_Star_Is_Born_(1954_film)&oldid=1141456967, Films featuring a Best Musical or Comedy Actor Golden Globe winning performance, Films featuring a Best Musical or Comedy Actress Golden Globe winning performance, United States National Film Registry films, Articles with MusicBrainz release group identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, "Here's What I'm Here For" (Arlen and Gershwin), "Lose That Long Face" (Arlen and Gershwin), "Esther in the Boarding House" (Instrumental), "Norman Overhears the Conversation" (Instrumental), "I'm Nobody's Baby" (recorded April 10, 1940), "When You Wore a Tulip (And I Wore a Big Red Rose)" (with Gene Kelly) (recorded July 26, 1942), "Meet Me in St. Louis" (recorded April 21, 1944), In 2016, a third remake was announced, directed by, This page was last edited on 25 February 2023, at 04:36. [13] After eight days of filming, including both standard and CinemaScope versions of "The Man That Got Away," studio executives decided the film should be the first Warner Brothers motion picture to use CinemaScope. [3] However, despite its huge popularity, the film failed to make a profit for Warner Brothers due to its excessive cost. However . He also hears Oliver say that Norman ruined his own career with his drinking. Off-screen, Garland began a relationship with musician David Rose, and on her 18th birthday, they became engaged. Judy Garland's funeral. with Sid Luft{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Sid Luft", "gender": "Male" }, Marlborough College, Marlborough, Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom, Cambridge University : Peterhouse, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, United Kingdom, The Old College Prep School, Bowness, Windemere, Lake District, England, United Kingdom, View James Mason's Family Tree and History, Ancestry and Genealogy, James Mason's father was John Mason James Mason's mother was Mabel Mason, James Mason's daughter was Portland Mason Shuyler James Mason's son is Morgan Mason, James Mason had an affair with Judy Garland James Mason's former wife was Pamela Mason James Mason had a relationship with Ann Leslie, James Mason's brother was Rex Mason James Mason's brother was Colin Mason, James Mason's grandson is James Duke Mason, James Mason's daughter in law is Belinda Carlisle, James Mason's former father in law was Isidore Ostrer James Mason's former mother in law was Helen Ostrer James Mason's former grandfather in law was Nathan Ostrer James Mason's former grandmother in law was Fanny Ostrer James Mason's former grandfather in law was Lloyd Spear-Morgan James Mason's former wife Pamela Mason's uncle in law was Maurice Ostrer James Mason's former wife Pamela Mason's uncle in law was Mark Ostrer James Mason's former son in law is Rob Schuyler, Kirk Douglas{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Kirk Douglas", "gender": "Male" }, Princess Grace of Monaco{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Princess Grace of Monaco", "gender": "Female" }, Humphrey Bogart{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Humphrey Bogart", "gender": "Male" }, Frank Sinatra{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Frank Sinatra", "gender": "Male" } Judy Garland (Actress and Singer) - On This Day John Meyer was a 28-year-old pianist when he met Judy Garland, then 46, in late 1968 at the Manhattan studio of a mutual friend. In 1941, a 19-year-old Garland married 30-year-old composer David Rose against the wishes of her mother and MGM. When she was just 31 years old, she played the role of Esther Blodgett in the 1954 version of A Star Is Born. Copyright FameChain 2023, All rights reserved. Luft himself had no such conflict; he made Garlands business his business and, even while pursuing his own movie project, about horse racing, he took her career in hand. James Mason & Pamela Mason Divorced, Children, Joint Family Tree In the event he was never a conchie because work in the film industry was deemed to be of national importance. . . At the Shrine Auditorium, she notices the heart Norman drew on the wall on the night they met and for a moment seems to lose her composure. "[10] Harrison's Reports wrote that "in addition to being a powerful human-interest drama that frequently tugs at the heartstrings, the picture is studded with nice touches of comedy and vastly entertaining musical interludes that are well-placed and do not interfere with the progress of the story." Finally, her old bandmate Danny convinces her she needs to attend a charity function because she constitutes the only good work Norman did and which he died trying to save. