and what be it genre . the backstage expose story while what theatrical life be really like behind those broadway ( and other ) curtain . it certainly have a lot of competition represent singin in the rain both i and ii ( 1929 and 1952 ) and 42nd street and golddiggers of ( you name the year . ) while dame of 1934 while noise off ( 1992 ) from the farcical side and a star be bear i and ii from the 1930s and the 1950s from the tragical side represent not to mention summer stock of 1950 represent the list keep rollin along . so what make this movie so special . and why be there so few comment about this stunningly great movie . have so few people actually see it . how amazing to see a young frank langella pre dracula and pre frost nixon by 30 year . how amazing to see the fresh and talented tom hulce so pre amadeus . and yet another superb stiller . what a wonderful line up of talented people at their very best from so long ago . and such a script . who be this david shaber . so full of realistic disillusion and pathos compare to the usual sentimentality and feel good comedy . a especially exemplify by the star be bear like episode where the heroine achieve broadway while the langella character have to content himself with still another provincial tour . langella subsequent hysterical and sadistic blowup against the star strike latin teacher and his granddaughter in which he vent his fury and frustration be just one of many fantastic and psychologically real moment in the film . ( the latin teacher and his love affair with backstage life certainly echo marlene dietrich and her seduced professor in the blue angel of 1929 . ) another in the series of mercenary and cold hearted agent like kevin mccarthy who be precede by burt lancaster in the sweet smell of success ( 1957 ) and succeed by alan alda in clubland ( 2001 ) in movie history . the sexual liberation of the hulce character recall similar incident in oneill great comedy ah and wilderness . and what a tribute to the vanished operetta of long ago represent the red mill of victor herbert while rise marie and the vagabond king of rudolf friml while the desert song of sigmund romberg etc . what satirical insertion of bit from the great play like romeo and juliet . tribute to the theater itself a expostulate by the star langella . the richness and depth of this movie be simply endless . and to be saddle by such a title . who could have an inkling of what this great movie be about from such a ridiculous and unsuggestive title . but on the other hand and what title could one have apply to such a magnificent drama which might have live up to it stirring and emotional content . ps represent i just saw ( 2009 ) frank langella in his late act spectacular represent a richard nixon in frost nixon . how this great actor after 30 year simply go from triumph to triumph .