Stardust (1940)
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17-year-old Linda Darnell received her first big break in the appropriately titled 20th Century-Fox production Star Dust. Discovered by talent scout Thomas Brooke (Roland Young), teenager Carolyn Sayre (Darnell) is brought to Hollywood, where she is turned down for a contract because she is considered too young. Down but not out, Carolyn falls in love with studio contractee Bud Borden (John Payne), who promises to help her achieve her career goals. Teaming up with Brooke, Borden succeeds in winning a screen test for Carolyn, and the rest is gravy. As can be seen, Star Dust draws most of its inspiration from Linda Darnell's real-life rise to fame, which gives the cliched screenplay a bit of added depth and humanity. It's also amusing to watch William Gargan, cast as studio executive Dane Wharton, perform a devastating (albeit affectionate) take-off of 20th Century-Fox head man Darryl F. Zanuck, right down to DFZ's habit of swinging a polo mallet during story conferences. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Complete Cast:
- Linda Darnell - Carolyn Sayres
- Roland Young - Thomas Brooke
- William Gargan - Dane Wharton
- Donald Meek - Sam Wellman
- Harry Green - Bird Man
- Walter Kingsford - Napoleon
- Robert Lowery - Bell Boy
- Jo Gilbert - Swedish Maid
- Paul Hurst - Lab Man
- Billy Wayne - Cameraman
- Tom Dugan - Bus Driver
- Frank Coghlan, Jr. - Telegraph Boy
- Philip Morris - Coach
- Sid Grauman - Himself
- Joan Leslie - College Girl
- John Payne - Bud Borden
- Charlotte Greenwood - Lola Langdon
- Mary Beth Hughes - June Lawrence
- Mary Healy - Mary Andrews
- Jessie Ralph - Miss Parker
- George Montgomery - Ronnie
- Hal K. Dawson - Wellman's Assistant
- Gary Breckner - Announcer
- Irving Bacon - Clerk
- Fern Emmett - Secretary
- Lynne Roberts - Girl
- Kay Griffith - Stenographer
- Mantan Moreland - Waiter
- Elyse Knox - Bit Girl
- Director(s):
- Walter Lang
- Writer(s):
- Robert Ellis, Robert Ellis, Helen Logan
- Producer(s):
- Kenneth MacGowan, Darryl F. Zanuck
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