STAR!

US, 1968, 194 minutes, Colour.
Julie Andrews, Richard Crenna, Michael Craig, Daniel Massey, John Collin, Robert Reed, Bruce Forsyth, Beryl Reid, Jenny Agutter.
Directed by Robert Wise.

Star! is a very interesting musical. It is a musical with a difference: greater acting demands on Julie Andrews and she acquits herself very well. She is quite different from her role in Robert Wise's previous musical with her, The Sound of Music. Star is the usual big-budget show business biography with a strong repertoire of old songs and very spectacular stage sets. There is a London setting in the early decades of the century and then a move towards America in the '20s and '30s. Some of the songs are excellently presented e.g. 'Parisian Pierrot' and 'Limehouse Blues'. There is a spectacular finale with the 'Jenny' song from Lady in the Dark. The biography is that of actress Gertrude Lawrence. It takes us up to 1940.

Gertrude was a talented extravagant singer who rushed into marriage, bore a daughter, gets caught up with her career. Many are willing to marry Gertie. However, she finally marries American Richard Aldrich who later wrote a biography of her. The film is also an interesting part-biography of Noel Coward whose songs and an excerpt from Private Lives feature. His is precisely played by Daniel Massey. The film has an interesting supporting cast of English actors and actresses and Jenny Agutter has a small role as Gertrude Lawrence's daughter. The film was not a success at the box-office, even though it is a very well-made musical.

1. The appeal of musicals? Show business biographies? Drama, sentiment, theatre, music and dancing? A successful combination here?

2. Audience familiarity with Gertrude Lawrence? Her career, her presence in the theatre in England and the United States? Later film career? The audience's knowledge of her personality, star status, career? Interest in her career? Her reputation? The device of the documentary about her life up to 1940? Its providing background, information, detail? Its success as a device throughout the film, blending of black and white photography with colour Panavision? An atmosphere of realism, and a possibility of comments? The editing in of these insertions? Making Gertrude Lawrence a credible character? Sustaining audience interest? (Gertrude Lawrence had a later successful career on stage in Lady In The Dark, in the film of The Glass Menagerie, on the stage with Yul Brynner in The King And I.)

3. The film as a Julie Andrews vehicle? Her impact in the '60s with Mary Poppins and The Sound Of Music? Her acting ability, singing? Her range? Her English background and suitability for Gertrude Lawrence?

4. The film as a part-portrait of Noel Coward? His background, growing up, training, theatre career, plays, songs? His wit? His circle of friends? His influence in theatre? Friendship with Gertrude Lawrence and influence on her?

5. The background of theatre: the music halls and their style, burlesque, revues? The London stage tradition? New York? The varying styles, the audiences, the type of entertainment, the type of skills required?

6. Gertrude Lawrence's origins: the presentation of London, the family house, Gertrude as a child, her father and mother, her father and his leaving, his work in the music hall? The singing of Piccadilly with her father and Rose, the throwing of the tomatoes etc.? Gertrude asserting herself? Her throwing the tomatoes at the audience? The sketch of her father? The sketch of Rose?

7. Gertrude's training - at school with Noel Coward, the story of riding first class in the train? Her push, her attitude towards the audience? Her performance in Oh It's A Lovely War and her mistakes? Her being sacked? The flowers, auditions, her push especially with Charlot? The encounter with Noel Coward? Her participation in the chorus of 'Everything' and her trying to steal the limelight?

8. Her friendship with Jack, his helping her along, her becoming the understudy? Her marrying Jack and not understanding why? The birth of her daughter? The war? Jack's drinking, her irresponsibility? The divorce? The background of her singing 'Burlington Bertie’ and making such a success of it? Her being in love with her career?

9. The attentions of Anthony Spencer? The initial meeting and her taking offence, the flowers, his visit to her room backstage? Dinners? Her being sacked by Charlot and his supporting her, her work as a model - and the detail of the fashion sequence? Her enjoying his company? His proposal and her resistance? Her decision to go to the United States? His visit to America? His finally going to India and her still refusing his proposal? The bond between the two? Why did she not marry him? Would it have been possible for her to settle down? Noel Coward's advice about marrying Spencer?

10. The portrait of Pamela ~ her being left with her nanny when she was little, her growing up, telephone calls across the Atlantic, Gertrude taking her to the South of France, the awkwardness of the holiday? The later phone call and the continued disappointments because of Pamela's interests? The Gershwin them of 'Someone To Watch Over Me' used in reference to Pamela?

11. Noel Coward's influence in getting Gertrude back to the stage, the 'Parisian Pierrot' song and its success? The change to America, the posing on arrival? The atmosphere of the American theatre? The elaborate presentation of 'Limehouse Blues'? The party, the reviews? Charles and his taking Gertrude all over the town, liaison, proposal? The presentation of Ben Mitchell and Gertrude with two suitors? The toga party and the singing, Anthony Spencer's arrival? Gertrude keeping the men on a string and their later marrying? Her extravagant life in the United States as in England? The toast of America?

12. Her return to England, the atmosphere of the Depression, the argument with the speaker in Hyde Park? Her friendship with Jeannie and her being her secretary? The bankruptcy and Jeannie's ignorance? Gertrude's irresponsibility and lack of knowledge? The lawyer and his attempts to explain things? The court case and Gertrude's performance? Noel Coward's telling her off and trying to face the truth? Her non-stop work especially with the dance marathons and the collage of the song 'Do Do Do'? Her collapse and illness?

13. The transition to further success, Noel Coward and the writing of Private Lives? The comedy sequences of explaining the play to the Lord Chamberlain and his assistant and their acting with people looking in the window? The stage presentation of Private Lives? The transfer to America, the disappointment in the holiday with Pamela? Her drinking and her being abusive at the party?

14. Richard Aldrich and his encounters with Gertrude, pleasantness, the invitation and her rudeness? His wanting to drive her home? His speaking the truth to her? Her defiance and the visit to Cape Cod? The rehearsals? His continued attentions, the indications for how to perform the 'Jenny' song in Lady In The Dark? Her realisation of the truth, her decision to marry? Her settling down at last?

15. Her later career not being told? The rags-to-riches story, the change of accent, being at home in society, Buckingham Palace, wealth and extravagance? The star status and her using it? The contrast with her loneliness and fear? The truth about her and her moving to success?

16. Noel Coward and Daniel Massey's performance, style, the songs, influence on the theatre, sayings, telegrams, advice? The portrayal of Private Lives? The various musical numbers and their contribution, themes e.g. the comedy with Cole Porter's 'The Physician', the sentiment of 'My Ship', the extravaganza of 'Jenny', the marathons and 'Do Do Do', the sentiment of 'Dear Little Boy' etc.?

18. A story of the 20th century, atmosphere of the times? Audience interest and involvement?

19. The appeal of the story of a star? The final song? The perennial appeal of show business stories?