THE STAR

US, 1952, 91 Minutes, Black and white.
Bette Davis, Sterling Hayden, Natalie Wood.
Directed by Stuart Heisler.

The Star is a strong melodramatic Bette Davis vehicle of the early 50s. It is very reminiscent of her role in All About Eve. It marks the transition from her early and glamorous heroine roles to middle age and the kinds of roles that she was to take in the 60s and 70s. Sterling Hayden offers effective support. Natalie Wood appears as her daughter. The Star is full of rich strident melodramatic scenes in which Bette Davis excels and she won an Oscar nomination for her role.

1. The Hollywood title, appeal and expectations? The ironic viewpoint and the critique of Hollywood and the atmosphere of the stars?

2. Having Bette Davis in the central role, her relationship to the issues of the film in her own life and her career? Her particular style and what she brought to this performance? Visually, manner?

3. The theme of stardom, the effect on people who are stars and become involved in the aura of stars for twenty-four hours a day, the publicity machines, thinking of real life in terms of screenplays valuing awards, wealth, being in front of the cameras? Career personified? How was Margaret Elliott a star in this sense?

4. what critique of this kind of stardom and human way of living did the film make? The contrast with people who were not stars? The critique of Hollywood and the systems that make people like this?

5. The film as a glimpsed portrait of Margaret Elliott? Her first appearance at the auction and her reaction to the agent buying her things? Her friendship with the agent and yet her acid tone? The fact that she had no work? Her meeting with her daughter and the revelation about her career, her ex-husband? The need for money? Her lies to her daughter? Her drinking, her driving and her commenting on the young star's houses? The crash, running from the police, prison and abuse? Her lies on the phone to her daughter? Her attitude towards the landlady who had saved some of her clothes?

6. The contrast with Jim? The reason for his bailing her out? His memory of the film he made with her and his love for her? His war service and new career? Jim as a solid type, generous? His telling her the truth, being kind to her in an ordinary kind of way? His consideration and tenderness? The importance of the sailing sequence and with Gretchen? His helping her with getting the job in the store? His telling her the truth about the impulse and impulsiveness to work? The support that he gave her at the end? An admirable type contrasting with the Hollywood world?

7. The interview with the shop people, her concealing her identity, her work, the criticism of the old women and her angry reaction? The inevitability of this kind of reaction to such a star? What did it tell her about herself?

8. The importance of the film and her seeing herself playing an eighteen-year old role? The build-up to the test? Her not taking Jim's advice about following directions? The way that she played the test as a flirting young girl? The changing of the make-up? Wanting to control the director? Her reaction to the test and her disappointment? How well did she see the truth? The visit to the agent, the parting and her overhearing about the other woman getting the part? The confrontation with people?

9. The theme of the film in the film world as the screen-writer explained that could be as any other? The significance of his outlining the screenplay to Margaret and the effect that it had on her? How hurtful?

10. Themes of ageing, fame and reputation, public opinion, adulation? Living in a fantasy world and a real world? The presentation of human values?