Star Quality (TV 1985)

In 1940's England, a young playwright is getting his first play produced by an important director. But the director wants to get a temperamental actress for the lead. And when Lorraine ... See full summary »

Director:

Alan Dossor

Writers:

Noel Coward (story), Stanley Price

Stars:

Susannah York, Ian Richardson, Peter Chelsom

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Susannah York	...	Lorraine Barry
Ian Richardson	...	Ray Malcolm
Peter Chelsom	...	Bryan Snow
David Yelland	...	Tony Orford
David Swift	...	J.C. Roebuck
Pam Ferris	...	Marian Blake
Neville Barber	...	Gerald Wentworth
Tim Bannerman	...	Charles Hawkins
Ben Aris	...	Eric Larch
Jo Kendall	...	Linda Copeland
Amanda Donohoe	...	Understudy
Bill Ritchie	...	Understudy
Sidney Livingstone	...	Stage manager
Jonathan Lacey	...	Stage manager
Lucy Hancock	...	Stage manager

Storyline

In 1940's England, a young playwright is getting his first play produced by an important director. But the director wants to get a temperamental actress for the lead. And when Lorraine Barry arrives at the first reading, the battle is begun between director and star, with the poor playwright caught in the middle.

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Plot Keywords:

show within a show | diva | based on play

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 November 1985 (UK)

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Masterpiece Theatre, Portman Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

75 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Ray Malcolm: [looks around at the room] I apologize for the Bavarian brothel; our set will be a little more cheerful.

User Reviews

Star Quality x 4

This choice theatrical memoir is a particular pleasure in the newly released Noel Coward DVD album - in the same genre as 'Hay Fever' and 'Present Laughter' but, perhaps, a little closer to the real theatre of the middle 20th century. Peter Chelsom is nigh perfect as the daunted author of a new play starring stormy, seductive, spankable Susannah York as a grade-A bitch of a leading actress and directed by a magnificently witty, sardonic Ian Richardson: but all are eclipsed by that sly scene-stealer David Yelland as Richardson's deliciously camp and perceptive catamite Tony. The other roles - Pam Ferris as York's slave and David Swift as the producer are near to caricature,but by the end I was taking it seriously enough to be quite moved. Bravo, Master!