Screen Test: Amy Taubin

In a series of vintage screentests, we see young, anonymous girls posing and hoping for a role in a film. A couple of typical poses, a battle with the strangeness of the situation, the clumsiness of the cameraman - the compilers from the Archivio Nazionale del Film di Famiglia preserved all imperfections with love.

Famed movie director Paul Robaix breaks with tradition by not casting his actress-comedienne wife, Lucy Dell, in his latest film production, a version of Madame Butterfly. Undaunted, the resourceful Lucy wings her way to Tokyo and, masquerading as a Japanese geisha, lands the coveted role from her unsuspecting husband! But in front of the cameras (and behind the pancake makeup), Lucy faces greater challenges: her lecherous leading man - and a husband who is beginning to realize that his talented new "discovery" seems vaguely familiar...

Even big stars need to stand in front of the director and audition for their roles, and some of the best screen tests are from the early years of legends. See some of Hollywood's top names and greatest talents in their very first appearances on celluloid. From Dustin Hoffman's 1966 stock and personality tests to Raquel Welch and James Coburn cavorting for Our Man Flint, from The Three Stooges to Rock Hudson, see stars trying to get on film.

After a mix-up with his application photograph, an aspiring actor is invited to a screen test and goes off to Hollywood.

An aspiring Jewish actor moves out of his parents' Brooklyn apartment to seek his fortune in the bohemian life of Greenwich Village in 1953.

Penthouse Pet Michelle Bauer jumped from the pages of early-'80s men's mags to the wild celluloid of mid-'80s horror flicks. This gal works all the time and has played everything from hookers to holy women.

Actress Margaret Elliot is well past her prime but refuses to retire from the acting business. Despite entreaties from both her daughter, Gretchen, and one-time professional colleague Jim Johannsen, Margaret remains convinced that she can regain her former glory. As she sets her sights on a coveted Hollywood role, Johannsen tries doggedly to get his unrequited love to see the folly of her ways.

When Hollywood film studios reject her because she's too young, an Arkansas woman sets out to build a career as an actress on her own.

Everyone's worst travel nightmare - being stuck next to an obnoxious dork on a flight where there are no spare seats.

This is the screen test video trailer version of Fred Dekker 1995 script for the live action version of Jonny Quest. The script takes place in Hong Kong 1964 where a top commander Race gets recruited to Dr Quest as his bodyguard. He also befriends the doctor's son Jonny who is more adventurous than some might know but also distanced from his father. Together they are headed for the lost city in the jungle where they will prevent a Chinese doctor from taking the magic power of the gods.

Andy directs Lou Reed drinking a Coke.