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. He punched The Wicked Ladys director on the first day of filming and did nothing to hide his contempt for film-makers he deemed to be in too much thrall to the money men. I reiterated there was no need to be any thinner. He was a distinguished Brutus in Julius Caesar, starred as Captain Nemo in 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea and landed the first of his three Oscar nominations in 1954 for A Star Is Born (the others were for Georgy Girl and The Verdict). [18] Over the course of six months, Haver located more missing scenes, including two complete musical numbers: "Here's What I'm Here For" and "Lose That Long Face". Finally realizing what he has done to himself, Vicki, his career, and the people around him, Norman leaves his bed, tells Vicki cheerfully that he is going to go for a swim, walks into the ocean, and drowns himself. Now known as Vicki Lester, she marries Norman and finds herself in demand . Judy Garland - Turner Classic Movies Luft, whose first marriage, to the actress Lynn Bari, was coming apart, sensed the instant chemistry between them, but thought the notion of a romance absurdbut Garland pursued him. Published Jul 1, 2019. Hollywood actor Norman Maine (James Mason) is a celebrity whose star is on the wane, but when he meets aspiring actress Esther Blodgett (Judy Garland), he is inspired to help her, and soon the two . Bonus Tracks (Judy Garland studio recordings for Decca Records). Gershe received sole credit due to a contractual issue. But, Luft writes, the studio had no interest in turning her into an adult melodramatist; her childlike image was what they were promoting. Released: 1954. She confessed it was virtually impossible for her to sustain a work mode in front of the cameras without taking some kind of medication.) Luft tried to monitor her use of medication (I cant be fat, she told him) and she accused him of interfering like an old flatfoot, a police officer. Affair Relationship facts Judy Garland British Hollywood Actor James Neville Mason Age 75 Born Saturday 15 May 1909 Died 27 Jul 1984 Start a FameChain Other Partners Married 8 Aug 1971 Clarissa Kaye Divorced 2 children together married 1941 divorce 1964 Pamela Mason Relationship Ann Leslie Professional Partners James Mason Siblings Other Partners James simply did not deserve this. 1965, Elizabeth Taylor{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Elizabeth Taylor", "gender": "Female" } In December 1959, Judy Garland, only 37 but with a quarter-century of hard living behind her, lay near death in New York's Doctors Hospital. Garlands tumultuous, adverturesome life has been documented in several copious biographies since her death, in 1969. See the Elon Musk family tree here at FameChain. The take-off got an instant gale of laughter because everyone including those born long after Masons death in 1984 knew who he was doing. A Star Is Born - Rotten Tomatoes 1955, Audrey Hepburn{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Audrey Hepburn", "gender": "Female" } 1940, Conrad Nagel{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Conrad Nagel", "gender": "Male" }, Marilyn Monroe{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Marilyn Monroe", "gender": "Female" } Nonetheless, her film Summer Stock, released in the summer of 1950, was a hit; Garlands performance was acclaimed, but she was a movie star without a career, and Luft planned to do something about that. Discover Judy Garland's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. [21], Warner Archive Collection reissued the Blu-ray and DVD on May 14, 2019.[22]. The Making of the 1954 Masterpiece A Star is Born starring Judy Garland and James Mason Comprehensive study of the 1954 Judy Garland version of A Star Is Born, including the 1983 American Film Institute Restoration, with over 400 rare photos detailing the making of the film. His Truth is Marching On: Judy Garland's Tribute to John F. Kennedy Through a career that spanned 45 of her 47 years, Garland attained international stardom as an actress in musical and dramatic roles, as a recording artist and on the concert stage. His home life was as racy as anything he portrayed on the screen thanks to the efforts of his socialite wife. 1962, Paul McCartney{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Paul McCartney", "gender": "Male" } A new memoir by Judy Garland's ex-husband claims the Dorothy actress was repeatedly molested by some of the actors who played the Munchkins in the classic musical. Today, the performer wishes people would focus on her mother's formidable career. Express. By courtesy of Warner Bros. studio chairman Robert A. Daly, film preservationist Ronald Haver was granted access into the studio's film vaults. Fortunately he had a rather suitable fall-back. When you hear the name Judy Garland, your mind likely creates the picture of Dorothy Gale, the innocent pigtailed girl from The Wizard of Oz. lesbian affairs. Born in June 1922, Judy Garland's life was as successful as it was short. Who is James Mason dating? James Mason girlfriend, wife - Who's Dated Who? Alcohol and pills were the culprits. 