FILM STARS DON'T DIE IN LIVERPOOL

UK, 2017, 105 minutes, Colour.
Annette Bening, Jamie Bell, Julie Walters, Stephen Graham, Kenneth Cranham, Vanessa Redgrave, Francis Barber, Leanne Best.
Directed by Paul Mc Guigan.

While enjoyment of the film does not depend on audience knowledge of actress Gloria Grahame, it will certainly enhance the enjoyment of older audiences who do remember her and film buffs who have seen her performances and are aware of her reputation.

The film star who does have the possibility of dying in Liverpool – but does not, is Gloria Grahame. In fact, the film incorporates some scenes from the actual films, the credits for Naked Alibi and an extensive insert of her song in that film, Ace in the Hole. Gloria Grahame won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in The Bad and the beautiful, 1952. The film ends with the footage from that ceremony, her walking up the aisle, accepting the statuette, saying thanks and immediately walking off – with a final quip from compere, Bob Hope.

But, Liverpool?

As Gloria Grahame’s career began to fade in Hollywood, she appeared on stage, travelling to England in the late 1970s to appear in Lancashire in The Glass Menagerie. This is where the film opens, her putting on her make-up, week, in some detail, and then collapsing. It gives the audience the opportunity to look at Annette Bening and her interpretation of Gloria Grahame, certainly a fine performance from the actress, not trying to impersonate her but to communicate her character.

The film is based on an autobiographical memoir by Liverpool actor, Peter Turner. He is played by Jamie Bell (reunited with Julie Waters after Billy Elliot – Julie Walters playing his mother here). He has a chance encounter with Gloria Grahame and they begin a friendship, her staying at his family home, befriended by his mother, admired by his father (Kenneth Cranham in a good cameo), and his brother Joe, Stephen Graham.

The two begin an affair, symbolised by a scene in Gloria’s room in the house where she wants to learn disco dancing and Peter obliges (reminding audiences of how talented a dancer Jamie Bell was when he was young Billy Elliot). They travel to America, his seeing Gloria’s American world, as well as to California with a visit Gloria’s mother, played by Vanessa Redgrave, and her hostile sister, played by Frances Barber.

There are lyrical moments in the UK where Gloria is successful in the play, Rain. However, she is ill, with the cancer which she has neglected. There are key sequences in the United States where Gloria goes out all day without telling Peter where she was, seems to turn on him and he leaves. Then there is the same sequence from her point of view, visits to the doctor, her unwillingness to have Peter involved in her illness – quite an emotional change for the audience. However, in England, she phones him and takes refuge in his house.

This is a British film directed by Scots Paul Mc Guigan who has a rather wide range of dramatic films as well as Sherlock telemovies with Benedict Cumberbatch. He has a very intelligent screenplay by Matt Greehhalgh to work with and excellent performances all round. This is symbolised by a very moving sequence towards the end, a reading of a scene from Romeo and Juliet between Gloria and Peter.

In the early part of the film, many in the audience might feel that they are prying into the private life of an actress. However, as the film proceeds, the characters become more real, more interesting and the audience becomes more able to identify with them, until the sad ending with Gloria’s death and the amusing postscript of her ultra-brief Oscar-acceptance.

1. The film based on an autobiographical book? True story? Memoir? Tribute?

2. Audience knowledge of Gloria Grahame? Her films, her screen persona, reputation, winning an Oscar, a fading career, moving to stage? Her marriages, marrying her stepson? Interest? The touch of prying into private life?

3. The British story, the title? Peter Turner and his memoir? The Lancashire opening in the theatre, the scenes in Liverpool, the city, suburbs, streets, rain, homes, interiors, pubs, theatre? The contrast with New York and its glamour? California, the weather, homes, teachers, doctors’ surgeries? The creation of atmosphere?

4. The range of music, songs, Elton John, Song for Guy and other music of the period?

5. The introduction, the performance of The Glass Menagerie, the dressing room, Gloria Grahame, in England, in provincial stage work, the makeup, the wig, her collapse? The phone call, Peter and his response? His help, the family helping?

6. The flashbacks to their meeting, the encounter, the difference in age, the friendship, the weather, going to the Turner home? The welcomed by Peter’s family? Her performance and success in Rain?

7. Annette Bening as Gloria Grahame? The insertion of the credits for Naked Alibi, her song from that film, the references to In a Lonely Place and the memento from Humphrey Bogart, the quote from her song as Ado Annie in Oklahoma? Annette Bening capturing the character, her American background, the experience in Hollywood, life experience, growing older, fading, her age, illness?

8. Jamie Bell as Peter Turner, late 20s, an actor, at home, ordinary family in Liverpool, his parents, his brother, the other relations visiting? His work, acting, the medical play? The encounter with Gloria Grahame, the interest, the attraction, his help, his family?

9. The bonds between them, friendship, romantic, sexual? Going out together, at home? Her room? The sequence of the disco dancing and establishing the relationship between the two? Gloria and her bond with the family, the care for the mother, the fascination by the father, the attitude of the brother?

10. And the scenes with his mother, her wanting to go to Australia to see her son, hit her fussing about the family, her concern about Annette? The visit to the pub and the talk with his father? The clashes with his brother?

11. The happy days, sharing, love, passion, England, the success of Rain? The transition to New York, the different experience, outings, tensions, Gloria and her American life, agents? The highlighting the age difference?

12. The California visit to Gloria’s mother, her mother’s character, the conversation, the animosity of the sister? Gloria’s reaction to them?

13. The story of her marriages, divorces, her stepson? Of the children?

14. Her illness, keeping it a secret, stubbornness, refusing to admit the truth? America, the visits to the doctor, her smoking, denial, leaving things too late, not following up on the medication, the danger of chemotherapy? The several visits?

15. Her going out, not telling the truth to Peter, out all day, her offhand answers, deceiving him? His being hurt? Leaving?

16. The impact of the audience seeing the same sequence but from her point of view, the visit to the doctor, her illness, the different treatment of Peter?

17. Her return to England, playing in Lancashire, her collapse, the phone call to Peter after the time away from him, her coming, going upstairs to the room, ill, sleeping, the meals, Bella and her care, the other members of the family?

18. Her overhearing the family dispute, her illness, whether she should go to hospital, or back to America?

19. The poignancy of Peter taking her to the theatre, her previous comments about playing Juliet and the indications that she was too old? The two chairs in the theatre, the books, the recitation of the Romeo and Juliet scene? Emotions for Gloria and Peter, for the audience?

20. The phone call to her son, his coming to England, arranging the transfer? Bella advising Peter to be able to let Gloria go? Carrying her to the taxi, Gloria urging Bella to go to visit her son in Australia and put up with the 24 hour stopover in Manila? Peter’s farewell, the taxi driving off?

21. The information about Gloria Grahame’s return to the US, dying the same day?

22. The postscript, the announcement of her Oscar, the other nominees, her presence, walking up, taking the Oscar and saying thank you and immediately walking off – and Bob Hope’s reaction?