The Bad and the Beautiful is a wonderfully scripted film, which is superbly directed by Vincente Minnelli. Minnelli is probably most well known for his musicals (Meet me in St. Louis, Gigi, and An American in Paris), but he also did a significant amount of melodramas that the Harvard Film Archive will be screening for the rest of the month. The Bad and the Beautiful is a movie about movies. Producer Jonathan Shields is profiled through the flashbacks of a screenwriter, a director, and one of his leading ladies. And they are not fans. Shields steps over friends and lovers on his way to the top and when everything goes awry; when he finds himself at the bottom again, he needs them back. Although a melodrama, the film is beautifully shot by Robert Surtees (he won an Oscar for it); it has the lighting of a film noir with shades and shadows looming over each dramatic scene. Also, Minnelli clearly payed special attention in the way he framed scenes with each actor standing in the perfect spot and each piece of furniture meticulously placed, making the movie look like a moving portrait. I've often heard Minnelli compared to Douglas Sirk, but there is no irony in this movie. The Bad and the Beautiful like All About Eve or Sunset Boulevard is a movie that takes a serious look at the darker side of Hollywood.
1 comment:
Great summary! I've never seen this movie, but it makes me wanna check it out. I can't wait for your next post!
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