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      Born to Be Bad

      Released Jul 15, 1950 1h 34m Drama List
      67% 6 Reviews Tomatometer 57% 250+ Ratings Audience Score 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. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered Jun 02 Buy Now

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      Critics Reviews

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      Dave Kehr Chicago Reader This is a lively, vicious, and daring film. Oct 22, 2007 Full Review Roger Moore Movie Nation A lower-stakes version of “All About Eve” without the guts to let the “Bad” girl get her way, by hook or by crook. But the movie surrounding Fontaine can be bitchy fun Rated: 2.5/4 Jan 6, 2024 Full Review 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 Full Review Michael E. Grost Classic Film and Television Lively romantic melodrama with a creative use of architecture. Jan 30, 2012 Full Review 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 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Trashy but stylishly entertaining melodrama. Rated: C+ Dec 28, 2004 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

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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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review Audience Member Joan Fontaine's portrayal of Christabel should serve as the Hollywood archetype for the scheming, money hungry, and social-standing obsessed figure. Try and watch the version with the Howard Hughes third act. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Audience Member Her Beauty made her ruthless Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/11/21 Full Review test watched it's a great movie Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 05/13/20 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Born to Be Bad

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      Movie Info

      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
      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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