Review of Stage Struck (1925) by Brian S — 05 Jul 2009

An incredibly bizarre and captivatingly artificial performance by the luminously adorable Susan Strasberg holds the only interest in this cliche backstage melodrama about show girls, love triangles and The Stage.

Henry Fonda and Christopher Plummer (in his very first film role!) are given the thankless task of trying to add some heft, but Strasberg has the kind of over-the-top acting style that makes you understand exactly why she ended up becoming a B-movie luminary, and her drunken recitation of "Romeo & Juliet" has to be seen to be believed, not so much for her delivery, but the fact that we're supposed to believe that it impressed a room full of jaded theatre vets.

Incredible.