Carolyn Sayres, rejected by talent scout Brooke, falls in love with Bud Borden, helping her become a star. Wharton parodies Zanuck's early Hollywood experiences.Carolyn Sayres, rejected by talent scout Brooke, falls in love with Bud Borden, helping her become a star. Wharton parodies Zanuck's early Hollywood experiences.Carolyn Sayres, rejected by talent scout Brooke, falls in love with Bud Borden, helping her become a star. Wharton parodies Zanuck's early Hollywood experiences.
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaIn the original script, the Grauman's Chinese Theatre courtyard scene would have Linda Darnell and John Payne examine the foot imprints and whimsical messages in the cement of several deceased stars, including Marie Dressler, Douglas Fairbanks and Jean Harlow, but the studio decided this would distress audiences, and those of Mary Pickford, Harold Lloyd, Tyrone Power and Don Ameche are seen instead. [Philadelphia (PA) Inquirer, 8 June 1940]
- ConnectionsFeatured in Biography: Linda Darnell: Hollywood's Fallen Angel (1999)
- SoundtracksStar Dust
Music by Hoagy Carmichael
Lyrics by Mitchell Parish
Played during the opening credits and often in the score
Also performed by Mary Healy
Featured review
I'm pretty sure this is EXACTLY how actresses and actors are spotted by the studios.
"Star Dust" is a highly fictionalized story about two* young people who want to make it in moving pictures. One is a 17 year-old who has a LOT of ambition and gumption (Linda Darnell) and the other is a college football player with a lovely tenor voice (John Payne). They are spotted by a talent scout (Roland Young) and at first he's interested in Darnell...though it turns out he knew and was in love with her mother long ago, and he's afraid she'll get hurt. Regardless, they arrive in Hollywood where their biggest obstacle is another talent scout (Donald Meek) who is determined to sink these prospects. Can they somehow STILL make it?
I think the biggest reason for this film was to highlight the very young Darnell...who really was 17 and just signed to a contract with Twentieth Century-Fox. And, while the studio in the film is called Amalgumated, it's really Twentieth Century-Fox...and the studio head (William Gargan) plays the Daryle Zanuck sort of role.
Overall, this is a nice, fun film and although Darnell's big scene that impressed everyone at the end seemed overacted, it works well. In many ways, it's like "A Star is Born"...though not quite on the level of this classic film.
*There is a third Hollywood hopeful (Mary Beth Hughes), though he part is VERY small in comparison to the other two.
I think the biggest reason for this film was to highlight the very young Darnell...who really was 17 and just signed to a contract with Twentieth Century-Fox. And, while the studio in the film is called Amalgumated, it's really Twentieth Century-Fox...and the studio head (William Gargan) plays the Daryle Zanuck sort of role.
Overall, this is a nice, fun film and although Darnell's big scene that impressed everyone at the end seemed overacted, it works well. In many ways, it's like "A Star is Born"...though not quite on the level of this classic film.
*There is a third Hollywood hopeful (Mary Beth Hughes), though he part is VERY small in comparison to the other two.
- planktonrules
- Sep 12, 2023
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 30 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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