Review of The Star (1952) by Iris R — 01 Jan 2013

Bette Davis appeared in this film a year after making something of a comeback in "All About Eve" which is ironic since since this film is about a washed up actress clinging to her fame and desperately trying to get back into film.

It's high melodrama for sure, but pretty fun for a few reasons. Davis supposedly felt the film was based on rival Joan Crawford, so she sprinkles the film with a few Crawford-isms. You also get Sterling Hayden on a sailboat, which is fun to see since this was a real-life passion of Hayden's.

And best of all is a scene were a 40-something Davis does a screen test trying to act like a flirtatious 20 year old, but it's when she sits alone in a screening room and sees her performance that the film goes into high gear melodrama.

It's not a very deep film, but it's pretty entertaining.