Three years on from Paramount's legendary Sunset Boulevard, 20th Century-Fox produced another indictment of Hollywood, this time with Bette Davis as the fading star who plans a comeback. She's a former Oscar-winning star out of favour and out of money. Even her long-term agent (Warner Anderson) won't help her. But along comes Jim (Sterling Hayden), a former co-star who has secretly loved her for years and is now a successful boatyard owner (echoing Hayden's real-life love of the sea). But no, the happy ending doesn't take place yet. Davis wants to get her young daughter (Natalie Wood) back from her ex-husband and is still determined to get back onto the screen... Director Stuart Heisler fashions a film that mostly has the ring of truth, although it's marred by too much 'insider' content and the too-neat cop-out at the finish. Davis was nominated for an Oscar for her compelling portrayal, Hayden delivers a solid performance in support and Anderson is just the sort of snake you would expect his character to be.


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