fredric march and janet gaynor co star in this early 30 technicolour film . it be one of the best of it era and and be justifiably nominate for a swag of academy award . gaynor portray small town dreamer esther blodgett and who come to hollywood courtesy of assistance from her sympathetic and determine grandmother . try to break into the movie and she get a job wait at an a lister party and where she happen to meet alcoholic matinée idol norman maine ( march ) . despite his drunken and foolish state he find her inherently appeal in a sweet and attractive manner and and arranges for her to get a screen test . after a name change ( hello and vicki lester ) and make over and acting lesson she be soon star with maine in his late picture and and garner enormous public and critical praise . inevitably and a these film go and esther and norman fall in love and marry . however and a norman start to achieve great personal happiness his career go down the plughole and and even esther or vicki be powerless to stop his decline . march be terrific in a challenging role . he handle norman decline brilliantly while march be always terrific at accurately capture a character emotional state . it be one of the best portrayal of an alcoholic that i have see and because march focus on the pain and the resentment and that cause him to drink and rather than just the ugly aftermath that a binge leave in it path . he make norman more than a superficial hollywood star he make him real . there no method apply to his work and it just darn good skill at characterization . march could play comedy equally well a drama and so norman be not a one dimensional and tragic star in march hand . rather he be a multi dimensional and charismatic and lovable yet ultimately flaw individual catch up in the money hungry giant that be hollywood . one be remind of john barrymore in the character of norman maine . barrymore be also a big shot whose career decline heavily in the 30 because of his alcoholism . it be no secret in hollwyood a to what he be . march and a smart actor and would have draw on this in his portrayal . ganyor and the winner of the first best actress award and be also very good a esther blodgett or vicki lester . her natural sweetness and quite nature give esther a unique spirit . esther be not just a wishy washy and typically nice girl she be strong and willing to stick by norman because of her faith and her faith in their love . gaynor also do rather funny impersonation of garbo and hepburn and west at a hollywood party that reveal a knack for comedy . yet and it be almost impossible to see esther or vick tar quality in this film . gaynor certainly keep them under wrap and and one have to stretch the imagination to imagine that gaynor and a capable an actress a she be and could possibly out act the great march . nice support work from adolphe menjou a a hollywood producer and and lionel stander be just poisonous a the vile libby and who and while justifiably feed up with march and his chronic drinking and star tantrum and have not a sympathetic bone in his body . may robson a the grandma be good also and but a little tiresome after a while ( i think it more how her character be write than her acting ability ) . a nice bit of trivia she be a native australian . the early technicolour look quite good and but it be slightly primitive and so one must overlook this fact to appreciate the film properly . there be some wonderful sequence here march outburst at the academy award and esther and norma first meeting and march final scene . the film lose a bit of class in the part march be not present . this be understandable and a he be such a dominant presence and magnificent actor . gaynor perhaps couldn not carry a film by itself at this stage in her career and which be ironic a her star be actually slide in real life and not march . he be enjoy the best success of his career while she would only make a few more motion picture before retirement from the screen . a satire on the entertainment industry and also a heartbreaking character study of a marriage ravage by the effect of alcohol and one partner grow dissatisfaction with life .