1968-07-20 Judy Garland headlines concert also featuring Count Basie and Jackie Wilson at . The reviews were excellent, but Warner executives, concerned the running time would limit the number of daily showings, made drastic cuts without Cukor, who had departed for India to scout locations for Bhowani Junction. JUDY GARLAND Historian Alan Royle His brooding good looks helped to win him parts as wicked seducers, such as the 18th-century rou in The Man In Grey who thrashes Margaret Lockwood with a poker. But her erratic work habits had caused the production to . Let's see how many of them you can remember. . Home of the Daily and Sunday Express. She was in the hospital on the night of the awards, having given birth the previous morning to the couples second child, Joseph. The actress was already floundering when she met Deans (born Michael DeVinko) in the late '60s. She was nominated for Academy Awards for her roles in the films A Star is Born and Judgment at Nuremberg. But he gradually built up a name for his angst-ridden screen performances. The couple's divorces were finalized; they married in July; Garland was pregnant, and their daughter, Lorna Luft, was born in November. All relationship and family history information shown on FameChain has been compiled from data in the public domain. # Judy Garland# james cagney# jgfans# lucille ball# mickey rooney# rare footage#she is so freaking adorable # 1930s# Judy Garland# Pigskin Parade# film# gif#jgfans . [28], When the Oscar for Best Actress went to Grace Kelly instead of Garland, Groucho Marx sent Garland a telegram reading: "Dear Judy, this is the biggest robbery since Brink's".[29]. But when the movie was done, premired, and acclaimed, Warner Bros.facing complaints from theatre owners, who hesitated to book the film because of its length, which allowed only three shows a daycut nearly half an hour from it, including two of Garlands songs, and Luft could do nothing about it. The marriage was dissolved in 1964, after 22 years. It was also Rene Zellweger's ride to a nomination for the Oscar for Best Actress, an award she is expected . Fortuitously she had hired a sharp young lawyer named Marvin Mitchelson, who won her a $2 million settlement, an unheard-of sum for the time. A century after his birth, that work still stands the test of time. "[24], Abel Green, reviewing for Variety, felt the "casting is ideal; the direction sure; the basic ingredients honest and convincing all the way. Judy Garland was an American singer and actress whose career spanned throughout the Golden Age of Hollywood, making her one of the most recognizable names in cinematic history. Image via Warner Bros. Starring opposite James Mason, Garland gave an outstanding performance as a . US based Meghan and Harry.. FameChain has their amazing trees. which was a stormy relationship by some reports. The actress, who died from a drug overdose on June 22, 1969, at just 47 years old, is the subject of a new movie called "Judy," which hits theaters Sept. 27. [16], In October 1981, an Academy tribute to Ira Gershwin was held, in which the musical number "The Man That Got Away" was screened. Judy Garland knew what it was like to be a falling star. Luft felt that the film would be received worse as a result of the cuts. Judy Garland signed a movie contract with MGM at the age of 13. . [4] Hart's screenplay is an adaptation of the original 1937 film, based on the original screenplay by Robert Carson, Dorothy Parker and Alan Campbell,[5] and from the same story by William A. Wellman and Carson, with uncredited input from six additional writersDavid O. Selznick, Ben Hecht, Ring Lardner Jr., John Lee Mahin, Budd Schulberg and Adela Rogers St. Johns. Judy Garland | Biography, Movies, Songs, & Facts | Britannica with Pamela Mason{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Pamela Mason", "gender": "Female" }, Liza Minnelli{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Liza Minnelli", "gender": "Female" }, born 1946, age 72 Recording of James Mason's eulogy. What's changed is the manner of the telling: the 1937 movie (directed by William A. Wellman, starring Janet Gaynor and Fredric March) is a drama from the Golden Age of Hollywood; the 1954 remake (directed by George Cukor, starring Judy Garland and James Mason) a musical retelling; the 1976 film (Frank Pierson, Barbra Streisand and Kris . In years to come, he added, those. Luft honors Garland lovinglythe person and the performerthroughout Judy and I, despite his depiction of her agonies and his unsparing self-accusation for her part in them. Birthday: June 10, 1922 (47 years) Died: June 22, 1969 (53 years