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Stage Struck

Play trailer Poster for Stage Struck Released Apr 22, 1958 1h 35m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 2 Reviews 56% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Eva Lovelace (Susan Strasberg) has more confidence than talent, but the New York City newcomer believes her inexperience won't keep her from the stage. In this "Morning Glory" update, Eva talks her way into a production by Broadway impresario Lewis Easton (Henry Fonda), but bad acting leads to her ouster. Playwright Joe Sheridan (Christopher Plummer) gives her a second chance when actress Rita Vernon (Joan Greenwood) quits his show, and Eva surges toward stardom and romance.

Critics Reviews

View All (2) Critics Reviews
David Nusair Reel Film Reviews ...the movie succeeds as a behind-the-scenes portrait of what goes into mounting a big Broadway play. Rated: 2.5/4 Jun 22, 2021 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews It never gets past its clichés. Rated: C- Oct 12, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (6) audience reviews
Steve D It has been done so much better. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/25/24 Full Review ian t This didn't work at all for me. It was too "Fairy tale hollywood". I think the main thing was we were all meant to love the central character, Eva Lovelace. Although she was very beautiful, she was very annoying. I can't believe Syndney Lumet made this one straight after 12 angry men. I guess this was one for the studios. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Susan Strasberg is the reason to watch this film, Henry Fonda and Christopher Plummer mainly provide the love interests and are woefully underused in terms of their acting talent, Strasberg however gives us a whimsical romanticist in love with her profession - innocent, but not naive. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Audience Member An incredibly bizarre and captivatingly artificial performance by the luminously adorable Susan Strasberg holds the only interest in this cliche backstage melodrama about show girls, love triangles and The Stage. Henry Fonda and Christopher Plummer (in his very first film role!) are given the thankless task of trying to add some heft, but Strasberg has the kind of over-the-top acting style that makes you understand exactly why she ended up becoming a B-movie luminary, and her drunken recitation of "Romeo & Juliet" has to be seen to be believed, not so much for her delivery, but the fact that we're supposed to believe that it impressed a room full of jaded theatre vets. Incredible. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member good technicolor spectacular remake of the 1933 version which is better Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Audience Member This is one of Lumet's first films and deals with considerably different subject matter than any of the other films of his I've seen. Nope, no gangsters, thieves, angry men or dirty cops; just a fame hungry actress and a guy with the power to give her what she wants. Henry Fonda and Christopher Plummer are great, as is expected. What brings this film down is Susan Strasberg. She's cute, but really quite irritating. Her voice is grating, and even when she's sad she just seems so damned bubbly. The story has it's moments, the Romeo and Juliet scene being a highlight, but overall the film just isn't anything paricularly special. It's not bad, in fact I'd have to say it was good, just not great. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/14/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Stage Struck

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Movie Info

Synopsis Eva Lovelace (Susan Strasberg) has more confidence than talent, but the New York City newcomer believes her inexperience won't keep her from the stage. In this "Morning Glory" update, Eva talks her way into a production by Broadway impresario Lewis Easton (Henry Fonda), but bad acting leads to her ouster. Playwright Joe Sheridan (Christopher Plummer) gives her a second chance when actress Rita Vernon (Joan Greenwood) quits his show, and Eva surges toward stardom and romance.
Director
Sidney Lumet
Producer
Stuart Millar
Screenwriter
Augustus Goetz, Ruth Goetz
Distributor
Buena Vista Distribution Co. Inc.
Production Co
RKO Pictures, Buena Vista (Walt Disney)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 22, 1958, Original
Runtime
1h 35m