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The Bad and the Beautiful (1952)
I
took you out of the gutter... I can fling you back!
Directors: Vincente Minnelli, rated Approved
  Starring:
Lana Turner, Kirk Douglas, Walter Pidgeon, Dick Powell, Barry
Sullivan, Gloria Grahame, Gilbert Roland, Leo G. Carroll,
Vanessa Brown, Paul Stewart
DML Rating:
★★★★★★★★☆☆
- great
"Jonathan is more than a
man, he's an experience. And he's habit-forming. If they could
ever bottle him, he'd outsell ginger ale."
- Fred, about
Jonathan Shields
Why watch this?
Douglas and Turner sizzle in this tale of ambition and betrayal.
Plot Summary: Three
prominent Hollywood figures reluctantly reunite at a studio to
discuss a comeback project for a once-successful but deeply
manipulative producer. Through a series of flashbacks, each of
them recalls how their professional and personal lives were both
elevated and ultimately ruined by this ruthless mogul. Their
shared stories reveal the immense personal sacrifices required
for success in the cutthroat entertainment industry.
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Dad's Preview:
I find movies about Hollywood interesting, you know,
reading the criminal's evaluation of himself. This
story, based loosely on famed producer
David O'Selznick and others, spans the life of a man
driven to greatness and more than willing to grind up
anyone in the cogs of his ambition. It's brilliant to
tell the story in three flashbacks, where his past
acquaintances recant their stories. This slick
production showcases both sultry Lana Turner and fiery
Kirk Douglas. The supporting cast is excellent, too. The
film's summation is one of the best noir film endings I
can remember... a reminder that there are sharks and
leeches in Tinseltown's vast ocean, all feeding on each
other. It took home five Oscars. |
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John
Houseman, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; Loew's Inc. |
