What Price Hollywood? (1932)

Director:

George Cukor

Writers:

Gene Fowler (writer) and
Rowland Brown (writer) ...

Release Date:

24 June 1932 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

The career of a waitress takes off when she meets an amiable drunken Hollywood producer.

Plot Keywords:

Hollywood | Waitress | Producer | Director | Murphy Bed

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Constance Bennett	...	Mary Evans
Lowell Sherman	...	Maximillan 'Max' Carey
Neil Hamilton	...	Lonny Borden
Gregory Ratoff	...	Julius Saxe
Brooks Benedict	...	Muto, Diner Who Will Put Mary in Pictures
Louise Beavers	...	Bonita, Mary's Maid
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
George Reed	...	Undetermined Role (scenes deleted)

Also Known As:

Hollywood Madness (USA) (working title)
Hollywood Merry-Go-Round (USA) (working title)
The Truth About Hollywood (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Photophone System)

Certification:

USA:Approved

Filming Locations:

First United Methodist Church - 6817 Franklin Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

RKO Pathé Pictures

Trivia:

David O. Selznick wanted Clara Bow for the role of Mary Evans, but she turned it down when she was offered more money from Fox.

Quotes:

[first lines]
[Mary Evans is admiring a magazine photo of Clark Gable]
Mary Evans: Hmmmm. Oh, boy!
[Mary places the magazine photo against her face and pretends Gable is her lover. She speaks in an exaggerated voice]
Mary Evans: Daaahling, how I love you my daaahling, I love you I do.
[she puts the magazine down and returns to her normal voice]
Mary Evans: It's getting late and I must scram.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch: What Price Harvey? (#3.13)" (1999)

Soundtrack:

The Wedding of the Painted Dolls

A behind-the-scenes look at classic Hollywood

"What Price Hollywood?" is one of my favorite films of the 1930s. With loads of drama, glamour to spare, and some romance too, this movie is one of the best behind-the-scenes looks at the old Hollywood studio system that was ever made. Constance Bennett, looking her radiant best, plays the lead role with finesse. Lowell Sherman also turns in a powerful performance as a washed-up director. This movie was the basis for "A Star is Born." All in all, one great film.