Why was A Star Is Born difficult to produce in 1954?

The 1954 production of A Star Is Born faced significant challenges, primarily stemming from difficulties in securing financial backing. When Judy Garland—who had previously performed in a radio adaptation of the story—sought to make an updated film version, MGM refused to provide the necessary financing.1

To overcome this, Garland and her husband, Sidney Luft, established their own production company to secure funding from Warner Brothers. Once in production, the film was further hampered by a surfeit of unspecified production problems. Following its premiere, the studio also cut 27 minutes from the film's runtime. Despite these obstacles, the project is widely recognized as a harrowing Hollywood odyssey and features what is frequently cited as Garland's greatest screen performance.12