The Bad and the Beautiful (1952)
I don’t usually like movies that are told in flashbacks, but The Bad and the Beautiful is an exception. The start of the movie shows Lana Turner, Dick Powell, and Barry Sullivan, all successful in their Hollywood careers, refusing to take a call or speak to the character of Jonathan Shields. Walter Pidgeon summons all three to his office and one by one, we learn how each met, knew, and was influenced by Jonathan Shields—and of course, why they want nothing more to do with him.
Jonathan Shields is played by Kirk Douglas, in an Oscar-nominated, fantastic performance. He wasn’t nominated for the previous year’s Ace in the Hole, and in one of the Academy’s infamous travesties, the award for Best Actor of 1952 went to Gary Cooper for High Noon. If you haven’t seen either movie, you don’t know how ridiculous that is, but I urge you to rent both on a weekend and watch them back-to-back. Then feel free to lose a little respect for the Oscars.
The cinematography, costumes, and screenplay were awarded that season, as was Gloria Grahame’s mediocre performance. This was the first Kirk Douglas movie I saw, and it’s one of his best. He’s so charming and attentive to everyone’s needs, but in the blink of an eye he can turn into a different, cruel person. I remember as a teenager, his chameleon persona was both frightening and terribly attractive. Each time I watch this movie, I’m reminded of why I’m a Kirk Douglas fan. If you’ve only seen him in Ulysses or Spartacus, you need to rent this one. No one makes bad look as good as Kirk Douglas—even the title of this movie agrees with me!
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "Classic Movies Kristine Rose" for posting!
More Kirk Douglas movies here!
Jonathan Shields is played by Kirk Douglas, in an Oscar-nominated, fantastic performance. He wasn’t nominated for the previous year’s Ace in the Hole, and in one of the Academy’s infamous travesties, the award for Best Actor of 1952 went to Gary Cooper for High Noon. If you haven’t seen either movie, you don’t know how ridiculous that is, but I urge you to rent both on a weekend and watch them back-to-back. Then feel free to lose a little respect for the Oscars.
The cinematography, costumes, and screenplay were awarded that season, as was Gloria Grahame’s mediocre performance. This was the first Kirk Douglas movie I saw, and it’s one of his best. He’s so charming and attentive to everyone’s needs, but in the blink of an eye he can turn into a different, cruel person. I remember as a teenager, his chameleon persona was both frightening and terribly attractive. Each time I watch this movie, I’m reminded of why I’m a Kirk Douglas fan. If you’ve only seen him in Ulysses or Spartacus, you need to rent this one. No one makes bad look as good as Kirk Douglas—even the title of this movie agrees with me!
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "Classic Movies Kristine Rose" for posting!
More Kirk Douglas movies here!
Hot Toasty Rag Nominations:
Best Actor of 1952: Kirk Douglas
Best Screenplay
Best Musical Score: David Raksin