Watch Star 80

‘Star 80’ featuring Mariel Hemmingway in the lead role as Dorothy Stratten, focuses on the rise to stardom and tragic life of Playboy centerfold Dorothy Stratten at the hands of her estranged husband and career manager Paul Snider; played by Eric Roberts. Although Stratten is the subject of the film both the aspects of her career and death as well as Snider’s career frustrations and decent into despair. The final culmination resulting in the tragic loss of life that followed.

The film begins with Snider meeting Stratten and quickly realizing that her beauty could easily serve him as a meal ticket and a career launching pad for himself. Snider, being in the pornography business, appreciates the fact that Stratten’s beauty can quickly boost his career as a manager as well as the income to be had from her talents. As Stratten is young and naïve she quickly falls for Snider’s lines and agrees to marry him and let him help guide her career.

Snider relocates his new wife to L.A where she quickly draws the interest of Playboy executives who offer her a place in the magazine. It isn’t long before Stratten gains success as ‘Playmate of the Year’, which helps gain her even more success. However, jealousy soon begins to take over Snider’s motivations as he realizes that he is being pushed to the background as others realize his true nature and his true motivation behind marrying Stratten.

Dorothy, realizing her husband’s true nature as well, decides that she can no longer live with Snider and begins to separate herself from him in order to get him out of her life. Just as Dorothy is about to realize Hollywood stardom Snider decides to confront her and realizing that she will not change her mind ends up murdering his wife and then committing suicide himself. Sadly, Dorothy Stratten was only 20 years old when she was murdered by Snider.