For movie fans especially, this examination of the life of Irving Thalberg does justice to the man and his legendary career as a visionary pioneer of the Golden Age who knew how to give audiences what they clamored for at MGM.
It also provides insight into the relationships he had with the bigwigs of his era, including Louis B. Mayer, Samuel Goldwyn and David O. Selznick, all of whom he came into contact with as he made his way up the ladder of success. It also serves to look at his love affair with Norma Shearer, whose blossoming career was well nurtured by Irving's insistence on managing and abetting his wife's movie star image.
Anyone with an interest in films per se, how and why they were made in the 20s and 30s, will find this documentary an interesting way to spend 90 minutes behind the scenes at the MGM studio factory where there were "more stars than there are in heaven." He inspired the Irving G. Thalberg award that is given by the Academy to celebrate significant contributions to the art of the motion picture.
Of interest are the comments on Irving by such people as Samuel Goldwyn, Jr., Helen Hayes, Anita Loos, Bob Thomas and King Vidor, and Deborah Thalberg.
