In a frame from A Star is Born (1937), directed by William A. Wellman from a story he wrote with Robert Carson, the English text reads: “Hollywood! … the beckoning El Dorado… Metropolis of Make-Believe in the California hills…”

This movie may be old, but the story is timeless. Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga did a pretty good one in the fourth adaptation of this story, which Warner Bros. released in 2018.

Thousands of people come to Los Angeles from all over the world, by bus, train or plane. A lucky few even get their names and prints cemented into the TCL Chinese Theater.

Many of these wannabe stars start as unemployed actors, which is a very hard life.

In the original story, Esther cannot pay her rent. Luckily, her landlord, Mr. Randall, has a soft heart and is not actively demanding the rent, like your landlord might be.

I streamed the 1937 movie in my living room, and my mother watched it with me. After it ended, she said the movie reminded her of a movie she saw a long time ago, Abhimaan from 1973.

Geeta Pandey for BBC notes on the film’s 50th anniversary, although the director Hrishikesh Mukherjee never acknowledged it, “his film has also drawn comparisons with A Star is Born.

It never ceases to amaze me that old movies inspire new movies from all over the world.

ACTION POINT: Learn lessons from old movies.