Review of Souls for Sale (1923) by Blair K — 29 Sep 2010

The original cynical backstage hollywood movie - this is a wry, hilarious take on hollywood stardom during the peak of the silent era, complete with a catalog of huge-name director and actor cameos, most of them playing themselves.

'the player' of its day. the cynicism gives way to a happyish ending, though it's certainly an indictment against manipulative and abusive hollywood power players. the murderous con-man ex-husband plot is thrown in for standard thrills.

it's thrilling as an open-eyed look at how the system operated in those days, and how so little has changed. a must-see for anyone who loves silent films and hollywood nostalgia.