The Seventh Veil of Salome

Moreno-Garcia (Silver Nitrate) returns to the world of moviemaking for this layered if schematic story of a Mexico City receptionist whose exotic looks land her the lead role in the eponymous 1950s Hollywood epic. Vera Larios has no professional acting experience, which infuriates costar Nancy Hartley, who was certain the role was hers and that it would have been her big break. While Nancy schemes to knock Vera out of the picture, Moreno-Garcia unfurls a parallel story line in which the biblical Salome navigates power struggles in her uncle Herod’s court through stratagems not unlike those wielded by Vera and Nancy. Moreno-Garcia shines a light on the racial and gender politics of postwar Hollywood and intertwines her tale with enough real history to please Tinseltown obsessives, though her stock characters are straight out of central casting: in addition to the vulnerable ingenue and bitter bit player, there are a vain male lead, martinet director, and harried screenwriter. This isn’t the author’s best. Agent: Eddie Schneider, JABberwocky Literary. (Aug.)