The Bad and the Beautiful (1952)

In The Bad and the Beautiful, Kirk Douglas plays a tyrannical, manipulative producer fallen on hard times. To get back on his feet, he asks for help from three Hollywood giants whose careers he helped launch--a director (Barry Sullivan), an actress (Lana Turner), and a writer (Dick Powell). Unfortunately, they all hate him. Flashbacks explain why. Douglas had been close to all three at different points in his career: He and the director started out together making B-movies, he gave the wayward actress her first starring role, he turned the novelist into a successful screenwriter. Then in one way or another he stabbed each of them in the back, though not always deliberately. The script has a lot of backstage clichés, but Vincente Minnelli's sharp, energetic direction, the gorgeous black-and-white cinematography, and the topnotch performances--particularly Douglas and Gloria Grahame, who won an Oscar for her sweet role as the writer's cheerful Southern wife--flesh out the clichés with cutting details and convincing bile. Caustic, starry-eyed, and slyly funny, The Bad and the Beautiful is a strange and skillful blend of "If I can make it here, I can make it anywhere" pluck and poisonous cynicism, one of the great movies about making movies. --Bret Fetzer Amazon.com

All about Jonathan . . .

This enjoyable film from the 1950s tells a melodramatic story of behind-the-scenes movie making at what was then the approaching end of the old studio system in Hollywood. And thanks to a tightly written script and wonderful direction by Vincent Minnelli, its ensemble of actors provides two hours of entertainment that seldom seems dated or over-baked - at least it's pretty easy to suspend your disbelief.

Kirk Douglas and Lana Turner are just fine as a self-serving movie producer and a would-be star with low self-esteem and a drinking problem. Though it pales by comparison with "All About Eve," the film has similar aspirations, providing a character study of someone who betrays the trust of others, told in flashback from the point of view of those betrayed. The TCM documentary of Lana Turner, made in 2001, makes an interesting companion on this DVD, as it tells a real-life story of a Hollywood star from this same period, with a turbulent personal life and a career that rose, fell, and rose again despite the odds - as much soap opera as any film she ever appeared in. June 1, 2008

Hollywoods Facade

The true skin of Hollywood studio system is finally shows itself through Vincente Minnelli's crime/Noir; The bad and the beautiful. Slightly hits the simular angle to Billy Wilders acclaimed Sunset Boulevard which was released 1950, three years prior to The bad and the beautiful.

However Minnelli offers us an inside narrative from three characters who each play a major part in the film industry, Actress, Director and writer who all have been betrayed by the callous Hollywood mogul, Jonathan Shields. Douglas obviously knew his part, and portrayed it well, along with the support of a great supporting cast.

Like Sunset Boulevard the film did receive mixed reviews, not to mention the reaction of such audiences like Louis B Mayer.
I highly recommend this to anyone who appreciates classics or has always been interested on the history of Hollywoods studio system of the golden era.
May 5, 2008

The Hollywood Version of Hollywood

The film begins with a rehearsal in a movie factory. Then a telephone call tries to reach some people but they won't accept the call. Jonathan wants to make a new picture with these people. Then there are flashbacks to the past life in Hollywood. Jonathan Shields began working in Hollywood; his father left him little. He has an idea for a horror film to suggest fear with minimal effects and costs. It works. Then they take on a script that the other studios rejected. We see how his friend is wounded and disappointed when a more experienced director is chosen. The daughter of a famous actor tries out for a bigger role. Does she have a problem? Will Jonathan take care of it? The scenes show the repetition that goes into creating a movie. The big budget film is a big hit that repays the investors. [They don't discuss the financial backing in this business.]

Georgia goes to see Jonathan and gets a surprise! She takes it hard, and leaves for another studio. Then we see how a college professor goes to Hollywood to work in pictures. His wife acclimatizes to Hollywood life. The professor finds it tough working there (a different atmosphere?). Jonathan knows how to make Bartlow productive. But there is a plane accident. Jonathan tries his hand at directing; the result is not good. [A lack of checks and balances.] Bartlow learns something that makes him into an enemy. At the end they make a decision - but maybe not.

Jonathan is a good manager: he selects people by their talent rather than by friendship. Some are hurt by this. When he departs from this rule (by directing a movie) he has a disaster. Hollywood was in turmoil in the early 1950s. The number of theatres and ticket buyers was declining. People were fascinated with television in their homes. The political conflicts purged some people (a part of declining business?). Yet television would provide more entertainment to viewers per week than Hollywood ever could. The film touches lightly on drinking, gambling, drugs, love affairs or subjects that made scandal newspapers more popular, then or now.

Does the pressure of working long days for most of the week contribute to the drinking, drugs, and sexual affairs of Hollywood actors? Or is it the very nature of pretending to be something you're not that affects the psychology of actors? Fans of Hollywood history might appreciate a producer who takes off his shoes in his office. [A sign of power?] Casting Gloria Grahame as the wife of a writer was inspired. A Hollywood producer exercises over-all control and handles the many problems that arise in the making of a movie.
February 20, 2008

WHERE ARE YOU, JONATHAN?

Maddening story of a no scruples Hollywood producer,using everyone for his own benefit. While most see this film as an indictment of the film industry, I tend to liken it to big business on a grander scale, or to Washington politics. Anyway, there's so much gall and charm built into Douglas' personna that even those he's hurt the most seem willing to give his final "pitch" over a long distance phone call a listen. Gloria Grahame won an Oscar for her portrayal as Dick Powell's sexy wife, and don't overlook Pidgeon's role in keeping the various egos of the cast somewhat under control. Flashbacks are used effectively, and Minnelli's direction is excellent. Yet, this film seems to be getting less attention yearly, probably due to black and white photography. Too bad, because this is a "hidden classic". Go find a copy! October 20, 2007

Great Cast!

With a cast like this and directed by Vincent Minelli, it would be impossible for this movie not to be good. Kirk Douglas plays a down and out producer in a trilogy of three short stories that come together. He makes a star out of a down on her luck Lana Turner, a Pulitzer Prize winning author out of Dick Powell, and an award winning director out of Barry Sullivan. Lana Turner has never been more appealing, nor has Dick Powell ever been more sardonic. Kirk Douglas always somewhat tends to overact, but he's wonderful here. Perfect strong leading man. Great supporting cast with Gilbert Roland, Water Pigeon, and Gloria Grahame. If you're a big fan of classic black and white movies, this will not disappoint you. It's hard to believe it's been over fifty years since this movie was made, but it isn't dated at all. August 3, 2007

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