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Drama

Star 80

- The price of stardom was more than she bargained for.

Paul Snider is a narcissistic, small time hustler who fancies himself a ladies man. His life changes when he meets Dorothy Stratten working behind the counter of a Dairy Queen. Under his guidance Dorothy grows to fame as a Playboy Playmate. But when Dorothy begins pursuing an acting career, the jealous Paul finds himself elbowed out of the picture by more famous men.

Release Date : 1983-11-10

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : The Ladd CompanyWarner Bros. Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Mariel Hemingway

Character Name : Dorothy Stratten

Original Name : Mariel Hemingway

Gender : Female

Eric Roberts

Character Name : Paul Snider

Original Name : Eric Roberts

Gender : Male

Cliff Robertson

Character Name : Hugh Hefner

Original Name : Cliff Robertson

Gender : Male

Carroll Baker

Character Name : Dorothy's Mum

Original Name : Carroll Baker

Gender : Female

Roger Rees

Character Name : Aram Nicholas

Original Name : Roger Rees

Gender : Male

David Clennon

Character Name : Martin "Geb" Gebber

Original Name : David Clennon

Gender : Male

Josh Mostel

Character Name : Private Detective

Original Name : Josh Mostel

Gender : Male

Lisa Gordon

Character Name : Eileen

Original Name : Lisa Gordon

Gender : Male

Sidney Miller

Character Name : Nightclub Owner

Original Name : Sidney Miller

Gender : Male

Keith Hefner

Character Name : Photographer

Original Name : Keith Hefner

Gender : Male

Tina Willson

Character Name : Bobo Weller

Original Name : Tina Willson

Gender : Male

Shelly Ingram

Character Name : Betty

Original Name : Shelly Ingram

Gender : Male

Sheila Anderson

Character Name : Exotic Dancer

Original Name : Sheila Anderson

Gender : Male

Cis Rundle

Character Name : Meg Davis

Original Name : Cis Rundle

Gender : Male

Kathryn Witt

Character Name : Robin

Original Name : Kathryn Witt

Gender : Female

Jordan Christopher

Character Name : Peter Rose

Original Name : Jordan Christopher

Gender : Male

James Luisi

Character Name : Roy

Original Name : James Luisi

Gender : Male

Neva Patterson

Character Name : Playboy Executive

Original Name : Neva Patterson

Gender : Female

Robert Fields

Character Name : Director

Original Name : Robert Fields

Gender : Male

Keenen Ivory Wayans

Character Name : Comic

Original Name : Keenen Ivory Wayans

Gender : Male

Sandy Wolshin

Character Name : Woman M.C.

