Ultimately, Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool is an extremely rewarding romantic drama and should appeal even to those unfamiliar with Gloria Grahame

McGuigan's role is essentially to serve the script and the performers, and we can be grateful the project wasn't handed to a director more bent on imposing an authorial stamp.

Bening finds the shattered beauty in Grahame, the tragedy of an ex-star hanging on for dear life to her waning looks and fame that has long since passed her by.

Annete Bening and JamieBell are startlingly good in this film. Watching their romance unfold on screen reminded me of why I fell in love with cinema in the first place.