* Betty Elms, an aspiring actress, and Rita, an amnesiac who washes up on the Hollywood scene.
They become entangled in a world of deceit, danger, and hidden identities as they try to piece together the truth about Rita's past. The film explores themes of:
* The dark side of Hollywood: Fame, fortune, and ambition lead to corruption and despair.
* Identity and memory: The characters question their own existence and struggle to understand their true selves.
* The power of dreams: The boundary between reality and fantasy is blurred, leaving the audience questioning what is real.
The film is famously open to interpretation, but here's a possible reading:
* Rita is actually Diane Selwyn, a troubled actress whose life is falling apart.
* Betty is a fictional character that Diane creates in her mind.
* The events in the film are a manifestation of Diane's psychological breakdown, leading to her suicide.
The film's ending is ambiguous and open to interpretation, leaving the audience to decide the meaning of the events they witnessed.
While the film is complex and difficult to decipher, its themes of ambition, identity, and the dark underbelly of Hollywood make it a compelling and unforgettable cinematic experience.