Do people really expect a dreary, realistic documentary or recreation of actual events when they see a movie about a Hollywood bombshell who dies tragically at a young age? I tend to think a movie about a famous actor who has some out of the ordinary episodes in his/her life should be somewhat over the top to begin with. Maybe a biopic of Fred MacMurray would be a toned down but probably boring movie.
I really enjoyed the beautiful Carrol Baker in this film. She did a good job given that it was an extravagant 'Carpetbaggers' type film but it was entertaining. I didn't expect a true life biography.
The same goes for 'Mommie Dearest' which was fun but Joan Crawford's life did have some bizarre twists and qualities to it especially in her later career.
As for the problems with hairstyles and other things not looking like the 1930s, I suspect that an effort to get every detail 'right' as in the 'Changeling' can be a distraction when viewed in the present day. Miss Baker's look, which was 60s rather than 30s gave the audience the sense of what was appealing, perhaps, in the 60s even if not authentic. If they went to great lengths to give her 30s make up and hair styles, Baker might not have appeared as attractive to us in the 60s and we wouldn't have an appreciation of her sexual attraction.
I recently watched it for the 3rd time and the theme music during the opening credits really moved me with its haunting sadness and foreshadowing of what was to come. Miss Baker actually made me care about the character she played even though the movie was a showy extravaganza.
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