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DramaRomance

The Bad and the Beautiful

- I took you out of the gutter... I can fling you back!

Told in flashback form, the film traces the rise and fall of a tough, ambitious Hollywood producer, Jonathan Shields, as seen through the eyes of various acquaintances, including a writer, James Lee Bartlow; a star, Georgia Lorrison; and a director, Fred Amiel. He is a hard-driving, ambitious man who ruthlessly uses everyone on the way to becoming one of Hollywood's top movie makers.

Release Date : 1952-12-25

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles : Memorial to a Bad ManTribute to a Badman

Cast

Lana Turner

Character Name : Georgia Lorrison

Original Name : Lana Turner

Gender : Female

Kirk Douglas

Character Name : Jonathan Shields

Original Name : Kirk Douglas

Gender : Male

Walter Pidgeon

Character Name : Harry Pebbel

Original Name : Walter Pidgeon

Gender : Male

Dick Powell

Character Name : James Lee Bartlow

Original Name : Dick Powell

Gender : Male

Barry Sullivan

Character Name : Fred Amiel

Original Name : Barry Sullivan

Gender : Male

Gloria Grahame

Character Name : Rosemary Bartlow

Original Name : Gloria Grahame

Gender : Female

Leo G. Carroll

Character Name : Henry Whitfield

Original Name : Leo G. Carroll

Gender : Male

Gilbert Roland

Character Name : Victor "Gaucho" Ribera

Original Name : Gilbert Roland

Gender : Male

Paul Stewart

Character Name : Syd Murphy

Original Name : Paul Stewart

Gender : Male

Vanessa Brown

Character Name : Kay Amiel

Original Name : Vanessa Brown

Gender : Female

Elaine Stewart

Character Name : Lila

Original Name : Elaine Stewart

Gender : Female

Sammy White

Character Name : Gus

Original Name : Sammy White

Gender : Male

Ivan Triesault

Character Name : Von Ellstein

Original Name : Ivan Triesault

Gender : Male

Lucy Knoch

Character Name : Blonde Dancing with Gaucho (uncredited)

Original Name : Lucy Knoch

Gender : Male

Jay Adler

Character Name : Mr. Z (uncredited)

Original Name : Jay Adler

Gender : Male

Stanley Andrews

Character Name : Sheriff (uncredited)

Original Name : Stanley Andrews

Gender : Male

Del Armstrong

Character Name : Georgia's Makeup Artist (uncredited)

Original Name : Del Armstrong

Gender : Male

Ben Astar

Character Name : Joe (Party Guest) (uncredited)

Original Name : Ben Astar

Gender : Male

Barbara Billingsley

Character Name : Evelyn Lucien (Costumer) (uncredited)

Original Name : Barbara Billingsley

Gender : Female

John Bishop

Character Name : Ferraday (uncredited)

Original Name : John Bishop

Gender : Male

Madge Blake

Character Name : Mrs. Rosser (uncredited)

Original Name : Madge Blake

Gender : Female

Marshall Bradford

Character Name : Man Outside the Club (uncredited)

Original Name : Marshall Bradford

Gender : Male

Paul Bradley

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Paul Bradley

Gender : Male

Hadda Brooks

Character Name : Piano Player (uncredited)

Original Name : Hadda Brooks

Gender : Female

Ralph Brooks

Character Name : Mourner (uncredited)

Original Name : Ralph Brooks

Gender : Male

Robert Burton

Character Name : McDill (uncredited)

Original Name : Robert Burton

Gender : Male

Francis X. Bushman

Character Name : Eulogist (uncredited)

Original Name : Francis X. Bushman

Gender : Male

Louis Calhern

Character Name : Georgia Lorrison's Father (voice) (uncredited)

Original Name : Louis Calhern

Gender : Male

Marietta Canty

Character Name : Ida (uncredited)

Original Name : Marietta Canty

Gender : Female

Robert Carson

Character Name : Casting Director (uncredited)

Original Name : Robert Carson

Gender : Male

Beulah Christian

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Beulah Christian

Gender : Male

Janet Comerford

Character Name : Bobby-Soxer (uncredited)

Original Name : Janet Comerford

Gender : Male

James Conaty

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : James Conaty

Gender : Male

Jonathan Cott

Character Name : Assistant Director (uncredited)

Original Name : Jonathan Cott

Gender : Male

Lillian Culver

Character Name : Real Estate Woman (uncredited)

Original Name : Lillian Culver

Gender : Female

Alexis Davidoff

Character Name : Priest (uncredited)

