The story opens as a play is closing on Broadway...the same week it opened. Out of work, Dixie seems to get her break when a Hollywood director (John Miljean) offers her a contract. However, when she arrives in Hollywood, she learns that the director is always telling women this...much like Harvey Weinstein. And, this temperamental director doesn't realize it but he's about to get fired! Well, the producer (Ford Sterling) feels sorry for Dixie and he offers her a big break.
So, Dixie has gone from a nobody to a budding star. But there is a problem....she's a complete idiot. Despite that director being a lech and a liar, she continues to take advice from him and she becomes the ultimate diva. The problem is that without a single film to her credit, she's simply more trouble than she's worth and she's fired....and deservedly so. So what's to happen with ditsy Dixie as well as her very nice but often mistreated boyfriend, Jimmy? See the film and find out for yourself.
To me, the film is both very good and very bad. The good is seeing all the behind the scenes looks at the studio and how films were made. Of particular interest were the giant shed-like structures that were used to house the cameras. Why? Because they were so loud that it interfered with the early sound equipment. I also loved the set for the film--with the giant head through which all the dancers danced...it was surreal! But on the other hand, the film made Dixie so obnoxious, so difficult to like that it seriously impacted on enjoyment of the story. Who wants to see a story about a nasty, spoiled jerk of a woman making it big...or not?! You can't help but hope she fails...which is sad, as in real life it mirrored Alice White's career...a woman who was all but washed up in films by the mid-late 1930s despite some very big successes during the days of early talkies.
By the way, if you watch the movie, doesn't it seem as if there is a HUGE and IMPORTANT scene missing just before the big premier at the end (such as a big contrition scene)? It just seems to come from out of no where and makes no sense they way they did it. For this and the general likability of Dixie, I think one earns a paltry 3. It's a shame because with a few changes it could have been great.
So, Dixie has gone from a nobody to a budding star. But there is a problem....she's a complete idiot. Despite that director being a lech and a liar, she continues to take advice from him and she becomes the ultimate diva. The problem is that without a single film to her credit, she's simply more trouble than she's worth and she's fired....and deservedly so. So what's to happen with ditsy Dixie as well as her very nice but often mistreated boyfriend, Jimmy? See the film and find out for yourself.
To me, the film is both very good and very bad. The good is seeing all the behind the scenes looks at the studio and how films were made. Of particular interest were the giant shed-like structures that were used to house the cameras. Why? Because they were so loud that it interfered with the early sound equipment. I also loved the set for the film--with the giant head through which all the dancers danced...it was surreal! But on the other hand, the film made Dixie so obnoxious, so difficult to like that it seriously impacted on enjoyment of the story. Who wants to see a story about a nasty, spoiled jerk of a woman making it big...or not?! You can't help but hope she fails...which is sad, as in real life it mirrored Alice White's career...a woman who was all but washed up in films by the mid-late 1930s despite some very big successes during the days of early talkies.
By the way, if you watch the movie, doesn't it seem as if there is a HUGE and IMPORTANT scene missing just before the big premier at the end (such as a big contrition scene)? It just seems to come from out of no where and makes no sense they way they did it. For this and the general likability of Dixie, I think one earns a paltry 3. It's a shame because with a few changes it could have been great.