The Goddess (1958)

Born into a world devoid of affection, Emily Ann Faulkner is a lonely child raised by a self-absorbed, party-loving mother who harbors no qualms about professing her regret over Emily's birth. This bleak upbringing fuels Emily's yearning for adoration and fuels her aspiration to become an actress - not just any actress, but a revered Hollywood movie star. Laced with an aura of powerful feminine sexuality, Emily, even in her teen years, attracts the attention of boys with an overt sensuality that leaves her baffled when they respond in kind. Emily's life unfolds in a series of tumultuous events - two marriages, the birth of a daughter, all while struggling to understand and deal with intimacy, driving those who dare to get close to her away. Her first marriage ends swiftly when she encounters Dutch Seymour, a young, aspiring prizefighter. The allure of new love whisks her away from her first husband, propelling her into a whirlwind of change. A chance encounter with the world of acting sees Emily Ann's star ascend rapidly. Reinvented as Rita Shawn, she finally achieves the fame that she has always longed for, becoming a revered figure on the silver screen. The adoration and idolization she once yearned for now floods in from every corner of the globe. Yet, beneath the glitz and glamour of her goddess status, Emily Ann finds herself grappling with the weight of her fame, her personal happiness hanging in the balance. "The Goddess" is a poignant exploration of a woman's journey to stardom, loosely inspired by the life of Marilyn Monroe. As Emily Ann navigates the highs of fame and the depths of personal anguish, the question lingers: will achieving goddess status fulfill her as a person, or will the emptiness of her past echo in the hollow halls of her fame? Only time will tell in this compelling tale of ambition, identity, and the price of fame.

The Goddess is a drama movie featuring Patty Duke and directed by John Cromwell.

The Goddess is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.