Original Name : Alexis Davidoff

Gender : Male

Bob Davis

Character Name : Assistant (uncredited)

Original Name : Bob Davis

Gender : Male

Sandy Descher

Character Name : Little Girl Screaming on "Cat Man" Set (uncredited)

Original Name : Sandy Descher

Gender : Female

Helen Dickson

Character Name : Symposium Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Helen Dickson

Gender : Female

Phil Dunham

Character Name : Pawnbroker (uncredited)

Original Name : Phil Dunham

Gender : Male

Steve Dunhill

Character Name : Cameraman (uncredited)

Original Name : Steve Dunhill

Gender : Male

Franklyn Farnum

Character Name : Assistant on Set (uncredited)

Original Name : Franklyn Farnum

Gender : Male

James Farrar

Character Name : Publicity Man (uncredited)

Original Name : James Farrar

Gender : Male

Bess Flowers

Character Name : Joe's Friend at Party (uncredited)

Original Name : Bess Flowers

Gender : Female

Charles Fogel

Character Name : Poker Player (uncredited)

Original Name : Charles Fogel

Gender : Male

George Ford

Character Name : Club Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : George Ford

Gender : Male

Steve Forrest

Character Name : Actor in Georgia's Screen Test (uncredited)

Original Name : Steve Forrest

Gender : Male

Kathleen Freeman

Character Name : Miss March (uncredited)

Original Name : Kathleen Freeman

Gender : Female

Rudy Germane

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Rudy Germane

Gender : Male

Frank Gerstle

Character Name : Gabby Agent at the Party (uncredited)

Original Name : Frank Gerstle

Gender : Male

Joe Gilbert

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Joe Gilbert

Gender : Male

Ned Glass

Character Name : Wardrobe Man (uncredited)

Original Name : Ned Glass

Gender : Male

James Gonzalez

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : James Gonzalez

Gender : Male

Phyllis Graffeo

Character Name : Leading Lady (uncredited)

Original Name : Phyllis Graffeo

Gender : Male

Herschel Graham

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Herschel Graham

Gender : Male

A. Cameron Grant

Character Name : Assistant Director (uncredited)

Original Name : A. Cameron Grant

Gender : Male

Marion Gray

Character Name : Symposium Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Marion Gray

Gender : Female

William E. Green

Character Name : Hugo Shields (uncredited)

Original Name : William E. Green

Gender : Male

Dabbs Greer

Character Name : Studio Lighting Technician (uncredited)

Original Name : Dabbs Greer

Gender : Male

Robert Haines

Character Name : Mourner (uncredited)

Original Name : Robert Haines

Gender : Male

Sam Harris

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Sam Harris

Gender : Male

Dick Johnstone

Character Name : Mourner (uncredited)

Original Name : Dick Johnstone

Gender : Male

Ted Jordan

Character Name : Assistant Director (uncredited)

Original Name : Ted Jordan

Gender : Male

Joseph Keane

Character Name : Assistant Director (uncredited)

Original Name : Joseph Keane

Gender : Male

Kenner G. Kemp

Character Name : Mourner (uncredited)

Original Name : Kenner G. Kemp

Gender : Male

Peggy King

Character Name : Singer at Party (uncredited)

Original Name : Peggy King

Gender : Female

Mike Lally

Character Name : Preview Ticket Taker (uncredited)

Original Name : Mike Lally

Gender : Male

Louise Lane

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Louise Lane

Gender : Male

George J. Lewis

Character Name : "Far Away Mountain" Test Actor #2 (uncredited)

Original Name : George J. Lewis

Gender : Male

Wilbur Mack

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Wilbur Mack

Gender : Male

Paul Marion

Character Name : Spanish Actor in Screen Test (uncredited)

Original Name : Paul Marion

Gender : Male

Paul Maxey

Character Name : Man Talking to Gabby Agent at the Party (uncredited)

Original Name : Paul Maxey

Gender : Male

May McAvoy

Character Name : Pebbel's Secretary (uncredited)

Original Name : May McAvoy

Gender : Female

Harold Miller

Character Name : Mourner (uncredited)

Original Name : Harold Miller

Gender : Male

Hans Moebus

Character Name : Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Hans Moebus

Gender : Male

Patrick J. Molyneaux

Character Name : Studio Electrician (uncredited)

Original Name : Patrick J. Molyneaux

Gender : Male

Roger Moore

Character Name : Cigar Clerk (uncredited)

Original Name : Roger Moore

Gender : Male

Ellanora Needles

Character Name : Reporter (uncredited)

Original Name : Ellanora Needles

Gender : Female

Richard Norris

Character Name : Leading Man (uncredited)

