The Bad and the Beautiful [VHS] [1952]

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) presents "THE BAD & THE BEAUTIFUL" (1952) - (118 min/B&W) -- Starring: Lana Turner, Kirk Douglas, Walter Pidgeon, Dick Powell, Barry Sullivan, Gloria Grahame, Gilbert Roland & Leo G. Carroll

Directed by Vincente Minnelli

Actress Georgia Lorrison (Lana Turner), director Fred Amiel (Barry Sullivan), and screenwriter James Lee Bartlow (Dick Powell) are invited to a meeting at a Hollywood sound stage at the request of producer Harry Pebbel (Walter Pidgeon). Pebbel is working with studio chief Jonathan Shields (Kirk Douglas), whose studio is in financial trouble and needs a blockbuster hit. If these three names will sign to a new project, Pebbel is convinced that there's no way he can lose.

But there's a problem - all three of these Hollywood heavyweights dislike Shields (intensely). In the past, Shield had dumped Georgia for another woman, double-crossed Fred out of a plum directing assignment, and was responsible for the death of James Lee's wife.

All three are ready to tell Pebbel to forget it, until they hear the voice of Shields, calling from Europe to discuss the project by phone. Outstanding dialogue with an Oscar winning screenplay.

Kirk Douglas as the corrupt and amoral head of a major film studio in this Hollywood drama - often regarded as one of the film's industry's most interesting glimpses at itself ~ Fabulous viewing ... and what a cast!

Oscar Wins for Best Supporting Actress (Gloria Grahame), Best Screenplay, Best B&W Art Direction, Best B&W Cinematography & Best B&W Costume Design.

Oscar Nomination for Best Actor (Kirk Douglas)

* Special footnote: -- This film holds the record for most Academy Awards won by a film not nominated for Best Picture, with five ~ Douglas landed the lead role after Clark Gable had turned it down ~ Sex is mentioned six times throughout the film. While this may not be a big deal today the filmmakers in 1952 had trouble getting the word to make it past the censors.

BIOS:
1. Vincente Minnelli Director)
Date of Birth: 28 February 1903 - Chicago, Illinois
Date of Death: 25 July 1986 - Beverly Hills, California

2. Lana Turner
Date of Birth: 8 February 1921 - Wallace, Idaho
Date of Death: 29 June 1995 - Century City, California

3. Kirk Douglas [aka: Issur Danielovitch Demsky]
Date of Birth: 9 December 1916 - Amsterdam, New York
Date of Death: Unknown

4. Walter Pidgeon
Date of Birth: 23 September 1897 - Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
Date of Death: 25 September 1984 - Santa Monica, California

5. Dick Powell
Date of Birth: 14 November 1904, Mountain View, Arkansas
Date of Death: 2 January 1963, West Los Angeles, California

6. Barry Sullivan
Date of Birthd: 29 August 1912 - New York City, New York
Date of Death: 6 June 1994 - Sherman Oaks, California

7. Gloria Grahame [aka: Gloria Hallward]
Date of Birth: 28 November 1923 - Los Angeles, California
Date of Death: 5 October 1981 - New York City, New York

8. Gilbert Roland (aka: Luis Antonio D'maso de Alonso)
Birth Date: 12/11/1905 - Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico
Died: 5/15/1994 - Beverly Hills, California

9. Leo G. Carroll
Date of Birth: 25 October 1886 - Weedon, England, UK
Date of Death: 16 October 1972 - Hollywood, California

Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 5 Stars
Performance: 5 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 5 Stars
Overall: 5 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]

Total Time: 118 min on DVD ~ Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) ~ (February 5, 2002)

This was better than I expected with even the cameo performances were top notch. Douglas, Turner, Sullivan & Powell all on top form as was the delightful Gloria Grahame.

Minnelli's film is part of a loose collective of films that show a rancerous side to success, particularly in Hollywood- so it fits well next to films like Sunset Boulevard, aspects of Singin in the Rain, Ace in the Hole, In a Lonely Place & The Sweet Smell of Success.

The Bad and the Beautiful boasts some great performances from Kirk Douglas, Lana Turner, Dick Powell & Gloria Grahame. Rumoured to have been influenced by real life events & people (as Sunset Boulevard) , this feels like a fusion of Kenneth Anger's Hollywood Babylon and a stylish melodrama (which Minnelli excelled at with films like Home from the Hill and Lust for Life). It does provide a quite cutting portrait of Hollywood and filmmakers, making it an early attempt at the material that films like 8 1/2, Stardust Memories & The Player would excel at. Of course it feels a little dated, it is fifty years old!

Shame that the sequel from 1962, Two Weeks in Another Town, is unavailable- as I think it's just as good & has influenced the films of Oliver Stone (Natural Born Killers) & Martin Scorsese (King of Comedy). The Bad and the Beautiful is well worth watching & great value at this price; pity they don't make 'em like this anymore!