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Rating: 4 out of 5
We all had that one person that made us feel like absolute crap. Where we thought they had our back only to stab it and even twist the blade. Some people’s reaction is to wallow in self-pity while others go BEAST mode and make something of themselves, proving the person wrong. Hollywood is known for this type of sugar honey iced tea. Might have that agent that says you need to do that or this only to be wrong. There might be a director who says that you are the star, only for you to realize that you are background material. How about the writers? You think you will write the world’s next best thing only to find out that you have been replaced and someone else is doing the writing? Hollywood is filled with egos and backstabbing. Hey, in the world of Harvey Weinstein, there are bound to be even crazier stories of producers, directors, actors, and who knows what.
Yet, 1952 ‘s The Bad and The Beautiful seems to be that one film that shows Hollywood in an old-school way. The Bad and the Beautiful centers on one man, Jonathan Shields (Douglas), and three people’s perceptions about him. Movie producer Harry Pebbel (Pidgeon) gathers film director Fred Amiel (Sullivan), movie star Georgia Lorrison (Turner), and screenwriter James Lee Bartlow (Powell) into his office to discuss a movie that Shields is producing. Each of them is at the top of their respective professions, and each has some MAJOR DRAMA with Shields, who they feel had ruined their lives and careers. Jonathan is the son of a now-deceased and hated studio head, whose own son had to pay actors to feel sorry for his dad. Jonathan worked his way up the movie business even though his father didn’t believe in him. Harry has called the three in his office to hear a pitch from Jonathan about his new film. Even though he understands each of their feelings, he brings them to plead on Jonathan’s behalf and hear him out about a new movie he is working on. Each of them soon tells their story on why they refuse to work with Jonathan. Do each of them have a legitimate reason for their disdain, or will they decide to work with the filmmaker again.
While watching this film, I want to say that I felt like it is still true today. The story that each person tells can be told today. This movie could be remade and use real people’s lives and still be as eye-opening as today. I like this film because each person has a different aspect in the movie industry. I think this is why the movie works so well. We have a director, actress, and screenwriter having different stories but have the same common enemy in their mind.
The first story is about Sheilds’ partner and aspiring director, Amiel. The two work together making B movies. They eventually get a few hits. They make some horror movie that apparently is great. Shields pitches an idea and gets a cool million dollars for a budget to produce a film. Yet, Shields betrays Amiel by allowing someone with an established reputation to direct. Hurt and not wanting to work with Shields again, Amiel becomes a two-time Oscar-winning director.
The second story deals with the beautiful but alcoholic small-time actress Lorrison. Lorrison is the daughter of a famous actor, and she has a freakin shrine dedicated to him. Shields takes Lorrison under his wing and makes her a star while also posing as loving her. She comes after a party and he with some other floozy. Also, the BEST scene during this part was when homegirl was WASTED, and he came along, picked her up, and dropped her ass in the pool. In the end, homegirl becomes a MAJOR star and gets out of her studio contract.
The final story is the one I think is the most fucked up out of all of them. Yes, betrayal was high, but damn, dude went to the ultimate limit with the final one. Bartlow is a professor at a small college who has written a bestselling book. His path crosses Shields when he purchases the film rights. Shields wants homeboy to write the script, but he is not interested until his very shallow wife, Rosemary, wants to move to Hollywood. With all the distractions from his wife, Shields has his friend Victor “Gaucho” Ribera to occupy her. Somehow these fools fall in love and die in a plane crash. While distraught, Shields reveals what happens, and Bartlow gives the deuces. In turn, Shields writes a novel that wins a Pulitzer Prize.
With all these stories, the question that should be asked is if a person really ruins one life, or was it the motivation to go above and beyond and realize their potential. Each story had Shields to blame, only for them to go BIG time and do the damn thing. Once again, that is why the movie works so well. See the “disrespect” in Hollywood only for people to realize they are far better.
Everyone did their job well to make this movie go as far as the acting goes. Kirk Douglas as Jonathan Shields was the star and what moved this movie forward. I would say I didn’t like Shields because he was a backstabbing fool who did everything to get what he wanted. Yet, Douglas was outstanding and believable in his role. Lana Turner as Georgia Lorrison was a beautiful touch as she was the only woman. It cracks me up seeing Lana Turner show up because I just watched L.A. Confidential, and the scene depicting her is funny, but that is for another review. Turner is beautiful, and she does her job of showing Lorrison, a drunk who turns her life around.
Barry Sullivan as Fred Amiel was okay. He wasn’t memorable as his story was the start, and you somewhat forget about him as time goes on. The same could be said about Dick Powell as James Lee Bartlow. Now I want to take a second and ask, how in the hell did Gloria Grahame as Rosemary Bartlow win? She was only in the movie for 9 minutes and 32 seconds. Now she was shallow as Rosemary, and I loved her southern accent but damn. This was the shortest time on screen to win, and someone, later on, was on-screen shorter and won. I need to show up and say, “What’s Good,” and maybe I can win.
The Bad and the Beautiful is one of those films that, if you live or even work in Hollywood, you could probably name a few people who fit the respective roles. The film is outstanding as it makes you think if one person can give you the motivation to achieve something better. Douglas, Turner, and the rest of the cast are decent and make the film work. Watch this film with other films about Hollywood like Once Upon A Time in Hollywood and Get Shorty.
