Tedfoldol everything you have heard about this movie is true.

Beystiman It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

Breakinger A Brilliant Conflict

Derry Herrera Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

Steven Torrey Charlie Chaplin shtick hearkens to British Music Hall. Both Gertrude Lawrence and Julie Andrews received their training from the British Music Hall. The Muppets hearken to the British Music Hall. To appreciate Broadway, you have to appreciate the British Music Hall. Julie Andrews' rendition of "Burlington Bertie from Bow" immediately calls to mind Chaplinesque shtick and shows the pervasiveness of that British Music Hall. Irving Berlin would revamp a similar song for Astaire/Garland in "A Couple of Swells" in the film Easter Parade. Julie Andrews' Burlington Bertie should rank with Donald O'Connor's "Make em laugh" from Singing in the Rain.Just watch "Parisian Pierrot" and one immediately sees Joel Gray the Emcee of "Cabaret". The world from Berlin Cabaret to British Music Hall to the Broadway Stage and Hollywood is awfully short.I seem to recall reading that Gertrude Lawrence had a very limited vocal range (A to A flat) but she could put over a song. Julie Andrews on the other hand can give the musical range the song intends. By the end of the film, Gertrude Lawrence about 1940 is aged 42 and in obvious distress from alcoholism; she would die in 1952 at age 54 of liver cancer. Gertrude Lawrence was extremely difficult to work with, but her ability to put a song over made her acceptable to producers etc. Gertrude Lawrence was fortunate in her friendship with Noel Coward, apparently a friendship that dates from her pre-teen years.Comedy is hard, dying is easy--so goes the trope. Just watch :"Burlington Bertie" to see how much physical discipline the comedian must bring to the task of comedy. The actor must call on their body to act, to respond in a certain way to get a certain effect, a certain laugh. It ain't as easy as it looks.The movie was a flop when released in 1968; an hour was cut from the three hour film and it was still a flop. Apparently, the original had been 'lost' or misplaced and didn't turn up till some 25 years later when it was re-released. Sometimes you see a movie for snippets or a song. "Thanks form the Memories" or "The Last Time I Saw Paris" creating memorable moments from forgettable movies. But this is a movie that sustains its own weight throughout; it is memorable for the Julie Andrews performance (as well as Daniel Massey as Noel Coward) and others for what is a memorable film production.Most of us know Gertrude Lawrence from the Broadway Production of the King and I, which was developed as a property for her specifically; Rodgers & Hammerstein were concerned about her limited vocal range but agreed to her role. Apparently even during production of the Broadway Play she was sick from Liver cancer, missing performances, and ultimately collapsing after a Saturday Matinee Performance.16 August 1952 and dying n 6 September 1952 at age 54. The film stops with her marriage in 1940 to Richard Aldrich (played by Richard Crenna).As an interpretation of Gertrude Lawrence this film does not miss the mark; especially compared to other biopics like "Night and Day" that depicted a skewed and sanitized life of Cole Porter. It would be a disservice to the film to simply see it as a channeling of Gertrude Lawrence and her time; it is more than that: out of time even as it is in its own time.

gkeith_1 Spoilers. Observations. Opinions.Great. Insightful. Explaining Gertrude Lawrence. Also Noel Coward. I didn't know much about either of them. I knew Lawrence was in The King and I. I was wishing that that show could have appeared in this film. I do enjoy the singing and dancing numbers. They are all superb. Examples are Burlington Bertie, and Parisian Pierrot. Julie does well in all of the costumes and gowns. Her daytime attire and hats are also very nice, and appear to be period-specific. Gertrude has some boyfriends, admirers, husbands. She does quite well in the men department. She goes from rags to riches, to almost rags. War and economic depression affect her career. She still survives. I am a degreed historian, actress, singer, dancer, fashion designer, film critic and movie reviewer. I am thoroughly fascinated by theatrical history.

Roedy Green Star must have been a very expensive movie to make. There are thousands of opulent costumes and sets. Almost every scene is bursting with extras in posh period dress.It is mostly a long string of stage performances. Julie Andrews is her usually amazing self with the surprise her skills include acrobatic dancer with snake-like grace.Gertrude Lawrence is a flip character, so the glue between the stage numbers about her private life is somewhat superficial. She tends to have several men on the go at once. This shocked audiences at the time the film was made, so they skirted the issue of sex rather prudishly.It is kind of like a 40-course dinner of exquisite French pastries. The movie is too long. It would have worked much better if pared down to standard length.Daniel Massey plays a young Noel Coward. He is great fun and quite believable.

Cristian Star! (1968)Directed by Robert WiseStarring Julie AndrewsMusical biography of actress Gertrude Lawrence tries to be entertaining but it's sometimes unnecessary lenght makes it sometimes yawning, but the main problem is the lost focus of the plot. The movie have it's songs for sure, and Andrews is terrific, but the movie passed in front your eyes. The team who brought you "The Sound of Music" surely want this to be a big hit ... but this never happen. In spite of that, is worth seeing for that last big musical number - Choreographed by Michel Kidd-.