Original Name : Sandy Wolshin

Gender : Male

Robert Perault

Character Name : Actor

Original Name : Robert Perault

Gender : Male

James Blendick

Character Name : Gunseller

Original Name : James Blendick

Gender : Male

Jacqueline Coleman

Character Name : Nightclub Dancer

Original Name : Jacqueline Coleman

Gender : Male

Don Granbery

Character Name : Bartender

Original Name : Don Granbery

Gender : Male

Stuart Damon

Character Name : Vince Roberts

Original Name : Stuart Damon

Gender : Male

Ernest Thompson

Character Name : Phil Wass

Original Name : Ernest Thompson

Gender : Male

Budd Friedman

Character Name : Emcee

Original Name : Budd Friedman

Gender : Male

Deborah Geffner

Character Name : Billie

Original Name : Deborah Geffner

Gender : Female

Norman Browning

Character Name : 1st Detective

Original Name : Norman Browning

Gender : Male

Hagan Beggs

Character Name : 2nd Detective

Original Name : Hagan Beggs

Gender : Male

Bobby Bass

Character Name : 1st Hood

Original Name : Bobby Bass

Gender : Male

Gilbert B. Combs

Character Name : 2nd Hood

Original Name : Gilbert B. Combs

Gender : Male

Terence Kelly

Character Name : Charlie

Original Name : Terence Kelly

Gender : Male

Tabitha Herrington

Character Name : Blonde

Original Name : Tabitha Herrington

Gender : Female

Dean Hajum

Character Name : George

Original Name : Dean Hajum

Gender : Male

Dan Zeleski

Character Name : The Jock

Original Name : Dan Zeleski

Gender : Male

Paul Ryan

Character Name : Radio Interviewer

Original Name : Paul Ryan

Gender : Male

Michael Joel Shapiro

Character Name : Playboy Assistant

Original Name : Michael Joel Shapiro

Gender : Male

Fred Pierce

Character Name : Head Butler

Original Name : Fred Pierce

Gender : Male

John Horn

Character Name : Nightclub Owner L.A.

Original Name : John Horn

Gender : Male

David W. Rose

Character Name : Assistant Director

Original Name : David W. Rose

Gender : Male

Stanley Kamel

Character Name : Nick

Original Name : Stanley Kamel

Gender : Male

Liz Sheridan

Character Name : Makeup Woman

Original Name : Liz Sheridan

Gender : Female

Liis Kailey

Character Name : Aram's Assistant

Original Name : Liis Kailey

Gender : Male

Robert Picardo

Character Name : Interviewer

Original Name : Robert Picardo

Gender : Male

Erica Yohn

Character Name : Interviewer

Original Name : Erica Yohn

Gender : Female

Marilyn Madderom

Character Name : Editor

Original Name : Marilyn Madderom

Gender : Female

Lonny Chin

Character Name : Playboy Mansion Guest

Original Name : Lonny Chin

Gender : Female

Venus Pinkston

Character Name : Playboy Mansion Guest

Original Name : Venus Pinkston

Gender : Male

Tracy Vaccaro

Character Name : Playboy Mansion Guest

Original Name : Tracy Vaccaro

Gender : Female

Michele Hill

Character Name : Playboy Mansion Guest

Original Name : Michele Hill

Gender : Female

Kim St. Leon

Character Name : Playboy Mansion Guest

Original Name : Kim St. Leon

Gender : Male

Sulinda Watson

Character Name : Playboy Mansion Guest

Original Name : Sulinda Watson

Gender : Male

Cathy St. George

Character Name : Playboy Mansion Guest

Original Name : Cathy St. George

Gender : Female

Katrina von Splawn

Character Name : Playboy Mansion Guest

Original Name : Katrina von Splawn

Gender : Male

Carol Hills

Character Name : Playboy Mansion Guest

Original Name : Carol Hills

Gender : Male

Kristine Garbo

Character Name : Playboy Mansion Guest

Original Name : Kristine Garbo

Gender : Male

Catherine Gilmore

Character Name : Playboy Mansion Guest

Original Name : Catherine Gilmore

Gender : Male

Charlene Howell

Character Name : Playboy Mansion Guest

Original Name : Charlene Howell

Gender : Male

David Cameron

Character Name : Paul's Party Guest

Original Name : David Cameron

Gender : Male

Stacey Toten

Character Name : Paul's Party Guest

Original Name : Stacey Toten

Gender : Female

Michael Levittan

Character Name : Paul's Party Guest

Original Name : Michael Levittan

Gender : Male

Lorraine Michaels

Character Name : Paul's Party Guest

Original Name : Lorraine Michaels

Gender : Female

Bonnie Kanner

Character Name : Paul's Party Guest

Original Name : Bonnie Kanner

Gender : Male

Toni Petrie

Character Name : Paul's Party Guest

Original Name : Toni Petrie

Gender : Female

Don Jones

Character Name : Getaway - Prom Band

Original Name : Don Jones

Gender : Male

George McKensie

Character Name : Getaway - Prom Band

Original Name : George McKensie

Gender : Male

Martin Eade

Character Name : Getaway - Prom Band

Original Name : Martin Eade

Gender : Male

Jim Cross

Character Name : Getaway - Prom Band

Original Name : Jim Cross

Gender : Male

Don Kitchen

Character Name : Getaway - Prom Band

Original Name : Don Kitchen

Gender : Male

Rick Webb

Character Name : Getaway - Prom Band

Original Name : Rick Webb

Gender : Male

Peter Ohrnberger

Character Name : Getaway - Prom Band

Original Name : Peter Ohrnberger

Gender : Male

Daniel Keough

Character Name : Playboy Mansion Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Daniel Keough

