The Bad and the Beautiful

The Bad and the Beautiful follows three people who once owed their careers to Jonathan Shields, a driven Hollywood producer, and who now gather in a studio office while he tries to reach them from Europe, short of money and hoping they will work with him again. Through their recollections, the film traces how Shields pushed each of them toward success and how he treated them along the way. Among them are the actress Georgia Lorrison, the director Fred Amiel and the writer James Lee Bartlow, all of whom have reason to turn him down. Kirk Douglas plays Shields, with Lana Turner, Barry Sullivan and Dick Powell as the three, and Walter Pidgeon as the executive Harry Pebbel. Charles Schnee wrote the screenplay, John Houseman produced, and Vincente Minnelli directed.

The film was released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer at the end of 1952, running 118 minutes. Minnelli's seventh feature as director, it followed An American in Paris and preceded The Band Wagon, placing it in the middle of the fourteen films he directed. Made for about 2 million dollars, it took in a comparable amount worldwide, so its commercial return was modest, though its standing since has been stronger. On IMDb it holds 7.7 out of 10 from around 18,000 votes, and on TMDB 7.3 out of 10 from roughly 300 votes. A critics' rating of 8 out of 10 from 49 reviews is higher than either audience figure.