Review of What Price Hollywood? (1932) by Ben D — 16 Jul 2012
George Cukor is one of the big names of Old Hollywood - he directed many genuine classics. This is probably his second great film (after One Hour With You) and is one he later filmed again under a different title: "A Star is Born".
What Price Hollywood? is melodrama of the highest kind. An aspiring actress - still only a waitress - catches the eye of a director who she is waiting on - and is soon a celebrated actress, America's Pal. She rides the highs, suffers some lows, and her star soon eclipses the director who found her.
Constance Bennett as Mary Evans is superb - I'll admit to not knowing who is she, and she didn't act in much else - and I'm interested to see more of her work on the back of this. Lowell Serman played Carey, the director with great gusto.
It has to be said, this film reminded me much of The Artist, the 2012 silent comedy that won Best Picture. Their trajectories are similiar.
All in all a very entertaining, comedic drama that is very good indeed.
This review of What Price Hollywood? (1932) was written by Ben D on 16 Jul 2012.
What Price Hollywood? has generally received positive reviews.
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