A tale of the last glimmers of a Hollywood starlet and why the North of England became her dying wish
This film begins in the private sanctuary of an actors dressing room, the playbill for The Glass Menagerie is resting on the side as the sound of vocal exercises fill the air. The dressing table is littered with pre-show rituals, a glass of milk and a warm-up tape as well as an orange prescription bottle full of pills.
The actress applying the ruby red lipstick to her thinning mouth is Gloria Grahame (Annette Bening), academy award winner and star of the silver screen. But upon hearing the call for five minutes to curtain, she collapses suddenly writhing in pain. The theatrical opening sequence sets the tone for the rest of the film, which features some questionable CGI and dramatised scene changes. But despite some over stylised transitions, Film Stars Don’t Die In Liverpool still stands as a touching memoir to Grahame’s life.
Even though an account of the actresses last days, the films focus is the romance that blooms between Grahame and a young Scouser named Peter Turner (Jamie Bell) years earlier. The pair meet in a shared house in London, both job hopping around the theatre scene where they connect instantly over a love of drink and disco dancing.
The 28 year age-gap between the two means Turner is unaware of the actresses former fame. That is until he sees a reshowing of the 1954 black and white picture Naked Alibi where he becomes starry-eyed as he watches her sing on the big screen. Seeing her perform puts Peter under her spell, bowled over by her talent and entranced by her aloof and confident manner he falls head over heels.
Under all the the glitz and glamour and name-dropping of Humphrey Bogart, you see a fragile woman who just wanted to be loved
In the time that follows the couple migrate across the pond, a far cry away from Turners humble beginnings on the banks of the River Mersey. He often appears the fish out of water on the bustling city streets of New York, completely shocked by the fact that a pizza can be delivered to your door. But the pair are happy together and hopeful for their futures both in showbiz and beyond.
Although an enjoyable story, the film switches between time periods quite flippantly, from the sunny memories of 1979 to rainy Liverpool 1981. It is in Liverpool that the actress lays ill, in the box room of Peter’s mothers terrace house. The family home is warm and filled with love, hugely due to the always lovely Julie Walters and her role as the doting northern mother.
Overall the film centres itself around Grahame’s final love story. Under all the the glitz and glamour and name-dropping of Humphrey Bogart, you see a fragile woman who just wanted to be loved. Both Bening and Bell convey a wonderful spirited chemistry between the two characters and give light to a mournful tale.
This story gives an interesting look into life after fame and the pursuit of simple pleasures. Which ultimately for Grahame was electric blanket and a warm cup of tea amongst the people she cared for most.
Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool is showing at Broadway cinema until Thursday 30th November
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