What Price Hollywood? (1932)

This is essentially an early version of A Star is Born where Constance Bennett is an aspiring actress and waitress who finagles a meeting with Lowell Sherman’s famous director. While her star quickly rises, his falls. I enjoyed there not being a romance between the protégé and the mentor, keeping their relationship one of friendship and support. Unfortunately that means there is a dislikable separate romance added to the actress’s story. Constance Bennett is enjoyable in portraying the course of the character’s career from the naivety and ambition of her early career to the world weary ending.

Oscar Nomination: Best Writing, Original Story