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Applause

Play trailer Poster for Applause 1929 1h 20m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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80% Tomatometer 15 Reviews 75% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
A fading burlesque queen (Helen Morgan) shelters her daughter (Joan Peers).

Critics Reviews

View All (15) Critics Reviews
Geoff Andrew Time Out This deeply affecting tale of Stella Dallas-style maternal self-sacrifice transcends its sentimental shortcomings through the fluency of direction that was to become Mamoulian's trademark. Apr 7, 2016 Full Review Don Druker Chicago Reader Though this is Mamoulian's earliest, it's possibly his freshest film. Apr 7, 2016 Full Review Mordaunt Hall New York Times In most cases, however, Mr. Mamoulian commits the unpardonable sin of being far too extravagant. He becomes tedious in his scenes of the convent and there is nothing but viciousness in his stage passages. Apr 7, 2016 Full Review Tim Brayton Alternate Ending The film's style is incandescent. Rated: 4.5/5 Apr 19, 2020 Full Review Harry Alan Potamkin Close Up The two major faults of Mamoulian's film are: there is no sustained rhythmic structure, and there is no sense of speech as abstracted sound. Mar 26, 2020 Full Review Allen Eyles Radio Times This very early talkie should be seen for the heart-rending performance of the legendary stage singer Helen Morgan. Rated: 4/5 Apr 7, 2016 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (51) audience reviews
Steve D Would have worked far better as a straight show. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 12/19/23 Full Review Audience Member In 1929 Helen Morgan was at the top of her career. Mamoulian had an instinct for the cinema as he moves the camera and comes up with some great cinematography. He does not use that in the burlesque sequence, they're shot quite static and that was likely deliberate to emphasize phoniness of burlesque. The acting here is natural and that makes it even more compelling. The big drawback was the artificial happy ending in the Catholic Church insisted on. It cheapens the film. Other than that Applause is one of the best post Jazz Singer talkies and launched a great career for Rouben Mamoulian. The signature song is, "What Wouldn't I do for a Man". Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review walter m In "Applause," Thea(Paprika Steen) is just out of rehab and acting in a production of 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?' Otherwise, she is trying to get her life back together, with her ex-husband Christian(Michael Falch) having already re-married to Maiken(Sara-Marie Maltha), a psychologist. That becomes increasingly important for Thea, especially as it regards potential custody of her two young sons. While "Applause" has its strengths in being a character study, it is often just as obvious, which is best exemplified in its choice of a play within the movie.(Admittedly, 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?' does sound better in Danish than in English.) Plus, Paprika Steen's lead performance is more showy than powerful as a character whose issues may extend beyond her addictions. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member About suffering and loneliness Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/12/23 Full Review Audience Member This is a perfectly observed character study, small in story but ablaze with one of the finest screen performances of all time. Paprika Steen is so phenomenal, her work is almost beyond description. Watching this, one is never quite sure where the film is going, yet always certain wherever it goes, it'll be flawlessly true. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Paprika Steen does a nice job of handling the character of Thea, from onstage "Martha" to rock-bottom alcoholic to manipulative ex-wife. Recovery is never easy, and family estrangement can only make it harder.I wanted Thea to redeem herself, but by the end I realized it may not be possible. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Applause

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Movie Info

Synopsis A fading burlesque queen (Helen Morgan) shelters her daughter (Joan Peers).
Director
Rouben Mamoulian
Production Co
Paramount
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (DVD)
Jun 11, 2007
Runtime
1h 20m