Star 80 (1983)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Bob Fosse

Writers:

Teresa Carpenter (article)
Bob Fosse (written by)

Release Date:

10 November 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Plot:

Paul Snider is a narcissistic, small time hustler who fancies himself a ladies man. His life changes...

Plot Keywords:

Star | Centerfold | Murder | Playboy Centerfold | Nudity

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Mariel Hemingway	...	Dorothy Stratten
Eric Roberts	...	Paul Snider
Cliff Robertson	...	Hugh Hefner
Carroll Baker	...	Dorothy's Mother
Roger Rees	...	Aram Nicholas
David Clennon	...	Geb
Josh Mostel	...	Private Detective
Lisa Gordon	...	Eileen
Sidney Miller	...	Nightclub Owner
Keith Hefner	...	Photographer
Tina Willson	...	Bobo Weller
Shelly Ingram	...	Betty
Sheila Anderson	...	Exotic Dancer
Cis Rundle	...	Meg Davis
Kathryn Witt	...	Robin

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | Iceland:16 | USA:R (#26722) | UK:18 | Argentina:18 | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (1984) | Sweden:15 | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Blue Horizon Hotel, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Ladd Company, The

Trivia:

Hugh M. Hefner sued the producers after the film was released because he did not like how he was portrayed.

Goofs:

Continuity: While Paul harangues Dorothy about her upcoming trip to New York while she soaks in the bathtub her face and hair are alternately wet/dry between shots.

Quotes:

Snider: I do love her.
Dorothy's Mother: What did you say?
Snider: I said I love her.
Dorothy's Mother: Funny - I could've sworn you said 'I love IT.'

Movie Connections:

References "Fantasy Island" (1978)

Soundtrack:

Sookie Sookie

Worth watching for Eric Roberts

This was probably Eric Roberts' best movie. He steals the show as the sleazy, small-time hustler Paul Snider. Snider aches to be the big-shot, the real "Star 80" but is a failure at everything he tries---except when he gets Dorothy Stratten recognized by Playboy. Then, just as things might break through for them, Dorothy dumps him for a film director (in real life, Peter Bogdanovich). Of course we know the rest---sleazeball Snider kills Dorothy and himself.

Bogdanovich wrote a scathing book about the case, "Death of the Unicorn" in which he lam basts Hugh Hefner (no more invitations to the mansion for him). What is really weird is that Bogdanovich later married Dorothy Stratten's younger sister, who was in junior high when Dorothy was killed.