The Bad and the Beautiful
1952
*****
Director: Vincente Minnelli
Cast: Lana Turner, Kirk Douglas, Walter Pidgeon, Dick Powell, Barry Sullivan, Gloria Grahame
Vincente Minnelli's Hollywood drama is magnificent, although its story and its structure owe a great deal to Citizen Kane. Kirk Douglas plays a ruthless but talented producer who wants to make a film with his old collaborators who all had an acrimonious falling-out with him. The writer, director and actress in question tell us what happened through flashbacks. Dreams and reality collide in (George Bradshaw's and) Charles Schnee's beautifully woven, Academy Award winning screenplay. Four more Oscars for best cinematography, costumes, art direction and best supporting actress (Gloria Grahame).
