{"id":34224,"date":"2015-01-06T14:17:28","date_gmt":"2015-01-06T21:17:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=34224"},"modified":"2020-11-28T21:35:41","modified_gmt":"2020-11-29T04:35:41","slug":"star-the-1952","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=34224","title":{"rendered":"Star, The (1952)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;If you&#8217;re a star, you don&#8217;t stop being a star.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Star-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Star-Poster-201x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"201\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-34225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Star-Poster-201x300.jpg 201w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Star-Poster-86x128.jpg 86w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Star-Poster.jpg 325w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 201px) 100vw, 201px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nWhen former box-office queen Margaret Elliott (Bette Davis) goes on a drunken spree, she&#8217;s bailed out of jail by a boat mechanic (Sterling Hayden) secretly in love with her &#8212; but can she make the starring come-back she so desperately desires?\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Actors and Actresses<\/li>\n<li>Bette Davis Films<\/li>\n<li>Has-Beens<\/li>\n<li>Natalie Wood Films<\/li>\n<li>Sterling Hayden Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nTwo years after her Oscar-nominated role as theatrical powerhouse Margo Channing in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=16770\"><em>All About Eve<\/em>  (1950)<\/a> &#8212; and Gloria Swanson&#8217;s similarly nominated role in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3986\"><em>Sunset Boulevard<\/em> (1950)<\/a> &#8212; Bette Davis starred in this lower-budget variation (directed by Stuart Heisler) on the theme of middle-aged divas struggling to maintain their pride and identity in the face of an expired (or threatened) career. In this case, Davis&#8217;s Margaret Elliott is more akin to Swanson&#8217;s &#8220;Norma Desmond&#8221; than Margo, in that they are both tragically deluded about the endurance of their appeal; indeed, given that Elliott is similarly &#8220;rescued&#8221; by a hunky young sun-kissed man, overt parallels between <em>The Star<\/em> and <em>Sunset Boulevard<\/em> are unmistakable. <\/p>\n<p>Davis &#8212; who purportedly had Joan Crawford in mind when playing Elliott &#8212; gives a nuanced, sympathetic performance as a woman unable to face the reality of her circumstances. The scene in which she watches herself in a screen-test, cringing in horror at the results of her vain refusal to accept her director&#8217;s guidelines, is masterful:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Star-Cringe.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Star-Cringe.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-55571\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Star-Cringe.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Star-Cringe-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Star-Cringe-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Star-Cringe-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and her interactions with her ungrateful sister (Fay Baker) and brother-in-law (Herb Vigran) are nicely handled. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Star-In-Laws.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Star-In-Laws.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-55569\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Star-In-Laws.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Star-In-Laws-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Star-In-Laws-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Star-In-Laws-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>However, the screenplay is ultimately a disappointment in comparison with the two classic titles referenced above, and it&#8217;s hard not to feel frustrated by what could have been done with this juicy set-up. The trajectory of the storyline &#8212; particularly Elliott&#8217;s romance with Hayden:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Star-Hayden.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Star-Hayden.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-55570\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Star-Hayden.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Star-Hayden-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Star-Hayden-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Star-Hayden-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; is too predictable, and some patently overwrought dialogue (&#8220;I once thought you were a woman. I was wrong; you&#8217;re nothing but a career.&#8221;) &#8212; place the film squarely in the realm of &#8220;women&#8217;s dramas&#8221;. However, Davis&#8217;s performance is strong enough to recommend <em>The Star<\/em> for at least one-time viewing. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Trivia Note:<\/strong> Fourteen-year-old Natalie Wood plays a small role as Davis&#8217;s daughter, with one scene &#8212; taking place on Hayden&#8217;s boat &#8212; eerily foreshadowing the circumstances of her untimely death-by-drowning at the age of 43.  <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Star-Wood-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Star-Wood-1-1024x654.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"409\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-55575\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Star-Wood-1-1024x654.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Star-Wood-1-300x192.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Star-Wood-1-128x82.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Star-Wood-1-768x491.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Star-Wood-1-1536x982.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Star-Wood-1-422x270.png 422w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Star-Wood-1.png 1563w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Bette Davis as Margaret Elliott<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Star-Davis.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Star-Davis.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-34226\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Star-Davis.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Star-Davis-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Star-Davis-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, though film fanatics will likely be curious to check it out. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0045186\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/91270\/the-star#articles-reviews?articleId=309211\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s1639davi.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.digitallyobsessed.com\/displaylegacy.php?ID=7604\">Digitally Obsessed Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1953\/01\/29\/archives\/bette-davis-portrays-a-fading-movie-queen-in-the-star-at-the-rivoli.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;If you&#8217;re a star, you don&#8217;t stop being a star.&#8221; Synopsis: When former box-office queen Margaret Elliott (Bette Davis) goes on a drunken spree, she&#8217;s bailed out of jail by a boat mechanic (Sterling Hayden) secretly in love with her &#8212; but can she make the starring come-back she so desperately desires? Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Actors and Actresses Bette Davis Films Has-Beens Natalie Wood Films Sterling Hayden Films Review: Two years after her Oscar-nominated role as theatrical powerhouse&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=34224\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34224","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34224","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=34224"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34224\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":55576,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34224\/revisions\/55576"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=34224"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=34224"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=34224"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}