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Bette Davis, Sterling Hayden, Natalie Wood, Warner Anderson, Minor Watson ... see more see more... , June Travis , Katherine Warren , Kay Riehl , Barbara Woodell , Fay Baker , Barbara Lawrence , David Alpert , Paul H. Frees , Herb Vigran , Robert Warwick

An actress who once knew the heights of fame is forced to confronts the depths of defeat in this show business drama. Margaret Elliot (Bette Davis) was once one of Hollywood's great stars, but as she ... read more read more...edges into her 50's, both her career and her life have reached an unfortunate crossroads. Margaret hasn't worked for several years, her marriage has fallen apart, her former husband has custody of her daughter Gretchen (Natalie Wood), and she's running short of money. Margaret's agent Harry Stone (Warner Anderson) can't get her a part, and isn't willing to lend her the money to pay her bills. When they learn that Margaret is all but penniless, her sister (Fay Baker) and brother-in-law (David Alpert) turn their back on her, and Margaret's landlady (Katherine Warren) is threatening to evict her. Depressed and desperate, Margaret goes on a drinking binge, and ends up in jail on a drunk driving charge. No one comes to her aid but Jim Johannson (Sterling Hayden), an former actor who worked with Margaret years ago and has long been in love with her. Jim urges Margaret to leave Hollywood behind, and offers to care for her if she'll have him, but when Margaret's pleas to Harry finally result in an audition with producer Joe Morrison (Minor Watson), she holds on to the desperate hope she may have one more chance at regaining her stardom. Bette Davis's performance in The Star earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, but she lost to Shirley Booth for Come Back, Little Sheba -- a role that had been first offered to Davis. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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5 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 31 min.

Directed by: Stuart Heisler

Release Date: December 11, 1952

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DVD Release Date: June 14, 2005

Stats: 49 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (49)

  • jam233
    April 2, 2010
    jam233
    Excellent post Warner brothers Bette Davis film. As always, she is marvelous and gives great emotional depth to the role, especially since the subject matter very likely hit close to home with her. Very well written and directed. It's Bette's film all the way and she did deserved... read morely receive an Academy Award nomination. (She lost to Shirley Booth for Come Back Little Sheba.)

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Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy
August 9, 2010
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Bette Davis received her ninth Oscar nomiation for this formulatic melodrama about a fading, alcoholic movie star, saved by the help of a young actor (Sterling Hayden). Full Review

Walter Chaw
July 25, 2007
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central

Nearly washed-up Davis essaying completely washed-up Davis. Full Review

Rory L. Aronsky
July 12, 2005
Rory L. Aronsky, Film Threat

The Star is good for that one Saturday night or some kind of gathering among friends... Full Review

Christopher Null
June 13, 2005
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com

The fact that she's a petty has-been that squandered all her money doesn't really endear her to us or make us feel sorry for her plight Full Review

Dan Callahan
June 7, 2005
Dan Callahan, Slant Magazine

A threadbare, bargain-basement Sunset Boulevard. Full Review

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Bosley Crowther
March 25, 2006
Bosley Crowther, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Derek Adams
June 24, 2006
Derek Adams, Time Out

Click to read the article Full Review

May 24, 2003
Film4

Click to read the article Full Review

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    • Margaret Elliot: C'mon Oscar, let's you and me get drunk.
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  • The actor who plays the father role in both "Poltergeist" and "The Incredibles" was also the star of which cop show?  Answer »
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