I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

What a freaking movie. So many twists and turns. Absolutely intense from start to finish.

Blistering performances.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

This is a true sleeper of a "B" film. It is a film about Hoillywood filmmakers by Hollywood filmmakers--when there was still a "Hollywood"--comprised of studios and people who tried, on whatever level of ideas--to be professional about participating in a marketplace of a sort relating to talents, scripts, films, advertising and selling of these to ticket buyers. There are several strands of story at work in this narrative. A studio sexpot, "friend" of a producer, wants a part in a classic drama for which she unsuited; she balks at her assignment, so the studio's heads then decide to conduct a talent search, inviting four actresses to test for the part a la Gone With the Wing, to generate publicity. . A young studio functionary directs their visit and screen tests, one who want to be allowed to direct eventually. And we learn about the four hopefuls and get to see their progress and their reactions to Hollywood. George Nader plays Mike, the young director; the four girls are Julie Adams, Marianne Koch, Elsa Martinelli and Gia Scala. The men in their lives are Syndey Chaplin, Grant Williams, and John Gavin, as well as Nader. Jack Sher was both writer and director of this well- made Universal Studios' effort. Others in the large and interesting cast included Herbert Anderson, Hy Averback, Ainslie Pryor, Dave Barry, James Bell, Mabel Albertson, Maurice Marsac, Helene Stanto, Irene Corlett and Eugene Mazzola. Alexander North did the excellent music, Julia Heron the set decorations and Rosemary O'Dell the challenging costumes. The film is fascinatingly different, bright, and well-paced. The young cast is unusually-sincere and some such as Marianne Koch and Chaplin surprisingly good. The climax of course comes when the four aspirants face the studio heads' choice of a leading lady; some have already made life-choices before the announcement is made, others are paired off with the gentlemen; but the choice comes as a shock to all concerned--and life in a Hollywood of minds committing professional suicide through lack of clear definitions goes another step toward TV-hastened oblivion. This is a not a stylish nor a pretentious film; it is however intensely interesting as an "insider" film about Hollywood; and it is very entertaining as a presentation of characters and filmland types. recommended.:

Actor Judson Pratt IS credited.Art Direction by Alexander Golitzen and "Haworth". It can be assumed this is Ted Haworth.Music Supervision by Joseph Gershenson; "Rhapsody for Four Girls" composed by Alex NorthAssistant Director: Dick Maybery (one "r")CinemaScope/Technicolor.Credits above are from the film print itself.Also, I have tried MANY times to get this credit added - to no avail: Jose Ferrer appears UNCREDITED as a movie director in this film.

Hollywood never seemed to have the knack of looking at itself with a reasonable eye,preferring to show the public what the public itself perceived as Hollywood. Still,this is an entertaining little epic with attractive stars and reasonably entertaining story.Nice color and pretty costumes with four lovely leading ladies to wear them.The drama is a bit glossed over but still makes a good movie as an example of the fifties type of movie.

This light Hollywood drama begins with a world-wide search for an actress to play the title role in an upcoming epic "The Story of Esther", since Manning Studios is having issues with their temperamental star Rita Holloway (Helene Stanton). Four are finally chosen: an Austrian(Marianne Koch), an Italian (Elsa Martinelli), a Frenchwoman (GiaScala) and an American (Julie Adams), all brunette beauties. There's some fascinating backstage, back-lot sequences, all shot on the Universal-International sets. A couple of shots of Adams in "Esther"wardrobe reveals her breathtaking beauty: Statuesque, jut-jawed with high cheekbones, lustrous dark hair, and stunning eyes. There's also an unexpected denouement at the end. The conventional plot line receives tremendous boost by being photographed in color and Cinemascope (although I haven't seen it in widescreen). The day and night beach scenes are striking and the music by Alex North is interesting. But at the end the four women don't seem complete, 1950s style, unless they get their man.