written by an opportunist Sheilah Graham, who was before my time but I do recall my mother reading her column, if one takes this film with only a few grains of salt, its okay.
The film starts with Fitzgerald working on "The Last Tycoon" and struggling...He was in reality struggling with alcoholism, but this film was made in an era of denial, people didn't have addictions or suicide, or depression, they just died suddenly of a heart ailment.
That in itself could be excused if the story was flavored with some weightier topics, Fitzgerald did not write pulp fiction and his thoughts and ideas about Hollywood were probably quite interesting. We do see Gregory Peck in an amusing scene where he mocks Graham's producer of a radio gossip show. Graham was apparently chastised for sounding too educated for mid-western audiences.
The side story regarding Scott's wife Zelda, and the golden age they thrived in could also have been developed. Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald, who was afflicted with schizophrenia, ended her tragic life in an Asheville, North Carolina asylum, as a result of a tragic fire.
The reality is Sheilah Graham was another false face, who attempted to reinvent herself in Hollywood. The story could work if she was not so ingratiating, whiny and annoying. I do like Deborah Kerr and "Tea and Sympathy" was one of her best performances, but the portrayal of Sheilah Graham here is simply to saccharine and dated.
Sad that F. Scott Fitzgerald one of our greatest writers from that time period has been so poorly represented in film. The material and audience interest is there. Fox...Tom Rothman, you honor "All About Eve" on Fox Movie Channel, how about a remake of "Beloved Infidel" with a talented actor as Fitzgerald?. I confess I may care too much about the material and story here, I enjoy literature, Shakespeare, and talented actors portraying the authors material. Maybe someday we will see a good remake because the story is here. 5/10.
The film starts with Fitzgerald working on "The Last Tycoon" and struggling...He was in reality struggling with alcoholism, but this film was made in an era of denial, people didn't have addictions or suicide, or depression, they just died suddenly of a heart ailment.
That in itself could be excused if the story was flavored with some weightier topics, Fitzgerald did not write pulp fiction and his thoughts and ideas about Hollywood were probably quite interesting. We do see Gregory Peck in an amusing scene where he mocks Graham's producer of a radio gossip show. Graham was apparently chastised for sounding too educated for mid-western audiences.
The side story regarding Scott's wife Zelda, and the golden age they thrived in could also have been developed. Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald, who was afflicted with schizophrenia, ended her tragic life in an Asheville, North Carolina asylum, as a result of a tragic fire.
The reality is Sheilah Graham was another false face, who attempted to reinvent herself in Hollywood. The story could work if she was not so ingratiating, whiny and annoying. I do like Deborah Kerr and "Tea and Sympathy" was one of her best performances, but the portrayal of Sheilah Graham here is simply to saccharine and dated.
Sad that F. Scott Fitzgerald one of our greatest writers from that time period has been so poorly represented in film. The material and audience interest is there. Fox...Tom Rothman, you honor "All About Eve" on Fox Movie Channel, how about a remake of "Beloved Infidel" with a talented actor as Fitzgerald?. I confess I may care too much about the material and story here, I enjoy literature, Shakespeare, and talented actors portraying the authors material. Maybe someday we will see a good remake because the story is here. 5/10.