This is, by far, one of the best 50s films that I have ever watched. Despite it being 70 years old, the message(s) that it carries is still fresh, relevant and applicable to contemporary stardom, aka the era of social media frenzy, para-social fan culture and internet fame. No wonder the recent NT Live adaptation of it was such a splash - the original film is already stellar and theatrical enough (the theatricality of which is often seen in movies of the 40s-60s) , and the NT version of it followed almost every part of the film with new stage settings plus a modern day background.
Not writing much today because I'm tired, but I could go on and on about feeling wanderlust in fame.
To quote one of the scenes that I found extremely captivating when I was watching the film/play:
BILL: I was saying that the Theater is nine-tenths hard work. Work done the hard way - by sweat application and craftsmanship. I'll agree to this - that to be a good actor, actress, or anything else in the Theater, means wanting to be that more than anything else in the world... EVE (abruptly): Yes. Yes, it does. BILL (goes on): It means concentration of ambition, desire, and sacrifice such as no other profession demands. .. And I'll agree that the man or woman who accepts those terms can't be ordinary, can't be - just someone. To give so much for almost always so little... Eve speaks almost unaware of what she says . She looks at no one in particular, just off... EVE: So little. So little, did you say? Why, if there's nothing else - there's applause. It's like - like waves of love coming over the footlights and wrapping you up. Imagine...To know, every night, that different hundreds of people love you... they smile, their eyes shine - you've pleased them, they want you, you belong. Just that alone is worth anything...
To be so lack of and craving for love that she went on to such an extent as to persue fame and garner attention later in the film (or, shall I say, all along?) was...simply astounding.
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