Bette Davis is "The Star" in this Hollywood story done in 1952.
It begins with the debt-ridden actress, Margaret Elliot, walking by an auction house that is selling her possessions on behalf of her creditors. Her agent walks out with something he bought, and Margaret tells him that she wants a part in the film version of a book that she once optioned. The agent attempts to discourage her. When she goes home, her sister and brother-in-law are there for their monthly check; she flips out on them and throws them out. Margaret lost all of her money - she gave it away to people who soaked her dry, she poured money into flop films to revitalize her career - realizing all of this, she grabs her Oscar, gets drunk, and gets arrested. She's bailed out by an actor she once starred with (Sterling Hayden) who decided Hollywood wasn't for him, and has gone into shipbuilding and repair. But he's always loved Margaret and been grateful to her for his break. He gives her his spare room and attempts to give her a dose of reality.
Margaret, however, still wants back where she was - on top - and to erase the bad headlines for drunk driving, she demands that her agent give her an appointment with the producer of the film she wants to star in. The producer decides she could do the role of the older sister, but she has to do a screen test.
"The Star" is a realistic look at the ego of someone who has been isolated from reality and surviving on her identity as a film star. Unlike her male counterparts, she has to face the passage of time, and she can't. This still happens today, though probably at a later age than it did in Davis' era. And although someone commented that this character is probably like Davis herself, yes and no. Davis was very smart in that she went into character roles - where every leading lady ends up eventually - comparatively early in her career. The actresses who never accepted that fate, such as Merle Oberon, faded from view. Nowadays, there are people writing lead roles for older women. Meryl Streep or Diane Keaton get them.
How Margaret is like Davis is that her ego makes her think that she knows it all and that she can get what she wants as she once did. She doesn't - and she can't.
I really liked this film, except for the eternal '40s, '50s and beyond idea that one can have love or career, but never both. One either gives up the idea of a career and becomes a woman or chooses a career and loses out on love, meaning that she is a big loser. Certainly there's a happy medium - to figure you had a good "sleigh ride," as it's put in the film, and move on - to, for instance, character roles - and have love too. But for career gals, somehow there was always a choice.
Bette Davis does a terrific job as Margaret. I was never a fan of Sterling Hayden's, but having seen more of his work, I have grown to like him. Also, he was a fascinating person as well. He gives a solid performance here. Natalie Wood is very sweet as Margaret's daughter. All in all, recommended.
It begins with the debt-ridden actress, Margaret Elliot, walking by an auction house that is selling her possessions on behalf of her creditors. Her agent walks out with something he bought, and Margaret tells him that she wants a part in the film version of a book that she once optioned. The agent attempts to discourage her. When she goes home, her sister and brother-in-law are there for their monthly check; she flips out on them and throws them out. Margaret lost all of her money - she gave it away to people who soaked her dry, she poured money into flop films to revitalize her career - realizing all of this, she grabs her Oscar, gets drunk, and gets arrested. She's bailed out by an actor she once starred with (Sterling Hayden) who decided Hollywood wasn't for him, and has gone into shipbuilding and repair. But he's always loved Margaret and been grateful to her for his break. He gives her his spare room and attempts to give her a dose of reality.
Margaret, however, still wants back where she was - on top - and to erase the bad headlines for drunk driving, she demands that her agent give her an appointment with the producer of the film she wants to star in. The producer decides she could do the role of the older sister, but she has to do a screen test.
"The Star" is a realistic look at the ego of someone who has been isolated from reality and surviving on her identity as a film star. Unlike her male counterparts, she has to face the passage of time, and she can't. This still happens today, though probably at a later age than it did in Davis' era. And although someone commented that this character is probably like Davis herself, yes and no. Davis was very smart in that she went into character roles - where every leading lady ends up eventually - comparatively early in her career. The actresses who never accepted that fate, such as Merle Oberon, faded from view. Nowadays, there are people writing lead roles for older women. Meryl Streep or Diane Keaton get them.
How Margaret is like Davis is that her ego makes her think that she knows it all and that she can get what she wants as she once did. She doesn't - and she can't.
I really liked this film, except for the eternal '40s, '50s and beyond idea that one can have love or career, but never both. One either gives up the idea of a career and becomes a woman or chooses a career and loses out on love, meaning that she is a big loser. Certainly there's a happy medium - to figure you had a good "sleigh ride," as it's put in the film, and move on - to, for instance, character roles - and have love too. But for career gals, somehow there was always a choice.
Bette Davis does a terrific job as Margaret. I was never a fan of Sterling Hayden's, but having seen more of his work, I have grown to like him. Also, he was a fascinating person as well. He gives a solid performance here. Natalie Wood is very sweet as Margaret's daughter. All in all, recommended.