The price of stardom was more than she bargained for.
Paul Snider is a narcissistic, small time hustler who fancies himself a ladies man. His life changes when he meets Dorothy Stratten working behind the counter of a Dairy Queen. Under his guidance Dorothy grows to fame as a Playboy Playmate. But when Dorothy begins pursuing an acting career, the jealous Paul finds himself elbowed out of the picture by more famous men.
- Bleak ending
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Earnest, grave, bleak and resolved.
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- gravecomic
- warmbleak
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Reviews on TMDB
Written by TMDB members; each links to the original. Not part of Tastebuds's numbers.
- adorablepanicon TMDB · Apr 20207/10
STAR 80 (1983) is arguably the least regarded of Bob Fosse's five outings as director. What you are about to read is going to come across as a condemnation of this film - it is not. It's just my analysis of a film that has some obvious weak points which Fosse was oblivious to. And let me clarify further: I have seen and enjoyed all of the films he directed and own three of them. Although I appear to be making a case for this film in the most critical way possible, I actually enjoy it enough to revisit it from time to time. I would legitimately consider myself to be a Fosse fan. Now, that said... Save for one scene involving Dorothy and Paul meeting a celebrity at the Playboy Mansion, this is a film totally devoid of humor. I realize the subject matter is lurid and we know the tragic ending going in, but I think humanizing these characters at the beginning of the film, before things get really dark, would have gone a long way towards getting away from that one-note feeling that this film has. (For an example of a film where we know death is coming but are able to laugh without guilt early on, check out Paul Schrader's AUTO FOCUS [2002]. That film might actually be a little too sunny
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Cast
- Mariel HemingwayDorothy Stratten
- Eric RobertsPaul Snider
- Cliff RobertsonHugh Hefner
- Carroll BakerDorothy's Mum
- Roger ReesAram Nicholas
- David ClennonMartin "Geb" Gebber
- Josh MostelPrivate Detective
- Lisa GordonEileen
- Sidney MillerNightclub Owner
- Keith HefnerPhotographer
Crew
- Bob FosseDirector
- Bob FosseScreenplay
- Sven NykvistDirector of Photography
- Ralph BurnsOriginal Music Composer
- Alan HeimEditor
- Kenneth UttProducer
- Wolfgang GlattesProducer
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Pairings
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Similar in taste
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The Book Thief 201377% alikeBoth earnest, grave.
Stuart: A Life Backwards 200777% alikeBoth earnest, grave.
Hitler: The Last Ten Days 197377% alikeBoth earnest, grave, bleak.
Bigger Than Life 195677% alikeBoth grave, earnest, resolved.
Des 202072% alikeTelevision · Both grave, earnest, bleak.
When They See Us 201971% alikeTelevision · Both earnest, grave, bleak.
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