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The Bad and the Beautiful

Play trailer Poster for The Bad and the Beautiful Released Jan 15, 1953 1h 58m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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80% Tomatometer 49 Reviews 86% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Unscrupulous movie producer Jonathan Shields (Kirk Douglas) is a child of Hollywood who ruthlessly toils his way to the top of the studio system, discarding movie star Georgia (Lana Turner), director Fred Amiel (Barry Sullivan) and writer James Lee Bartlow (Dick Powell) along the way. Although Shields manipulates them and leaves each in despair, they find success in Hollywood, thanks in part to Shields, and must decide whether or not to repay him when he offers them a collaborative project.
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The Bad and the Beautiful

The Bad and the Beautiful

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Critics Consensus

Melodrama at its most confident, The Bad and the Beautiful is an ode to moviemaking that offers unblinking insight into the ugly egos that have shaped Hollywood history.

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Critics Reviews

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James Morgan Sight & Sound Brilliant as the film undoubtedly is, ingeniously shaped and textured, it remains, with its lack of a developing centre, too insubstantial. Aug 31, 2020 Full Review Times (UK) Staff Times (UK) Instead of satire there is false sentiment. Aug 31, 2020 Full Review TIME Staff TIME Magazine Though some of the characters may be bad and others beautiful, few are either real or believable. Aug 31, 2020 Full Review Dave Giannini InSession Film This world goes on without us, and a mostly anti-Hollywood film can be read in more than one way, which is wildly more interesting than anyone more specific ending. Feb 27, 2024 Full Review Joshua Brunsting The CriterionCast Bad proves Minnelli to be one of the most assured and powerful names in the world of cinematic melodrama, and his ability to bring to the genre the sense of tension found more often in noir pictures, really makes this film a singular and esoteric entrant. Sep 1, 2020 Full Review Jane Corby Brooklyn Daily Eagle The Bad and the Beautiful is a lot of film, and seems always on the verge of getting somewhere. But it never does. Aug 31, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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acsdoug D I'm not a fan of movies about making movies. This one isn't too bad though. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 04/02/24 Full Review kevin o ...when you read critics dumping on this film its a perfect example of someone trying to sound smart and coming off just silly. This is a perfect film from start to finish. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Nizar N The reviews of this movie are mixed, and there is a reason behind this. On the one hand it counts as one of the greats that were made about Hollywood and moviemaking, such as Sunset Boulevard, All About Eve, Paris When It Sizzles, and others. On the other hand, it seems too dry and formal. The plot is hollow that 90 minutes would suffice, but with the slow pacing the movie extends to a little less than 2 hours, rendering it tedious. The only thing that would compensate is the cast, but even that falls short to a childish dialogue and acting that looks staged. What Jonathan Shields (Kirk Douglas) says in The Bad and the Beautiful applies to the movie itself: "You're acting now, playing the doomed daughter of the great man. Well, let me tell you something. The acting isn't good enough." Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Russ G Pure drivel. There are only two reasons to watch this: Lana Turner and Gloria Grahame. Is the acting that bad, or is it the script? Rated 1 out of 5 stars 09/06/22 Full Review Audience Member Such a good movie with solid acting performances. It is definitely worth watching, especially as part of a double feature with Two Weeks in Another Town (1962). Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/18/23 Full Review Audience Member Great movie one of my favorites Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/07/21 Full Review Read all reviews
The Bad and the Beautiful

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Cast & Crew

The Actress 60% 50% The Actress Watchlist The Cobweb 75% 47% The Cobweb Watchlist Two Weeks in Another Town 89% 62% Two Weeks in Another Town Watchlist The Last Time I Saw Paris 70% 49% The Last Time I Saw Paris Watchlist All Fall Down 40% 53% All Fall Down Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis Unscrupulous movie producer Jonathan Shields (Kirk Douglas) is a child of Hollywood who ruthlessly toils his way to the top of the studio system, discarding movie star Georgia (Lana Turner), director Fred Amiel (Barry Sullivan) and writer James Lee Bartlow (Dick Powell) along the way. Although Shields manipulates them and leaves each in despair, they find success in Hollywood, thanks in part to Shields, and must decide whether or not to repay him when he offers them a collaborative project.
Director
Vincente Minnelli
Producer
John Houseman
Screenwriter
George Bradshaw, Charles Schnee
Distributor
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co
Metro Goldwyn Mayer, Loew's Inc.
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 15, 1953, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 5, 2008
Runtime
1h 58m
Sound Mix
Mono, Stereo
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