Star!
1968
A musical biography of British music hall and Broadway star Gertrude Lawrence, STAR is a convincing and entertaining film, featuring an impressive score. The immensely talented Julie Andrews plays Lawrence, a beautiful, headstrong, and fiercely independent woman who will do anything for her career (including leaving her .. Read more
| Starring | Julie Andrews, Richard Crenna, Michael Craig, Daniel Massey |
|---|---|
| Director | Robert Wise |
| Genres | Music/Musical |
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Star!
A musical biography of British music hall and Broadway star Gertrude Lawrence, STAR is a convincing and entertaining film, featuring an impressive score. The immensely talented Julie Andrews plays Lawrence, a beautiful, headstrong, and fiercely independent woman who will do anything for her career (including leaving her daughter and husband). Her early adventures in the music hall chorus and her later involvement in British high society are chronicled in this lush film that, though it received several Academy Award nominations, was not appreciated by the public until some 30 years after its original showing, when it was re-released. One of the most interesting, heart warming, and perhaps most famous aspects of Lawrence's story was her lifelong friendship with playwright Noel Coward (Daniel Massey, the real-life grandson of Coward), which the film accurately portrays. STAR also shows the lowlights of Lawrence's life, including her strained relationship with her daughter Pamela (Jenny Agutter), her involvement with such men as American actor Charles Fraser (Robert Reed) and English nobleman Sir Anthony Spencer (Michael Craig), and the financial difficulties she amassed from her extravagant lifestyle.
| Starring | Julie Andrews, Richard Crenna, Michael Craig, Daniel Massey, Robert Reed |
|---|---|
| Director | Robert Wise |
| Studio | 20TH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 2 hrs 46 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Music/Musical |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 04 Jul 2005 Production year: 1968 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (2)
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In this overlong musical, Julie Andrews spends an awfully long time trying to convince us that she is the legendary stage star Gertrude Lawrence. Daniel Massey does a rather better job portraying Noël Coward (his godfather in real life). Some believe Andrews is a deeply under-rated actress, while others think she can only portray herself, and is therefore only suitable for certain roles and ultimately unconvincing in anything else. If you tend towards the latter view, then this is excruciatingly tedious fare, saved only by some spectacular production numbers full of razzmatazz.
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Elephantiasis finally ruins this patient, detached, generally likeable recreation of a past theatrical era. In the old Hollywood style, it would probably have been even better on a smaller budget; but alas the star would still have been ill at ease with t
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Most helpful member's review
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
'That's Entertainment'
What a good, well acted film about the legendary Gertrude Lawrence.
Julie Andrews played the part of Gertie with great enthusiasm and charm.Her singing of Gertie's hit musical numbers were, as one would expect just fantastic. Daniel Massey as Noel Coward could not be faulted.
All in all a very enjoyable romp into the life of a brilliant star of yeasteryear. Although as always on these so called semi autobiographical films I always wonder just how much or how little is in fact based on fact.I must be a bit of sceptic. -
Most recent members' review
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[Highly rated reviewer]
Terrific
Julie Andrews at her best,I should think.A great evening's entertainment.
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