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The Bad and the Beautiful
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Kirk Douglas as Jonathan Shields stands on a ladder beside Lana Turner as Georgia Lorrison, who gestures dramatically from a decorated theater balcony in The Bad and the Beautiful. Vincente Minnelli, seated at right, discusses a storyboard with actress Lana Turner, seated at left in costume, on the set of The Bad and the Beautiful.
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Kirk Douglas as Jonathan Shields stands on a ladder beside Lana Turner as Georgia Lorrison, who gestures dramatically from a decorated theater balcony in The Bad and the Beautiful.
Kirk Douglas and Lana Turner in The Bad and the Beautiful Kirk Douglas and Lana Turner in The Bad and the Beautiful (1952), directed by Vincente Minnelli.

The Bad and the Beautiful

film by Minnelli [1952]
Written by
Lee Pfeiffer
Author/co-author of numerous books about the cinema and is regarded as one of the foremost James Bond scholars. His book The Essential Bond: An Authorized Guide to the World of 007 (written with...
Lee Pfeiffer
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Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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‱History

The Bad and the Beautiful, American film drama, released in 1952, that—highlighted by an Academy Award-nominated performance by Kirk Douglas—helped solidify the unflattering popular image of the ruthless Hollywood mogul.

The film, most of which is told in flashback, traces the rise and fall of Hollywood producer Jonathan Shields (played by Douglas), who achieves fame and fortune but surrenders his humanity in the process. Three of his “victims”—an actress (Lana Turner), a director (Barry Sullivan), and a screenwriter (Dick Powell)—recount their relationship with Shields, who has asked them to work on a project that he hopes will lead to his comeback.

The Bad and the Beautiful was originally titled Tribute to a Badman, but the change was made to accommodate a reference to Turner (the “beautiful”). In addition to being noted for the acting, the film was praised for its cinematography. There has long been debate as to which Hollywood stars were the models for the various fictional characters.

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Production notes and credits

Cast

  • Lana Turner (Georgia Lorrison)
  • Kirk Douglas (Jonathan Shields)
  • Walter Pidgeon (Harry Pebbel)
  • Dick Powell (James Lee Bartlow)
  • Barry Sullivan (Fred Amiel)
  • Gloria Grahame (Rosemary Bartlow)
  • Gilbert Roland (Victor [“Gaucho”] Ribera)
  • Leo G. Carroll (Henry Whitfield)

Academy Award nominations (* denotes win)

  • Cinematography (black and white)*
  • Screenplay*
  • Costume design (black and white)*
  • Art direction–set decoration (black and white)*
  • Lead actor (Kirk Douglas)
  • Supporting actress* (Gloria Grahame)
Lee Pfeiffer