Ago) HomeTown: Grand Rapids, Minnesota, United States. #98 of 204. Masons ashes were only recovered from a safe-deposit box and buried in his chosen resting place in 2000. James Duke Mason: Hi. MASON: Posing at the Cannes film festival. The original Columbia 1954 mono vinyl version of the soundtrack has been released on CD in Britain by Prism Leisure and is available for digital download. She was on a loan-out to Paramount from Metro, where she was under contract. Whats more, Luft says, Warner had not publicized Star in the trades, and at the time Jack was in personal conflict with the Academy.. He went with Warner Bros. and its head, Jack Warner; the director was George Cukor, one of the most emotionally discerning directors in Hollywood. At its final running time of 154 minutes, the film lost two major musical numbers and crucial dramatic scenes; Cukor called it "very painful" to watch.[15]. It was a crucial moment in movie historythe studios had been forced, in antitrust actions, to divest themselves of their movie theatres and to work with independent producers. This version includes bonus tracks of Judy Garland's Decca recordings of songs from other films. GALLERY: Today in History, March 3 | Daily Sentinel A Star Is Born (1954 film) - Wikipedia James Mason was in 6 on-screen matchups, including Ava Gardner in Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (1951), Danielle Darrieux in 5 . My new point of view was that film had to be creatively worthy. It was the second of four official adaptations of A Star Is Born, with the first in 1937 starring Janet Gaynor and Fredric March, the third in 1976 starring Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson, and the fourth in 2018 starring Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. Judy Garland (born Frances Ethel Gumm; June 10, 1922 - June 22, 1969) was an American actress and singer. He was involved with a number of other actresses, including Norma Shearer, who was 20 years his senior. She did the Palace gig and made it a historic hit, playing there for an unprecedented nineteen weeks and winning a special Tony Award for aiding in the revival of vaudeville. Luft writes, It was the beginning of the cult of Garland. At the same time, he was aware of her prescription-drug abuse and thought that it was manageable; he writes, I wasnt thinking of Judy as a clinically ill person, or This is an addict. A Star Is Born 1954 Judy Garland James Mason - YouTube Browse and share the top Judy Garland GIFs from 2023 on Gfycat. . Other numbers such as "Gotta Have Me Go with You" are mostly in stereo, save for brief sections where the mono soundtrack album master was used in order to remove various endemic plot-related sound effects from the track. Then he hears her singing on a television commercial and tracks her down. The 19-year-old former nursery school teacher was awkward, shy, and quiet . Cukor had died the night before a special screening of the film was held at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater on January 24, 1983. In the early '60s, she had her own TV show, simply called The Judy Garland . He got his first film role in 1935 in one of the quota quickies churned out to comply with government attempts to develop a home-grown film industry. (He also became a partner in a stable of race horses.) When she was two, Porty was allowed to go to bed at midnight and at three, she was introduced to cigarettes. It was here that he found happiness with Clarissa Kaye, an Australian actress more than 20 years his junior, who had notably more modest tastes than Pamela. [11] He was also concerned about Garland's reputation for unreliability; Cukor never forgave Grant for declining the role. From the New York Times: "While legions of her fans maintained an ardent vigil in the hot and humid streets, colleagues of Judy Garland bade her farewell yesterday in a swift, simple service at the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Home. Lady Diana Spencer was not yet Princess Diana when this photo was taken. He offers her a screen test and advises her to "sleep on it", promising to call her the next day. Hollywood TCL Chinese Theatre Handprints and Footprints, Golden Globe Award Winners 1955 - The 12th, University High School, Hollywood, California, United States, Remakes of Original Films - The original star and the new star, Golden Globe Award Winners 1962 - The 19th. The paper also applauded Garland's performance, writing she "has never appeared to better advantage than she does in this film; she not only makes the most of her exceptional musical talents, but also endears herself to the audience with her highly sympathetic portrayal of a wholesome young woman"[25], Time wrote that Garland "gives what is just about the greatest one-woman show in modern movie history".