Like almost all bio-pics from this era, "The Lady With Red Hair" plays fast and loose with the facts. While the general facts are true, the life of an early stage and screen star, Mrs. Leslie Carter, have been changed liberally to make for a more interesting tale. A few of the changes include her flop in her first performance (it was actually a hit) and her son becoming estranged from her (in fact, the child sided with her against his father--and was disowned as a result).
The film begins with the divorce trial of Mr. and Mrs. Carter. All the reasons for this and what led to this isn't mentioned--other than the fact that she (Miriam Hopkins) was seen as an adulteress. In the end, she loses the case and her millionaire ex-husband is given custody of their young son. In a desperate attempt to earn money, she heads to New York and has some very naive expectations about becoming a star. However, surprisingly, she meets the great Belasco (Claude Rains) and he molds her into a star.
After years of being a star, Mrs. Carter has the nerve to have a personal life. When she marries another actor, Belasco writes her off--vowing never to speak to her again--and vice-versa. What follows is a lean period--when jobs are scarce and she is at her lowest. But, being a trooper down deep, she manages to pull it together and make a career for herself on her own. Oddly, however, this feud and her subsequent success was handled way too fast--creating little tension and ending very abruptly--a major handicap for the film. However, it's still worth watching--as Hopkins is at her best.
The film begins with the divorce trial of Mr. and Mrs. Carter. All the reasons for this and what led to this isn't mentioned--other than the fact that she (Miriam Hopkins) was seen as an adulteress. In the end, she loses the case and her millionaire ex-husband is given custody of their young son. In a desperate attempt to earn money, she heads to New York and has some very naive expectations about becoming a star. However, surprisingly, she meets the great Belasco (Claude Rains) and he molds her into a star.
After years of being a star, Mrs. Carter has the nerve to have a personal life. When she marries another actor, Belasco writes her off--vowing never to speak to her again--and vice-versa. What follows is a lean period--when jobs are scarce and she is at her lowest. But, being a trooper down deep, she manages to pull it together and make a career for herself on her own. Oddly, however, this feud and her subsequent success was handled way too fast--creating little tension and ending very abruptly--a major handicap for the film. However, it's still worth watching--as Hopkins is at her best.