The Bad & the Beautiful (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
Kirk Douglas plays the head of a major motion picture studio in 'The Bad & the Beautiful', a Hollywood melodrama directed by Vincente Minnelli. 'TB&tB' is regarded as one of the film industry's most interesting inside looks at ... itself. The film gets going once we're introduced the main players and the plot starts to unfold. Beautiful alcoholic actress Gloria Lorrison (Lana Turner), aspiring director Fred Amiel (Barry Sullivan), & screenwriter James Lee Bartlow (Dick Powell) are invited to a meeting at a Hollywood sound stage at the request of big time movie producer Harry Pebbel (Walter Pidgeon). Pebbel is working with studio chief Jonathan Shields (Douglas), whose studio is in deep financial trouble & is in dire need of a blockbuster hit.
If these 3 major names in the industry will sign to a brand new project, Shields is convinced that there's no way he can lose. Buttttt there's a problem, of course {or else ther'd be no movie}, all 3 of these Hollywood titans LOATHE Jonathan Shields. Why is he so unpopular? Well, let's see. He dumped Gloria Lorrison for another woman, he double-crossed Fred Amiel out of a juicy directing job, & he was responsible for the untimely death of James Lee's wife! All 3 are eager to tell producer Harry Pebbel to just forget it; that is, until they hear Shields' voice, calling from Europe to discuss the new movie project via telephone. Deception ensues.
'The Bad & the Beautiful' is a pretty great movie. Top to bottom, we see, hear, & feel its quality. Vincente Minnelli (known more for his splashy musicals) directed with assuredness. I love his insider look at the good, bad, & ugly that represents Hollywood. We'd like to think that it's all glitz, glamour, millionaires, adoring fans, parties, awards shows, etc. ... but this film says "not always so". Interestingly enough, there's been much debate as to which Hollywood legends this film's characters are supposed to be. Are the Barrymores represented here? A Judy Garland-type? etc. The performances are swell. Kirk Douglas gives one of his best performances as the amoral, corrupt Jonathan Fields. I admire Walter Pidgeon's performance. And both Gloria Grahame & Gilbert Roland impress in smaller roles.
The screenwriting here is aces; with witty dialogues, zingy one-liners, & interesting themes on Hollywood. The editing is smooth. Visually, the film is sumptuous. The black-&-white cinematography is clear, crisp, & beautiful. Everyone & everything looks great. The production design is exceptional. The costumes wow. Even David Raksin's music score is fantastic; slightly surprised it wasn't Oscar-nominated like so many other technical elements were. You know, 'The Bad & the Beautiful' won 5(!) Academy Awards, including Screenplay & Supporting Actress for Gloria Grahame. And after having seen it, I now can see why. This movie is certainly one of the best of 1952, and one of the best about that fascinating place ... Hollywood.
If these 3 major names in the industry will sign to a brand new project, Shields is convinced that there's no way he can lose. Buttttt there's a problem, of course {or else ther'd be no movie}, all 3 of these Hollywood titans LOATHE Jonathan Shields. Why is he so unpopular? Well, let's see. He dumped Gloria Lorrison for another woman, he double-crossed Fred Amiel out of a juicy directing job, & he was responsible for the untimely death of James Lee's wife! All 3 are eager to tell producer Harry Pebbel to just forget it; that is, until they hear Shields' voice, calling from Europe to discuss the new movie project via telephone. Deception ensues.
'The Bad & the Beautiful' is a pretty great movie. Top to bottom, we see, hear, & feel its quality. Vincente Minnelli (known more for his splashy musicals) directed with assuredness. I love his insider look at the good, bad, & ugly that represents Hollywood. We'd like to think that it's all glitz, glamour, millionaires, adoring fans, parties, awards shows, etc. ... but this film says "not always so". Interestingly enough, there's been much debate as to which Hollywood legends this film's characters are supposed to be. Are the Barrymores represented here? A Judy Garland-type? etc. The performances are swell. Kirk Douglas gives one of his best performances as the amoral, corrupt Jonathan Fields. I admire Walter Pidgeon's performance. And both Gloria Grahame & Gilbert Roland impress in smaller roles.
The screenwriting here is aces; with witty dialogues, zingy one-liners, & interesting themes on Hollywood. The editing is smooth. Visually, the film is sumptuous. The black-&-white cinematography is clear, crisp, & beautiful. Everyone & everything looks great. The production design is exceptional. The costumes wow. Even David Raksin's music score is fantastic; slightly surprised it wasn't Oscar-nominated like so many other technical elements were. You know, 'The Bad & the Beautiful' won 5(!) Academy Awards, including Screenplay & Supporting Actress for Gloria Grahame. And after having seen it, I now can see why. This movie is certainly one of the best of 1952, and one of the best about that fascinating place ... Hollywood.