Now that I have FINALLY seen all four versions of this classic Hollywood story, including a re-watch of the 2018 version last night, I discovered that all four versions have their virtues and would offer the following breakdown of said virtues:
MY FAVORITE VERSION: 1954 Version
MY FAVORITE NORMAN MAINE/JOHN NORMAN HOWARD/JACKSON MAINE: Fredric March (1937 version)
MY FAVORITE ESTHER BLODGETT/HOFFMAN/ALLY: Judy Garland (1954 Version)
BEST DIRECTED VERSION: 2018 Version
BEST SONG INTRODUCTION OF ESTHER: Nothing will ever top "The Man that Got Away" (1954 Version)
BEST OVERALL SONG SCORE: The 1976 version..."Watch Closely Now", "Queen Bee", "Everything", "Woman in the Moon", "I Believe in Love", "Hellacious Acres", "With One More Look at You", and the incomparable, Oscar-winning "Evergreen."
BEST NORMAN MAINE MANAGER: TIE: Sam Elliott (2018 version) and Gary Busey (1976 Version)
BEST LIBBY THE PRESS AGENT: Jack Carson (1954 Version)
BEST CHEMISTRY BETWEEN LEADS: 2018 Version
BEST DISRUPTING THE AWARD CEREMONY SCENE: 2018 Version
BEST NORMAN MAINE SUICIDE SCENE: This is a tough one, but I loved Streisand's controversial 1976 version because it really isn't made clear whether or not John Norman Howard (Kris Kristofferson) committed suicide or was just in a tragic accident.
BEST NORMAN MAINE/ESTHER BLODGETT DUET: Jackson Maine and Ally performing "The Shallow" in the 2018 version.
BEST FINAL SCENE: Scoff if you will, but I have to go with Streisand's performance of "With One More Look at You/Watch Closely Now" at the end of the 1976 version.
Last edited by Gideon58; 12-20-18 at 11:52 AM.