Original Name : Richard Norris

Gender : Male

William H. O'Brien

Character Name : Waiter at Party (uncredited)

Original Name : William H. O'Brien

Gender : Male

Pat O'Malley

Character Name : Man Outside the Club (uncredited)

Original Name : Pat O'Malley

Gender : Male

Christopher Olsen

Character Name : Amiel's Boy (uncredited)

Original Name : Christopher Olsen

Gender : Male

Dorothy Patrick

Character Name : Arlene (uncredited)

Original Name : Dorothy Patrick

Gender : Female

William Phillips

Character Name : Assistant Director (uncredited)

Original Name : William Phillips

Gender : Male

Murray Pollack

Character Name : Theatre Worker (uncredited)

Original Name : Murray Pollack

Gender : Male

Paul Power

Character Name : Theatre Manager (uncredited)

Original Name : Paul Power

Gender : Male

Kathy Qualen

Character Name : Bobby-Soxer (uncredited)

Original Name : Kathy Qualen

Gender : Male

Anthony Redondo

Character Name : Crew Member (uncredited)

Original Name : Anthony Redondo

Gender : Male

Jeff Richards

Character Name : Studio Props Department Man (uncredited)

Original Name : Jeff Richards

Gender : Male

Loretta Russell

Character Name : Symposium Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Loretta Russell

Gender : Male

Jeffrey Sayre

Character Name : Waiter (uncredited)

Original Name : Jeffrey Sayre

Gender : Male

Frank J. Scannell

Character Name : Reporter (uncredited)

Original Name : Frank J. Scannell

Gender : Male

Perry Sheehan

Character Name : Pebbel's Secretary (uncredited)

Original Name : Perry Sheehan

Gender : Female

George Sherwood

Character Name : Cameraman (uncredited)

Original Name : George Sherwood

Gender : Male

Reginald Simpson

Character Name : Poker Player (uncredited)

Original Name : Reginald Simpson

Gender : Male

Mabel Smaney

Character Name : Heavy Woman (uncredited)

Original Name : Mabel Smaney

Gender : Female

Norman Stevans

Character Name : Theatre Worker (uncredited)

Original Name : Norman Stevans

Gender : Male

William Tannen

Character Name : Reporter (uncredited)

Original Name : William Tannen

Gender : Male

Dee Turnell

Character Name : Linda Ronley (uncredited)

Original Name : Dee Turnell

Gender : Male

Harry Tyler

Character Name : Man (uncredited)

Original Name : Harry Tyler

Gender : Male

Kaaren Verne

Character Name : Rosa (uncredited)

Original Name : Kaaren Verne

Gender : Female

Ray Walker

Character Name : Cameraman (uncredited)

Original Name : Ray Walker

Gender : Male

Harte Wayne

Character Name : Judge (uncredited)

Original Name : Harte Wayne

Gender : Male

Lawrence A. Williams

Character Name : Poker Player (uncredited)

Original Name : Lawrence A. Williams

Gender : Male

Eric Wilton

Character Name : Butler (uncredited)

Original Name : Eric Wilton

Gender : Male

Wilson Wood

Character Name : Man on Movie Set (uncredited)

Original Name : Wilson Wood

Gender : Male

Douglas Yorke

Character Name : Leading Man (uncredited)

Original Name : Douglas Yorke

Gender : Male

Helen Young

Character Name : Georgia's Hair Stylist (uncredited)