Gender : Male

Tina Tyler

Character Name : Playboy Mansion Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Tina Tyler

Gender : Male

Gwen Welles

Character Name : Playboy Mansion Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Gwen Welles

Gender : Female

Alison Brown

Character Name : Playboy Mansion Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Alison Brown

Gender : Female

Sam Behrens

Character Name : Businessman (uncredited)

Original Name : Sam Behrens

Gender : Male

Reviews

A

adorablepanic

@adorablepanic

2021-06-23

STAR 80 (1983) is arguably the least regarded of Bob Fosse's five outings as director. What you are about to read is going to come across as a condemnation of this film - it is not. It's just my analysis of a film that has some obvious weak points which Fosse was oblivious to. And let me clarify further: I have seen and enjoyed all of the films he directed and own three of them. Although I appear to be making a case for this film in the most critical way possible, I actually enjoy it enough to revisit it from time to time. I would legitimately consider myself to be a Fosse fan. Now, that said... Save for one scene involving Dorothy and Paul meeting a celebrity at the Playboy Mansion, this is a film totally devoid of humor. I realize the subject matter is lurid and we know the tragic ending going in, but I think humanizing these characters at the beginning of the film, before things get really dark, would have gone a long way towards getting away from that one-note feeling that this film has. (For an example of a film where we know death is coming but are able to laugh without guilt early on, check out Paul Schrader's AUTO FOCUS [2002]. That film might actually be a little too sunny at the beginning, but that's a discussion for another day.) This appears to be a deliberate decision on Fosse's part, as he keeps foreshadowing the ending by flashing forward to the murder scene at various points. Most people already knew the story going in, so he wasn't giving anything away by doing this, but his decision to keep referencing the impending bloodbath is oppressive. It stifles any emotion the viewer might generate and perpetuates only a lingering feeling of dread. Perhaps that's exactly where Fosse wanted his audience. If that is the case, he succeeded 100%. Mariel Hemingway is questionable as Dorothy, but she tries. In her defense, I don't think Fosse's script does her any favors. At the beginning of the film, she displays a kind-of 'gee whiz' innocence which is totally appropriate. But by the time she has left home, posed for Playboy, appeared in films, slept with her director, and had her marriage fall apart, there should have been at least a little hardening or cynicism creeping in. If real-life Dorothy experienced this, then Fosse is keeping it a secret. On-screen Dorothy isn't allowed to mature, or develop emotionally in any deep way. I'm loathe to imply anything, but perhaps Fosse kept her character as one-dimensional as he did for a reason. As for the other performances: Eric Roberts does what he is asked to do. He goes from leering creep to violent creep, and he does it well. Of course, when the first scene of the movie involves your character standing before a mirror practicing basic human interaction, but is unable to control his hateful tendencies even while alone, your character arc is pretty much set. But, yes, he is fine here. Cliff Robertson underplays Hugh Hefner in a nice contrast to the aggressive Roberts. Roger Rees makes no impression as the Peter Bogdanovich surrogate. Carroll Baker is allowed to display the actual emotions involved with watching your child slip into a situation that you know cannot lead anywhere good. She gives the best performance in the film. Looking at Fosse's directing credits, the thematic progression is uncanny. Each project gets progressively darker and more death obsessed. (Yes, even ALL THAT JAZZ (1979), which celebrated Joe Gideon's/Bob Fosse's death in its final big production number.) In a way, this film was the perfect final project for Fosse. A filmography which began with the upbeat optimism of Charity Hope Valentine ended with the necrophilic violation of Dorothy Stratten. I'm not sure where that emotional trajectory would have taken Fosse next, but finding something darker than this would have probably produced something very, very unsettling.