The Bad and the Beautiful
Seen it?1952 | 118 min | Drama, Romance
Saturday SpecialWhy it’s a Saturday Special
It won 5 Oscars and it earned strong reviews (80% on Rotten Tomatoes). A strong pick for the weekend.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for romantics. If you loved Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind or My Week with Marilyn, start here.
- The mood
- Warm and romantic.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 58 min.
- What might put you off
- Made in 1952: an older pace and style.
Told in flashback form, the film traces the rise and fall of a tough, ambitious Hollywood producer, Jonathan Shields, as seen through the eyes of various acquaintances, including a writer, James Lee Bartlow; a star, Georgia Lorrison; and a director, Fred Amiel. He is a hard-driving, ambitious man who ruthlessly uses everyone on the way to becoming one of Hollywood's top movie makers.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
80% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
7.3 out of 10
- AwardsVery strong
Won 5 Oscars: Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actress, Academy Awards: Best Screenplay, Academy Awards: Best Art Direction – Black-and-White, Academy Awards: Best Cinematography – Black-and-White and 1 more. Also nominated for 1 more Oscar, 2 Golden Globes and 1 BAFTA. Plus 1 other award.
- Box office & staying powerSolid
$3 million worldwide on a $2 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 73K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
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Weeknight WatchAnother drama, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
My Week with Marilyn Saturday SpecialAnother drama, and a Saturday Special.
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Cast & crew
Directed by Vincente Minnelli
- Lana TurnerGeorgia Lorrison
- Kirk DouglasJonathan Shields
- Walter PidgeonHarry Pebbel
- Dick PowellJames Lee Bartlow
- Barry SullivanFred Amiel
- Gloria GrahameRosemary Bartlow
- Leo G. CarrollHenry Whitfield
- Gilbert RolandVictor "Gaucho" Ribera
- Paul StewartSyd Murphy
- Vanessa BrownKay Amiel