FILM STARS DON’T DIE IN LIVERPOOL

Review: A romance sparks between Peter Turner, a young actor, and a Hollywood actress Gloria Grahame.
Director: Paul McGuigan
Actors: Annette Bening, Jamie Bell, Kenneth Cranham, Julie Walters, Jodie McNee, Stephen Graham, Peter Lee-Wilson, Jay Villiers, Vanessa Redgrave, Frances Barber, Pandora Colin, Alexander Arnold, Leanne Best, Bentley Kalu and Tim Ahern
Year: 2017
Genre: Biography, Drama, History and Romance
Conclusion: 4/5
I have to say that before watching this film I had no idea that it was even a true story. This film is adapted from an acclaimed memoir by Peter Turner. This may sound daft but I also thought that judging by the film cover that it would be more about dancing similar to Billy Elliot (2000). The only thing I wasn’t convinced about was Stephen Graham and felt he didn’t really fit into the film. The real Peter Turner has a cameo in this as Jack, the stage manager who brings out chairs before Peter and Gloria perform Romeo & Juliet. All the vintage clips that are used in the film feature the real Gloria Grahame. Both Julie Walters and Jamie Bell appeared together in Billy Elliot (2000). I thought it was very clever the way that they made the chemistry blossom and develop with Annette Bening and Jamie Bell. I thought the whole film was very sensitively handled with warmth and compassion. I found myself thinking about this film even the day after watching it and even wanting to talk about it.