Forever Female

Kind of a lite version of All About Eve, Irving Rapper's 1953 footlights comedy-drama (“suggested” by the J.M. Barrie play Rosalind) stars Ginger Rogers as Broadway idol Beatrice Page, who is ever praised by critics even though she's stuck in a rut with a series of mediocre productions (the middle-aged diva refuses to portray any character older than 29). Beatrice finally meets someone who doesn't kowtow to her, acerbic grocer-turned-playwright Stanley Krown (William Holden), and with the help of her producer ex-husband (Paul Douglas) sees to it that Stanley's promising debut effort reaches the stage—starring herself, of course, ridiculously cast in a daughter role conceived for a 19-year-old. Meanwhile, perky ingénue Sally Carver (Pat Crowley) discovers Stanley's script and campaigns for both the part and for Stanley, even though Beatrice has also set her sights on him. A glossy, sophisticated 1950s-style rom-com, Forever Female still falls short of being truly a classic. Incidentally, Crowley received a real star-is-born treatment/launch from Paramount here, but her subsequent movie career proved to be lackluster (she had more success on TV). A strong optional purchase. (C. Cassady)