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Lucky Stars

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A behind-the-scenes showcase of how screen tests for studio executives are made and used in the Hollywood casting process. Some of the featured performances include actress Betty Jane Rhodes and opera singer Gladys Swarthout.

Status: Released

Released Date: 1935-12-27

Runtime: 10 mins

Director: Herbert Moulton

Spoken language:

Genres: Music

Original title: Lucky Stars

Production Companies: Paramount Pictures

Production Countries:

Cast

Narrator

Lynne Overman

Starlet

Betty Jane Rhodes

Opera Starlet

Gladys Swathout

Reviews

dortmunder

A behind-the-scenes look at screen tests and how they work in Hollywood. Lynne Overman is presenting everything as straight facts, but his hard-boiled delivery gives everything a "winking" sense of tongue-in-cheek. The first scene is with a very young Betty Jane Rhodes. She is getting ready in a make-up mirror before walking in for her screen test. Their back and forth is pretty funny and a self reflexive, when he wishes her luck, and then says they all need it, like by doing this short his career is going down the tubes. What follows is a very nice soft-focus musical number with Betty Jane. Afterwards, the focus shifts to a young opera star that Paramount is testing. Gladys Swathout performs a number, and then the short wraps up abruptly. Overman talks about the number of tests done in Hollywood and the rate of success being small, and then the story is over. It is interesting to note that all three actors went on to successful careers.

2024-08-30

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