Is Hollywood: Style Center of the World Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (1940)

📖 The Core Premise

Hollywood: Style Center of the World returns to the screen in 1940, bringing a fresh narrative to the Documentary genre. At its heart, the film explores complex themes wrapped in a compelling storyline. As the plot unfolds, we see characters navigating a world where stakes are high. "This short promotes the premise that movies often create a demand for the fashions seen in them. It starts with a vignette in rural America. A mother and daughter go to town to buy a new dress. In the dress shop window is a designer dress worn by Joan Crawford in a recent movie. We then go to Hollywood and visit Adrian, MGM's chief of costume design, and see how multiple copies of a single clothing pattern are produced. The film ends with short segments of several MGM features."

🎬 Performance & Direction

A movie's success often hinges on its execution. Ann Morriss does well with the material given, though the script occasionally limits their range. The direction aims to balance pacing with character development, a hallmark of good Documentary. While there are moments of brilliance, the pacing occasionally dips.

🤔 Why You Should Watch (or Skip)

Is Hollywood: Style Center of the World worth your time? If you appreciate Documentary films that take risks, this is likely a decent one-time watch. However, if you are looking for a flawless masterpiece, you might find some plot points predictable.

🏆 Final Verdict

Ultimately, Hollywood: Style Center of the World is a mixed bag with some redeeming qualities. With a runtime of 11 minutes, it asks for a significant time investment, but for the right audience, it pays off.

Our recommendation: Watch on OTT.