Scandal: The Trial of Mary Astor

When Mary Astor discovered that intimate diary pages had been stolen, her private life became public in a way she never expected. This documentary retraces the scandal around her 1936 child custody trial, showing how personal papers became central evidence and how a Hollywood star wrestled with reputation, motherhood, and law. The film pieces together news clippings, court records, and personal recollections, and it gives voice to relatives and film historians who reflect on the emotional and social fallout, while avoiding plot twists or the trial's final verdict.

Directed by Alexa Foreman and released in 2018, the film is narrated by Lee Grant and features commentary from Molly Haskell, Leonard Maltin, Marylyn Roh, and David Wyler, among others, who frame the episode for contemporary viewers.

The documentary revisits a notorious episode in classic Hollywood, bringing renewed attention to questions of privacy, the press, and how female celebrities were treated by the legal system and public opinion. It also highlights family perspectives, since Mary Astor's daughter participates, adding personal context to historical material.

Audience response has been limited, it holds a 4.4/10 vote average from five votes, which suggests modest viewer enthusiasm. The film emphasizes themes of privacy, celebrity vulnerability, and the gendered scrutiny faced by actresses in the 1930s, and it encourages reflection rather than delivering a sensationalized retelling.

Release and commercial details were modest, with the documentary receiving a limited run and no widely reported box office figures. Its impact has been more archival and conversational, appealing mainly to classic film buffs, legal historians, and viewers curious about how old scandals resonate with present debates about personal records and public life.