'Hail, Caesar!,' a Humorous Reminiscence of Hollywood of Old From the Coens&Co.

By V.W.

It was the best of the times. It was the worst of times.

It was the Golden Age of Hollywood. Movie studios were all-powerful, deciding when and what actors appeared in what films.

An era when studio chieftains loaned out actors in their stables to rival studios with little regard for other realities and often with petty motives.

The studio was the parent; the actors were the children. The bosses protected their stars, cosseted them. And punished them if they became too recalcitrant.

It is a comedic treatment of this bygone era that is captured in "Hail, Caesar!," a frothy little souffle from Joel and Ethan Coen.

Sporting an A- and B+-list cast, including George Clooney, Scarlett Johansson, Hilda Swinton and Channing Tatum, "Hail, Caesar!" opens today in U. S. theaters.

A fuller review will be published shortly.

"Hail, Caesar!" is rated PG-13 for some suggestive content and smoking; visit http://www.hailcaesarmovie.com/ to learn more about the film.