Born to Be Bad

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Born to Be Bad

Released Jul 15, 1950

1h 34m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

71%

Tomatometer

7 Reviews

58%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

Christabel Caine (Joan Fontaine) has the face of angel and the heart of a swamp rat. She'll step on anyone to get what she wants, including her own family. A master of manipulation, she covertly breaks off the engagement of her trusting cousin, Donna (Joan Leslie), to her fabulously wealthy beau, Curtis Carey (Zachary Scott). Once married to Curtis herself, Christabel continues her affair with novelist Nick Bradley (Robert Ryan), who knows she's evil, but loves her anyway.

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

This is a lively, vicious, and daring film.

Oct 22, 2007

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Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

One of Nicholas Ray's trashiest movies, 'Born to Be Bad' is like the fun flip-side to 'All About Eve,' without the theater or the luster.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jul 20, 2024

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...seemingly foolproof subject matter that’s employed to relentlessly erratic effect by Ray...

Rated: 2.5/4

Jun 30, 2024

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Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

A film noir from Ray in which nothing intriguing happens in the hour and a half that the upstart affair lasts. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 4/10

Jul 8, 2022

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Michael E. Grost

Classic Film and Television

Lively romantic melodrama with a creative use of architecture.

Jan 30, 2012

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TV Guide

Ray's interest in the psychological state of his protagonist and its relationship to visual style makes the film mesmerizing.

Rated: 3.5/4

Oct 22, 2007

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Alain E

A very good movie that successfully depicts the life of a psychopathic woman whose interactions with others are entirely on a transactional basis. Definitely an act of bravery for Joan Fontaine to play the role. Lesser script and directing would have succumbed to exaggeration and hyperbole. Here , everything looks realistic. To my eyes Joan Leslie is more attractive than Fontaine, but for the script the other Joan is hotter. Maybe because she is mean. As one of her victims says: I love you so much, I wish I liked you.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/03/25

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acsdoug D

Joan Fontaine us terrific as a conniving gold digger. Her performance (and script) remains nuanced throughout, never devolving into over the top caricature.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/31/24

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Martin B

Love Robert Ryan in this role. Edgy, irreverant, complex and a pretty good target for a love interest not his usual roll. Joan Fantaine's character bad but not irredeemable. Zachary Scott perfectly cast as the rich guy without a clue. Just a loaded cast and they all delivered on this simple but satisfying script.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/27/24

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nick s

Great acting and interesting premise. It felt like a few moments turned on a dime, but I guess that was a product of the time... trying to get a lot of story into a compressed timeline. The director also had the moral constraints of the day to contend with. But a very compelling drama. I enjoyed it.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/24/23

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Audience Member

Excellent film noir, classic performances all around not only stars but supporting cast, Fontaine at her best, beautiful and evil, Ryan on fire as always, even Scott shines, Leslie commanding and comes to her own in a mature performance, please if you can watch the dvd with the alternate ending, much better, RKO regulars, the great cinematographer Nicholas Musuraca, great film

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/07/23

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Russ G

This dragged so badly I couldn't make it past the 16 minute mark, but already I see Robert Ryan portraying a First Class A-hole.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

10/30/22

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Nicholas Ray

Director

Joan Fontaine

Christabel Caine Carey

Robert Ryan

Nick Bradley

Zachary Scott

Curtis Carey

Joan Leslie

Donna Foster

Mel Ferrer

Gabriel "Gobby" Broome

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Synopsis

Christabel Caine (Joan Fontaine) has the face of angel and the heart of a swamp rat. She'll step on anyone to get what she wants, including her own family. A master of manipulation, she covertly breaks off the engagement of her trusting cousin, Donna (Joan Leslie), to her fabulously wealthy beau, Curtis Carey (Zachary Scott). Once married to Curtis herself, Christabel continues her affair with novelist Nick Bradley (Robert Ryan), who knows she's evil, but loves her anyway.

Director: Nicholas Ray
Producer: Robert Sparks
Screenwriter: Edith R. Sommer
Production Co: RKO Radio Pictures Inc.
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 15, 1950, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2009
Runtime: 1h 34m

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