'' Opening Night '' ( 1977 ) Rowlands plays the lead alongside Cassavetes and the film also stars Gazzara and Joan Blondell . Rowlands portrays an aging film star named Myrtle Gordon working in the theater and suffering a personal crisis . Alone and unloved by her colleagues , in fear of aging and always removed from others due to her stardom , she succumbs to alcohol and hallucinations after witnessing the accidental death of a young fan . Ultimately , Gordon fights through it all delivering the performance of her life in a play . Rowlands won the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the 28th Berlin International Film Festival for her performance
28th Berlin International Film Festival
28th Berlin International Film Festival
John Cassavetes