The Star (1952)

A washed-up movie queen finds romance, but still desires a comeback.

Director:

Stuart Heisler

Writers:

Dale Eunson (original screenplay), Katherine Albert (original screenplay)

Stars:

Bette Davis, Sterling Hayden, Natalie Wood

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Bette Davis	...	Margaret Elliot
Sterling Hayden	...	Jim Johannsen aka Barry Lester
Natalie Wood	...	Gretchen
Warner Anderson	...	Harry Stone
Minor Watson	...	Joe Morrison
June Travis	...	Phyllis Stone
Paul Frees	...	Richard Stanley
Robert Warwick	...	R.J., Aging Actor at Party (as Robert Warrick)
Barbara Lawrence	...	Barbara Lawrence
Fay Baker	...	Faith
Herb Vigran	...	Roy

Storyline

Middle-aged Oscar winning actress Margaret Elliot - Maggie to those that know her - is a Hollywood has-been. Her life is in shambles. She clings to the hope of resurrecting her past movie stardom as a leading ingénue. No one will hire her, she's penniless with creditors selling off anything that she owns that is of monetary value, and she has no one to turn to that can see her through financially. She has in the past supported her sister and brother-in-law, who still want to use her as their meal ticket. Divorced from her actor husband, she shares joint custody of their teen-aged daughter Gretchen, from who Maggie tries to hide her problems. When it looks as if Maggie has hit rock bottom, Jim Johannsen re-enters her life. Jim, who once had the stage name Barry Lester, got his big break in Hollywood movies by Maggie. He came to the quick realization that he was neither good as an actor or that he wanted to do it as a profession. He now works as a boat parts supplier and mechanic. Jim ...

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Plot Keywords:

fictional celebrity | camp | joint custody | screen test | reference to palos verdes california | 

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Taglines:

The story of a woman...who thought she was a star so high in the sky no man could touch her!

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

Margaret Elliot (Bette Davis) drives a 1948 Mercury Sedan, which she upgrades to a 1952 Cadillac Convertible when her fortunes seem to be improving; Jim Johannsen (Sterling Hayden) drives a 1951 Mercury Station Wagon, and Henry Stone (Warner Anderson) drives a 1952 Lincoln Capri Convertible.

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Goofs

When Margaret enters the Lawrence dressing room and starts looking at the wall mirror; she throws her purse on to the makeup table and it lands on its side. But on the following cut, the purse is now upright.

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Quotes

Jim Johannson aka Barry Lester: [while at the zoo, a seal is barking loudly] Listen to that seal!
Margaret Elliott: Sounds like my brother-in-law!

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Connections

Featured in Stardust: The Bette Davis Story (2006)

User Reviews

1952 Davis Earns Her 9th Oscar Nomination . . .

During "The Star," Bette Davis commands the lead as Margaret Elliott, a Hollywood, Oscar-winning has been. The show is about handsome Jim Johannson (Sterling Hayden), a boat mechanic & fan of Elliott's, teaching her that there's more to life than being an actor. The adorable adolescent, Natalie Wood, plays Gretchen, Elliot's beloved daughter.

Elliot can't deal with the mid-life transition off the set & into retirement. She's so resentful she becomes a drunkard. During a classic scene, Davis uses one of her own Oscars, propped on the dashboard of Elliot's car & heads for the posh homes of the stars in Beverly Hills saying, "Come on, Oscar, let's you & me go get drunk!" Davis' portrayal of a fallen actor makes her seem older than she actually was. Of all the characters Davis embodied, I think she got Margaret Elliot spot-on! After she gives a faux sight-seeing tour of the stars' mansions to no one while drunk & driving, she lands in jail. That's when Jim bails her out, then takes her to his home on the ocean docks. The rest of the story is worth knowing.

Interestingly, this 1952 performance earned Davis her 9th Oscar nomination at 44yo. She was anything but washed up like the character she played, with 43 years of acting in movies & many more nominations & awards left to go. Davis was less than half-way into her acting career!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 December 1952 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Star

Filming Locations:

Old Zoo, Griffith Park - 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bert E. Friedlob Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1