A Star Is Born (1954)

BBC Four, 10.50pm ★★★★★

Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’s sexy 2018 take on the 1937 William A Wellman original was excellent, but this is the best version of the perennial tale, and Judy Garland’s last great film. It’s the archetypal Hollywood story of a hopeful discovered by an established star and supplanting him as age and alcoholism take their toll. It’s George Cukor’s masterpiece – far superior to his Oscar-winning My Fair Lady.