Quick recap: A director, an actress and a writer all have a common bond: They hate former producer Jonathan Shields.

This was a serious film but I would totally watch a buddy comedy sequel between these three

Fun (?) fact: Sex is mentioned 6 times in the movie, which was rather scandalous at the time.

How deep does that chin dimple go? Would I be able to put a finger in there?

Thoughts and observations:

Watching this film made me really miss the days when someone could make a movie about what was currently going on in Hollywood, not caring who was spoofed in the process. Citizen Kane, All About Eve, Sunset Boulevard, Singin’ in the Rain– and now the Bad and the Beautiful. Like, I just want a film about how soul sucking it is to work with Spielberg or how obsessed with feet Tarantino really is. Do better, movie industry.

So the main plot of the movie is that these three people-Fred Amiel, Georgia Lorrison, and James Lee Bartlow have been screwed over by producer Jonathan Shields (the Bad) but are now ridiculously successful (the Beautiful). In reviewing this movie, I’ve decided to rank the level of deception to the level of success:

3) Amiel- He and Shields teamed up to make B movies and accidentally make one worth some money. This gives Amiel courage to reveal his idea for a blockbuster, which Shields then takes to the studio and picks someone completely different to direct. Amiel loses out big time at first but later becomes an award winning director.

Deception: meddling. This seems like a common thing done in the industry. And even if the idea was a great one, whose to say Amiel would’ve also made the perfect director?

Success: High!

2) Lorrison- She got picked to star in Shield’s films and really became successful once she fell in love with him. She stopped drinking and poured all her emotion into her roles so as to further please Shields. Shields, meanwhile, wasn’t into her at all and only made her think so, so that she could continue being a great actress. Lorrison eventually finds out about the deception and leaves the studio completely. She then goes on to be one of the most famous actresses of the day.

Deception: pretty high. It’s never a good idea to deceive someone to believe you are in love with them.

Success: High!

1)  Bartlow- He is a writer who Shields hires to make a script. He isn’t interested at first, but his wife sure is so Bartlow agrees to it. The wife is extremely annoying however and Shields needs her away. He arranges for her to have an affair with a top actor, which ends with the two of them dying in airplane crash. Bartlow eventually writes a successful book about his dead wife.

Deception: Pretty freaking deceptive.

Success: Does it matter? His wife is dead!

Especially with Bartlow’s story it is totally understandable that they turn Shields down. No level of success is worth that amount of drama and deception. On the other hand, that’s show business! The final scene of them listening on the phone and liking the idea being pitched just goes to show that nothing ever changes. Good for them?

Watchability score: 4/5

Up next: Horrorfest is here!

Quick recap: George Eastman takes up his uncle’s offer of working at his company only to end up knocking a girl up, falling in love with a socialite and getting the electric chair.

I’m really bad at recognizing movie stars so of course I had no idea this was Elizabeth Taylor. I loved her performance and just hoped whoever she was went on to do something special 🙂

Fun (?) fact:  Shelley Winters ( who played Alice) drove white Cadillacs for years after filming to compensate for feeling inferior to Elizabeth Taylor.

Thoughts and observations:

As a rule, I typically stay away from melodramas, but this one hooked me the moment Montgomery Clift appeared on screen.

From there, the plot was a wild ride from start to finish. I don’t remember ever being in a situation where I wanted both the best for every character and the worst. Even Alice, the poor factory girl whom George (Montgomery Clift) knocks up. She was absolutely a victim in every way but seeing her whine and pout when she was about to be shoved overboard was just too much to put up with from a character.

Even as I write this review, I’m still blown away by how much of a predator George Eastman was, yet I kept hoping things would turn around for him. On his first day at the factory, he was told that the most important rule was not to fraternize with the workers and he literally did just that moments later. And then while walking Alice home from the movies, his hands are all over her even though they had barely spoken before. I hated how pushy he was and knew their relationship would end badly. And I liked him even less when he started dating Angela Vickers (Elizabeth Taylor) because he seemed so desperate to appear well off. And yet- as he professed his love for Angela, I couldn’t help  but melt. I too was annoyed that Alice was around and found myself siding with George. I didn’t think he would murder her but I wanted him to live his life with his true love.

The end of the movie was just as much of a whirlwind and I still can’t decide how I feel about all of it. George was brought to justice as he should’ve been, but once again I found myself siding with him that he didn’t murder Alice. Even as the priest got him to confess that his inaction caused her death, I still wanted a different ending and wanted there to be some twist where everyone lives happily ever after. This movie was both frustrating and absolutely the most entertained I’ve felt in a long time.

Watchability score: 5/5

Up next: Europa Europa