Although some of Bette Davis' films were not great, a few like'Wicked Stepmother' not even good, her best films were incredible. 'All About Eve' in particular is a personal favourite film and performance of mine, both for Davis and in general. 'The Star' also has a subject that is easy to relate and is still relevant oddly enough today, on the outside stardom seems glamorous but underneath all the glamour it is much darker than it looks and many struggled, and still are struggling, with the pressure it causes.
'The Star' may not be one of Davis' best films or performances, but she still comes off very well which says a lot about the general high quality of her performances and her as an actress. It took a lot for her to give a bad performance, even in her twilight years. The film does a good, if not quite great, job with the subject, it is relatable and it holds up. For what 'The Star' lacks in subtlety and an ending that is in keeping with the rest of the film, it makes up for in emotion and intelligence.
For my, and other people's, tastes, 'The Star' does go a little too over the top on the melodrama. Melodrama can tend to get overheated, and the melodramatic bits here are on the overwrought side. It can be contrived with things happening too easily.
Did have reservations with the ending. It did admittedly leave me misty eyed, but it had a tacked on and studio interference-like feel and doesn't gel with the rest of the film, a darker and more daring ending would have been better perhaps.
On the other hand, Davis gives it absolutely everything in a meaty role and is terrific. Gutsy but also vulnerable. There is also strong work from Sterling Hayden playing his role with integrity and young pre-'Splendor in the Grass' and 'West Side Story' Natalie Wood is also worth looking out for. The direction is very skilled and judges and paces everything well, though other more distinguished directors understood Davis' strengths more perhaps.
It is an in general intelligently scripted film, subtlety is not a strong suit as said already but there are some memorable lines that made me think and came over as sincere. The story moves swift and, although it is far from flawless, it has the right amount of tension and poignancy when needed and doesn't soften the subject too much. 'The Star' is not lavish visually but it has atmosphere, as does Victor Young's haunting score.
All in all, not great but well done. 7/10
