MovieChat Forums > Star! (1968) Discussion > A wonderful vehicle for Julie Andrews an...

A wonderful vehicle for Julie Andrews and that's all, folks, IMO!

posted 18 years ago by gaelicguy
3 replies | jump to latest

She sings beautifully and the production numbers are quite lavish - indeed, some are truly spectacular. Costumes are striking (it attempts to aim for authenticity, but try as it does, they (the costumes) still have that late '60s look to them) and I did like Daniel Massey very much.

As the Emperor says in Amadeus. too many notes, which translates into it's too long. I've read about the problems the film had in its original release regarding its running time and was cut during its theatrical run, which must have made it even more choppy and insufferable. Who signed off on this atrocious script at 20th Century Fox?

But La Andrews is top rank when she sings and does look quite beautiful, in certain scenes.

Glad I saw it, but I doubt if I'd ever watch it again. Strike that -- I think Wise's commentary and a few of the bonus features on the DVD are worth a look!

Give thanks for a little and you will find a lot.

[–] tuss_bear 16 years ago

I think if Fox had just cut out the story and released the film as a series of musical numbers, it would've been a hit. The problem is it's just about impossible to care much about Gertrude Lawrence as she is portrayed in the film.

[–] profh-1 12 years ago

"I think if Fox had just cut out the story and released the film as a series of musical numbers, it would've been a hit. The problem is it's just about impossible to care much about Gertrude Lawrence as she is portrayed in the film."

Interesting suggestion!

I've just watched the film for the 2nd time in about 15 years. The songs (apart from "Someone To Watch Over Me") don't grab me, and the character of Gertrude Lawrence does nothing for me at all. I did get a kick out of Noel Coward. How did he ever put up with her? (Maybe that's a trick question...)

As much as a legendary "bomb" as it was, I feel Blake Edwards' "DARLING LILI" was everything "STAR!" hoped to be and wasn't. Julie Andrews got to play a character who wasn't always "nice", it had a REAL story that was very engaging, likeable characters (even some of the "villains"!) and in the end, you don't feel like you just wasted 3 whole hours of your life watching it.

[–] FANatic-10 11 years ago

I did like "Star!", up to a point at least, but who was it that thought it was genius to spend a fortune on a quite old-fashioned bio pic of Gertrude Lawrence and Noel Coward in 1968?? Not exactly what the kids were screaming for, I would imagine. But Julie Andrews, while not giving an acting performance of tremendous depth, did successfully erase thoughts of Maria Von Trapp and Mary Poppins with a very different role. And her singing and musical performing were absolutely first-rate, with "Burlington Bertie", "The Physician" (my favorite) and "The Saga of Jenny" special showstoppers. Her purity and sweetness of tone and perfect enunciation really are breathtaking at times.