Hollywood-Story (DVD)

Hollywood star Charles Castle is a man who has thrown his youth ideals overboard, but cannot forget them. For years, he has been acting in films that do not meet his artistic standards at all, only for the sake of money. Castle's marriage is in crisis. His wife Marion is thinking about a divorce, which weighs heavily on him. Professionally, he sees himself under massive pressure from his producer Stanley Hoff. Hoff urges him to sign a long-term contract; otherwise he threatens to make public that Castle ran over a passer-by some time ago and then committed a hit-and-run. Out of necessity, the actor signs the contract. As if that were not enough, Hoff also wants to incite him to eliminate an eyewitness to the accident. Castle firmly rejects the request; as the situation continues to escalate dramatically for him, he sees no way out...

He made the pact with the dream factory. Now the nightmare begins. Movie star Charles Castle (Jack Palance) is the driving force of Hoff Studios in Hollywood. But because he prefers to work independently, Castle rejects a contract extension. That's when studio boss Hoff (Rod Steiger) unpacks the thumbscrews. An effective and emotionally staged melodrama by Robert Aldrich, which he staged based on the well-known stage play by Clifford Odets. Outstanding: Jack Palance in the role of Charles "Charlie" Castle, a role that would certainly have been filled by stars of the time such as Kirk Douglas, Burt Lancaster and Marlon Brando - but certainly none as convincing as Palance here. Director Aldrich received the Silver Lion in Venice in 1955 for his work.