What Price Hollywood? (1932)

The career of a waitress takes off when she meets an amiable drunken Hollywood producer.

Director:

George Cukor

Writers:

Gene Fowler (by), Rowland Brown (by),

Stars:

Constance Bennett, Lowell Sherman, Neil Hamilton

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Constance Bennett	...	Mary Evans
Lowell Sherman	...	Max Carey
Neil Hamilton	...	Lonny Borden
Gregory Ratoff	...	Julius Saxe
Brooks Benedict	...	Muto
Louise Beavers	...	The Maid
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
George Reed	...	Undetermined Role (scenes deleted)

Storyline

Brown Derby waitress Mary Evans befriends seldom-sober director Max Carey and is soon in the big-time. She hooks eastern millionaire Lonnie Borden but he soon tires of the Hollywood lifestyle and of playing second fiddle to a star. Carey looks on with interest when he can see straight.

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Plot Keywords:

waitress | pregnancy | screen test | actor | starlet | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

24 June 1932 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hollywood Madness

Filming Locations:

First United Methodist Church - 6817 Franklin Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$411,676 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Pathé Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Photophone System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

David O. Selznick wanted Clara Bow for the role of Mary Evans, but she turned it down when she was offered more money from Fox.

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Goofs

When Mary is filming her first bit part she drops her script on the stairs, which then disappears between shots.

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Quotes

[first lines]
[Mary Evans is admiring a magazine photo of Clark Gable]
Mary Evans: Hmmmm. Oh, boy!
[Mary places the magazine photo against her face and pretends Gable is her lover. She speaks in an exaggerated voice]
Mary Evans: Daaahling, how I love you my daaahling, I love you I do.
[she puts the magazine down and returns to her normal voice]
Mary Evans: It's getting late and I must scram.

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Connections

Referenced in The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind (1988)

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Soundtracks

"Three Little Words"
(1930) (uncredited)
Music by Harry Ruby
Part of a medley played during the opening credits

User Reviews

Wonderful Cukor-directed, precode film starring Constance Bennett

Constance Bennett was at the height of her beauty in "What Price Hollywood?" an excellent 1932 film directed by George Cukor. The story is a familiar one, but in 1932, probably less so: A good-looking, vivacious waitress catches the eye of a drunken director, who helps make her a star. As happens in "A Star is Born," a few years later, he hits the skids, and she's there to help. But as we all know, no good deed goes unpunished. Lowell Sherman gives a marvelous performance as the director, and apparently, he was playing himself. His final scene is fantastic, extremely compelling. A surprisingly modern-looking, very handsome Neil Hamilton plays Bennett's husband, who later divorces her before she gives birth to their child.

Like "The Bad and the Beautiful," "What Price Hollywood?" shows some inner workings of a Hollywood studio in those years. Although there are some touches that make the movie dated - and what done in 1932 isn't - there is something about this film that also seems fresh. Perhaps it is the honesty of the performances. Besides Bennett, who is marvelous (and does her own singing), Sherman, and Hamilton, there is the multitalented Gregory Ratoff on board.

I've seen many Constance Bennett films, as she is a favorite of mine, and I would have to put this as her best.