1952·Drama·1h 29m
7.0
★
Actress Margaret Elliot is well past her prime but refuses to retire from the acting business. Despite entreaties from both her daughter, Gretchen, and one-time professional colleague Jim Johannsen, Margaret remains convinced that she can regain her former glory. As she sets her sights on a coveted Hollywood role, Johannsen tries doggedly to get his unrequited love to see the folly of her ways.
Directed by Stuart Heisler
has been
movie star
screen test
past prime
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Where to Watch
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. an Aging Actor at Party
Barbara Lawrence
Barbara Lawrence
Fay Baker
Faith
Herb Vigran
Roy
Marie Blake
The Stones' Maid Annie (uncredited)
Crew
Stuart Heisler
Director
Victor Young
Original Music Composer
Ernest Laszlo
Director of Photography
Orry-Kelly
Costume Design
Boris Leven
Set Designer
Popular Reviews
21 reviews
cici
7.0★ · 05/08/26
you can be entranced by a Star™️ like bette davis for an entire movie, but every once in a while, you’ll get hit with the most 50s dialogue/action (cough joe finds WHAT appealing cough)
you can be entranced by a Star™️ like bette davis for an entire movie, but every once in a while, you’ll get hit with the most 50s dialogue/action (cough joe finds WHAT appealing cough)
nPRO
9.0★ · 09/26/25
PLEASE I’M A STAR
PLEASE I’M A STAR
gabs
5.6★ · 06/05/25
I really do love Bette Davis and she’s wonderful in this, but the film itself is just ok. It had its great moments—like her drunk driving with her Oscar in hand and watching her own audition tape at the end—but otherwise it felt like it was trying to be Sunset Blvd mixed with All About Eve, yet not quite reaching that level.
I wish Natalie Wood had a bigger role in this
I wish Natalie Wood had a bigger role in this
I really do love Bette Davis and she’s wonderful in this, but the film itself is just ok. It had its great moments—like her drunk driving with her Oscar in hand and watching her own audition tape at the end—but otherwise it felt like it was trying to be Sunset Blvd mixed with All About Eve, yet not quite reaching that level.
I wish Natalie Wood had a bigger role in this
I wish Natalie Wood had a bigger role in this
Thomas
6.0★ · 05/04/25
I wonder how Bette Davis felt making this movie. Did it hit a little too close to home?
Also not crazy about that ending tbh. Let her be a star!!
Also not crazy about that ending tbh. Let her be a star!!
I wonder how Bette Davis felt making this movie. Did it hit a little too close to home?
Also not crazy about that ending tbh. Let her be a star!!
Also not crazy about that ending tbh. Let her be a star!!
Carly Gravley
6.0★ · 04/23/25
This is mostly very dumb, a cynical, cash-grabby answer to both Sunset Boulevard and All About Eve. It even goes so far as to steal the bones of Sunset’s plot and Eve’s leading diva.
But I don’t hate it! If anything, I wish it was dumber.
The Star gives Bette Davis a feast of scenery to chew on and she doesn’t disappoint. The scene towards the beginning where she’s driving drunk around Hollywood, babbling to an Oscar statuette (one of Bette’s own, of course) propped up on her dashboard was ridiculous in the very best way. If the movie was just 90 minutes of that, I would have it on repeat for the rest of my life.
And then there’s the fact that the character is allegedly based on Joan Crawford. Drunk. Delusional. Washed up. “Box office poison.” The makeup, which is basically Crawford drag. It’s deliciously messy.
At its worst, it’s a mediocre melodrama. At its best, it’s sublime camp. Kind of like Bette’s entire career, down to the fact that she’s singlehandedly carrying it.
But I don’t hate it! If anything, I wish it was dumber.
The Star gives Bette Davis a feast of scenery to chew on and she doesn’t disappoint. The scene towards the beginning where she’s driving drunk around Hollywood, babbling to an Oscar statuette (one of Bette’s own, of course) propped up on her dashboard was ridiculous in the very best way. If the movie was just 90 minutes of that, I would have it on repeat for the rest of my life.
And then there’s the fact that the character is allegedly based on Joan Crawford. Drunk. Delusional. Washed up. “Box office poison.” The makeup, which is basically Crawford drag. It’s deliciously messy.
At its worst, it’s a mediocre melodrama. At its best, it’s sublime camp. Kind of like Bette’s entire career, down to the fact that she’s singlehandedly carrying it.
This is mostly very dumb, a cynical, cash-grabby answer to both Sunset Boulevard and All About Eve. It even goes so far as to steal the bones of Sunset’s plot and Eve’s leading diva.
But I don’t hate it! If anything, I wish it was dumber.
The Star gives Bette Davis a feast of scenery to chew on and she doesn’t disappoint. The scene towards the beginning where she’s driving drunk around Hollywood, babbling to an Oscar statuette (one of Bette’s own, of course) propped up on her dashboard was ridiculous in the very best way. If the movie was just 90 minutes of that, I would have it on repeat for the rest of my life.
And then there’s the fact that the character is allegedly based on Joan Crawford. Drunk. Delusional. Washed up. “Box office poison.” The makeup, which is basically Crawford drag. It’s deliciously messy.
At its worst, it’s a mediocre melodrama. At its best, it’s sublime camp. Kind of like Bette’s entire career, down to the fact that she’s singlehandedly carrying it.
But I don’t hate it! If anything, I wish it was dumber.
The Star gives Bette Davis a feast of scenery to chew on and she doesn’t disappoint. The scene towards the beginning where she’s driving drunk around Hollywood, babbling to an Oscar statuette (one of Bette’s own, of course) propped up on her dashboard was ridiculous in the very best way. If the movie was just 90 minutes of that, I would have it on repeat for the rest of my life.
And then there’s the fact that the character is allegedly based on Joan Crawford. Drunk. Delusional. Washed up. “Box office poison.” The makeup, which is basically Crawford drag. It’s deliciously messy.
At its worst, it’s a mediocre melodrama. At its best, it’s sublime camp. Kind of like Bette’s entire career, down to the fact that she’s singlehandedly carrying it.