What Price Hollywood?

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What Price Hollywood?

Theatrical Poster
Directed by George Cukor
Produced by Pandro S. Berman
David O. Selznick
Written by Story:
Adela Rogers St. Johns
Screenplay:
Gene Fowler
Rowland Brown
Jane Murfin
Starring Constance Bennett
Lowell Sherman
Music by Max Steiner
Cinematography Charles Rosher
Editing by Del Andrews
Jack Kitchin
Distributed by RKO
Release date(s) June 24, 1932
Running time 88 minutes
Country Flag of the United States United States
Language English
Allmovie profile
IMDb profile

What Price Hollywood? is an American film released in 1932 and directed by George Cukor.[1]

The picture was written by Gene Fowler and Rowland Brown from a story by Adela Rogers St. Johns.

The film is a "behind the scenes" look at Hollywood and stars Constance Bennett, Lowell Sherman, and Neil Hamilton, and others.

Contents

[edit] Plot

The film tells the story of Mary Evans (Constance Bennett). She manages to make a good impression on film director Max Carey (Lowell Sherman) and they become friends.

With Carey's help, Evans rises to film stardom as "America's Pal." Carey is happy but he keeps his distance. He's an alcoholic and is certain that his sure fall from grace will hurt Bennett's career.

On a wim Evans marries playboy Lonny Borden (Neil Hamilton), who genuinely loves her but is jealous of the demands made on her by her career.

Borden soon walks out on her, but not before Evans becomes pregnant. She turns to her mentor Carey. She does everything she can to stop his downslide, but it's too late.

In a stark sequence (utilizing slow motion and rapid-fire montage cutting), Carey commits suicide in Evans' bedroom. When his body is found, the ensuing scandal destroys Evans career.

Hoping to heal her emotional wounds, Evans flees to Paris, France with her new child. There she reunites with Borden.

[edit] Background

Although the plot of A Star Is Born (1937) resembles that of What Price Hollywood?, and both were produced by David O. Selznick, the 1937 picture is not officially a remake. RKO considered filing a plagiarism suit against Selznick International Pictures.

[edit] Cast

[edit] Awards

Nominations

  • Academy Awards: Oscar; Best Original Story Writing, Adela Rogers St. Johns and Jane Murfin; 1932.

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ What Price Hollywood? at the Internet Movie Database.

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Films directed by George Cukor

Grumpy (1930) • Virtuous Sin (1930) • The Royal Family of Broadway (1930) • Tarnished Lady (1931) • Girls About Town (1931) • A Bill of Divorcement (1932) • Rockabye (1932) • What Price Hollywood? (1932) • Dinner at Eight (1933) • Our Betters (1933) • Little Women (1933) • David Copperfield (1935) • No More Ladies (1935) • Sylvia Scarlett (1935) • Camille (1936) • Romeo and Juliet (1936) • Holiday (1938) • Zaza (1939) • The Women (1939) • The Philadelphia Story (1940) • Susan and God (1940) • Two-Faced Woman (1941) • A Woman's Face (1941) • Her Cardboard Lover (1942) • Keeper of the Flame (1942) • Gaslight (1944) • Winged Victory (1944) • A Double Life (1947) • Edward, My Son (1949) • Adam's Rib (1949) • Born Yesterday (1950) • A Life of Her Own (1950) • The Model and the Marriage Broker (1951) • The Marrying Kind (1952) • Pat and Mike (1952) • The Actress (1953) • A Star Is Born (1954) • It Should Happen to You (1954) • Bhowani Junction (1956) • Les Girls (1957) • Wild Is the Wind (1957) • Heller in Pink Tights (1960) • Let's Make Love (1960) • The Chapman Report (1962) • My Fair Lady (1964) • Justine (1969) • Travels With My Aunt (1972) • The Blue Bird (1976) • Rich And Famous (1981)