Rich and Famous

Rich and Famous, directed by George Cukor, is a compelling drama and finale of one of Hollywood's most esteemed directors. This remake of the 1943 film "Old Acquaintance" sparks with intelligent dialogue, strong performances, and touches on the theme of the often competitive friendship between two ambitious women - stemming from childhood and extending into adulthood, traced with nostalgia, success, love, envy, and the very human need for acceptance.

The film intersects the two parallel journeys opulently depicted by the outstanding duo, Jacqueline Bisset and Candice Bergen. Ordinarily, Bisset portrays Liz Hamilton, a critically acclaimed yet commercially unsuccessful literary author who is intensely passionate about her craft. She embodies a woman of depth and substance, who is committed to her intellectually stimulating writing style and is more concerned about the art of storytelling than commercial success. Meanwhile, Bergen plays Merry Noel Blake, a spontaneous, vibrant woman with an innate flair for commercial writing, which she later evolves into a successful, phenomenally popular career in the trashy novel genre, resulting in her becoming a celebrity.

Touching on their friendship from young girls in school right up to their forties, Rich and Famous beautifully captures the dynamic, complex relationship of Liz and Merry that transcends the years. As they chart a course through life, their aspirations, occasioned upon by their contrasting personality traits and differing measures of success, form the central theme of the story.

However, their relationship is not without its trials and tribulations. Bisset's character Liz, who holds an intellectual snobbishness over her friend's commercial hit novels, is frequently fighting against the undertow of jealousy and bitterness, whereas Bergen's Merry, despite her fame and popularity, is in a continuous struggle to gain approval, respect, and recognition for her work from her more erudite friend.

Their lives reel through a whirlpool of romance, marriages, motherhood, and affairs. Yet, despite the differences, they manage to preserve a strange bond. For Liz and Merry, each other's success becomes a measuring stick, leading to resentment, but also inspiration- as they strive towards their individual versions of being 'Rich and Famous.'

Rich and Famous centers on the complexities of female friendship, with its pitfalls of jealously, competition, but also the enduring love and loyalty that holds two people together. It shines a light on the societal pressures, personal insecurities, and deep-seated issues of gender and class that affect their life paths.

The film doesn’t shy away from the intricacies of their lives entwined with romance. David Selby appears as a shared love interest, injecting complexity into their relationship. But Rich and Famous is not just about friendship and rivalry; it also dips its toes into the cultural dynamics of the 80s, a time of changing gender roles, newfound feminist consciousness, and the rise of commercial literature.

Directed by the legendary George Cukor, the last film of his illustrious career, his seasoned eye successfully manages to avoid clichés associated with the genre, serving instead a genuine, nuanced, and deeply sensitive portrayal of women. Featuring magnificent performances by Bisset and Bergen, Rich and Famous is elevated by their natural and authentic portrayal of two very different, very real women, gracing their characters with intelligence, depth, and humor.

Rich and Famous is a brilliantly directed film with its candid depiction of life’s highs and lows, challenges and triumphs, friendships, and rivalries, making it a captivating, nostalgic journey that is equal parts drama and life lesson. It grasps its audience, not just with its well-rounded characters and their bittersweet friendship, but also with its intriguing exploration of the 80s literary world, making it an iconic film of its time. It's not just a film about being rich and famous, it's a film about women, friendship, ambition, and life.