The Star
|
List Price: Our Price: $11.10 You Save: $8.88 (44%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $4.90 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of The Star
Movie Review: Bette amazes me--and what a look we get at Hollywood behind the scenes !!!
Summary: 5 Stars
The Star packs a great deal of action, drama and suspense into an extremely good film. The acting is impeccable; with stars like Betty Davis, Natalie Wood and Barbara Lawrence it's tough to miss the target! Of course, Bette Davis gives her usual tour de force performance; and it's great to see her act so convincingly. The cinematography works well throughout the movie; and the choreography shines especially in the scenes at the harbor and the scenes on the movie set where we get a brief movie being filmed within a movie. The plot moves along at a very good pace and I was never once bored.
When the action starts, we quickly meet washed-up Hollywood star Margaret Elliott (Bette Davis) who looks absolutely nauseated as she secretly watches an auction of her prized belongings to pay off her creditors. Even one of her closest "allies" in the business, Harry Stone (Warner Anderson), walks out with her crystal chandelier and he doesn't give it back to Margaret even when he see that she's devastated by it all. Margaret pushes Harry to talk to studio boss Joe Morrison (Minor Watson) to get her a part in "The Fatal Winter;" but Harry isn't about to go out on a limb to help Margaret just yet, either.
To make matters even worse for poor Margaret, the management company where she rents a modest apartment is now practically banging on the door for back rent long overdue and her daughter Gretchen (Natalie Wood) must live with her ex-husband and his new wife because Margaret can't afford the expenses of having her own child live with her. Margaret's sister (Fay Baker) and her brother-in-law Roy (Herb Vigran) want yet another monthly support check from Margaret who finally blows her top and throws them out!
Margaret can't take all this; she gets drunk and drives recklessly with her Oscar all over Hollywood. She gets arrested for drunk driving but after a night in jail she gets bailed out by a man for whom she once got a juicy movie role, Jim Johannson (Sterling Hayden). Jim feels sympathy and genuine affection for Margaret and he likes her daughter Gretchen as well. Jim coaches Margaret into taking a job at a department store as a saleslady but this doesn't last long; Margaret is too proud for this letdown after being a huge Hollywood star. Margaret does get a chance through Harry to play a small role in a picture but she flubs the rehearsal by playing the role as if she were much younger than they wanted her character to be; and Margaret again sinks into despair.
What will happen to Margaret? Will she ever return to pictures--there's a guy with a screenplay and he says it's just right for Margaret--is it right for her? What about Margaret and Gretchen--will they ever be able to live together again? And what happens to Jim, who cares so much about Margaret's life--will he be able to eventually get her back on track in life? No plot spoilers here folks--watch the movie and find out!
The DVD comes with one extra besides scene selection; we get a bonus entitled "How Real Is The Star?" There is the theatrical trailer as well.
The Star is one of Bette Davis' great movies, even though some will say that her career was going downhill when she made it. Her acting absolutely mesmerized me; I couldn't take my eyes off her. What a performer! I highly recommend this film for her fans and people who enjoy classic movies will want to get this DVD, too.
Movie Review: Fame and fortune are not the most important things in life..
Summary: 5 Stars
I think the reason this film is disliked by so many people is the message which, although true, is not something you can really tell to someone obsessed with the American Dream without expecting some kind of resentment!
The story is about a has-been movie star, Margaret Elliott (Bette Davis) who is kind of like to equivalent of Sharon Stone or Demi Moore today. She's only in her 40s, but her career is kind of dead and no one wants to cast her in a movie. She can't understand why, because she used to be such a big star, and now she doesn't know what to do now that her career is going downhill. After much depression and reliance on alcohol, which leads her into drunk driving and a stay in jail, an old friend (Sterling Hayden) bails her out and tries to help her get her life back on track. Since the movie career option is essentially out, he helps her get a job at a department store, but she has too much pride for that kind of work, and ends up a sobbing mess all over again. So Sterling encourages her wishes to go back to acting, after being offered a supporting role in a major picture, but again Margaret Elliot wants to be the star, not the supporting player, and fails to make the screen comeback she wanted.
It has been said that THE STAR was based on Joan Crawford, but I don't see many similarities. For one thing, Joan Crawford's career was one of the most durable Hollywood ever produced. Joan actually received an Oscar nomination for SUDDEN FEAR the same year THE STAR garnered Davis a nomination. Of the two, Davis was the bigger has-been in 1952, after a string of flops which included ANOTHER MAN'S POISON and this film, not successful at the box office.
I think this is the point where I should say THE STAR is a great film. The theme of the film is that careers are important, but they aren't as important as the relationships we have with other people, such as our family and other loved ones. Some people think this is a sexist slant for the movie, but it's a message equally true for men and women who obsess too much about getting rich and famous instead of just enjoying their lives and being with the people they care about. Again, not a message that's going to be popular with the Bill Gates and Trump crowd--among other extremely ambitious people, but a true message nonetheless.
It didn't matter that Margaret Elliott was no longer a star. Being a star is meaningless anyway. That was the message.
Movie Review: Excellent movie only if you love Bette though
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie is so much fun. Its about Bette Davis playing Margaret Elliot, a washed up has been film star. She can't get any work in movies and she's broke. Watch her possessions get sold off, family members hustle her for money, and more fun. Its an independent film so the camera work isn't the best but this is a camp classic. Its a lot of fun although unless your a hardcore Bette Davis fan I don't think you'll quite appreciate it. The oddest thing about the movie is Bette Davis is so true to her character you wonder how she could play the role. Watch Bette Davis in this play herself!Movie Review: The STAR: Manners put on Madame Davis
Summary: 5 Stars
In "THE STAR" STERLING HAYDEN MANAGES TO PORTRAY AN ORDINARY PERSON WHO DOES WONDERS IN TEACHING BETTE DAVIS (HERE MISS SPOILED MOVIE STAR) TO BEHAVE LIKE A NORMAL HUMAN BEING. THE PERFORMANCES ARE SO GOOD THAT WE WISH HE WAS AROUND MORE IN REAL LIFE TO PUT MANNERS ON HER. CONSIDERING JOAN CRAWFORD HATED HAYDEN ONE CAN ONLY WONDER WHAT BETTE THOGHT OF HIMMovie Review: Bette for real!
Summary: 5 Stars
Great film - not as glamorous as some - but well done and a good story. Bette Davis is at her best. Well worth the time and money.