Original Name : Helen Young

Gender : Male

Reviews

T

tmdb28039023

@tmdb28039023

2022-09-03

The Bad and the Beautiful is sort of like Old Hollywood’s Rashomon. Three characters appear before a fourth to tell a story about a fifth; the three stories are different but interrelated, and the moral of each is the same: studio chief Jonathan Shields (Kirk Douglas) is a major a--hole and to know him is to hate him. Each tale is bookended by film producer Harry Pebbel (Walter Pidgeon) sarcastically condoling with the teller, pitying them for their blindness to the fact that Shields was a blessing in disguise. Without him, movie star Georgia Lorrison (Lana Turner) was "a drunk and a tramp playing bit parts, and he made a star of you ... For the last seven years, you've been in the top 10 in every popularity poll. Yes, Jonathan sure fouled you up." Screenwriter-turned-novelist James Lee Bartlow (Dick Powell) is told "Jonathan sure destroyed you. You came out of it with nothing. Nothing but a Pulitzer Prize novel and the highest salary of any writer in Hollywood." As for director Fred Amiel (Barry Sullivan), "[Shields] brushed you off his coattail, so you had to stand alone. And all you've got in the world is a wife, six kids, two Academy Awards and every stu-dio in town after you. Why, Jonathan ruined you!". In all three cases, however, especially the third, it would seem as if the complainer got to where they are now despite, rather than because of, Shields. Georgia and Bartlow he does help reach the summits of their respective trades — though it is worth noting that both were satisfied with their lots in life and had no interest in climbing to such heights in the first place —, which of course didn’t give him the right to crap all over their personal lives. And Amiel he screwed over on a profes-sional basis; used him and then kicked him to the curb. As it turns out, Pebbel’s intended irony is only half-true; Shields did foul Georgia up, destroyed Bartlow, and ruined Amiel one way or another. That they pulled themselves up by their boots traps and continued to be successful is more a testament to their determination than to Shields’s alleged Midas touch. To be sure, the film skimps a litte too much on Shields’s hubris. Yes, he naively assumes he can direct a movie himself and ends up bankrupting Shields Productions, but it is implied that he only failed because, for once, he wasn’t a bastard-coated bastard with bastard filling ("Jonathan the director was a new Jonathan. He was patience personified. He was tolerant, even-tempered, considerate and indulgent to his crew, his cast and his writer"). Moreover, Shields saves himself from well-deserved public scorn by shelving the movie instead of releasing it. Finally, even though it’s made clear that Shields needs Georgia, Bartlow, and Amiel more than they need him — as well as suggested that they might agree to work with him again, in spite of having every reason not to —, there’s no indication that Shields has changed for good. Right before biting off more than he can chew, Shields is given great advice: "To direct a picture, a man needs humility. Do you have humility, Mr. Shields?". Having his crony Pebbel rub it in people’s faces all Shields supposedly did for them while downplaying how he hurt them doesn’t go a long way to answer that question in the affirmative. All things considered, The Bad and the Beautiful is not unlike the film Shields drove to the ground;"beautifully" written, produced, photographed, etc., etc., but unsure of what it is that it wants to say about its subject matter. P.S. A decade later Godard made Le Mépris, wherein he practiced what he preached (in order to cri-ticize a movie, you have to make another movie); Jack Palance’s producer’s contentious relations-hips with his scriptwriter and director (legendary Austrian-American filmmaker Fritz Lang as himself; The Bad and the Beautiful includes a character possibly modeled after Erich von Stroheim and Josef von Sternberg, no less legendary or Austrian-American than Lang) parallels those of Shields’s; furthermore, Palance — dressed to the nines and hair carefully slicked back — looks to have styled himself after Douglas. The difference is that Le Mépris made no pretense that its antagonistic film producer was ever any-thing other than a Jerk with a Heart of Jerk , as opposed to The Bad and the Beautiful’s Wolf in Sheep's Clothing.

C

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2023-03-28

It all starts with poor old Walter Pidgeon ("Harry") assembling "Georgia" (Lana Turner), "Fred" (Barry Sullivan) and "Bartlow" (Dick Powell) in his office so he can persuade then to write, direct and star in one last picture for their nemesis "Jonathan Shields" (Kirk Douglas). They loathe him - with a passion, and "Harry" knows he has his work cut out if he is convince them. His preferred method is to remind each of them, whilst introducing us to their characters and stories, of how they alighted on the visionary, enigmatic and profoundly selfish "Shields", and of how his selfishness and determination helped each of them to achieve success. Vincente Minnelli has assembled a strong cast to deliver really well on Charles Schnee's screenplay. The flashbacks deliver just about everything from betrayal, duplicity, passion - pretty much the whole gamut of human emotions and frailties as we gradually build a picture of a man about whom nothing is simple - and about whom it is possible to admire and detest in equal measure. By reminding them of just how they got to where they are now, "Harry" - who was put through the wringer a bit too by his boss - hopes to convince them to step up for one last hurrah! Can he? Should he? Should they? There is a really strong supporting cast here - including an effective Gilbert Roland ("Gaucho") and the briefest of appearances from Gloria Grahame as ("Rosemary"). Douglas is on super form - he conveys the ambitiousness and odiousness of the producer character effortlessly and at the same time gives us quite a vision of just how transitory and cut-throat Hollywood was. Turner, likewise, is on super form as the gal who will do what ever it takes to succeed - within reason - then when she starts to wear the real fur coats, then... What helps this stand out is the writing - it has a plausibility to it. You can readily imagine these scenarios being true (albeit gilded, somewhat) and it makes for two hours of cinema that simply flies by. Big screen if you can - it's well worth it.