Review of The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) by Bill B — 19 Mar 2010

Director Fred Amiel (carroll), actress Georgia Lorrison (turner), and writer James Bartlow (powell) are called into the office of producer Harry Pebbel (pidgeon). Here, Pebbel tries to persuade them to do him a huge favor ... to make a movie with a man named Jonathan Shields (douglas). Just the sound of his name make the three of them cringe.

The movie is told in a series of flashbacks. In the first flashback, we see Shields attending his father's funeral. Here he meets Fred Amiel (carroll), an inspiring director who currently plays bit parts in order to eat. Together, they form a friendship and start climbing the top into making movies. When one of their B movies pays off, Amiel shows Shields a script he's been working on, his "dream" to direct. Shields as the producer makes the deal possible. However, in the negotiations, Ameil is left not directing nor getting any credit. Thus being tossed aside by Shields.

And here sets the tone of the movie. The other flashbacks are within the same vein (the one with Lana Turner is especially touching) ... Shields uses and destroys people in order to advance himself. Sure, tinseltown is a fickle business, and Shields has no problem burning the bridges as he crosses them. However when Shields ruins himself by being over conceited, will his one time friends come to his help?

There's no denying the star power here. Kirk Douglas and Lana Turner shine. It's good entertainment. I would recommend this movie to anyone!