The Bad and the Beautiful (Minnelli, 1952): BFI Southbank, NFT3 6.20 & 8.40pm
This film is on an extended run at BFI Southbank as part of the Vincente Minnelli season until May 3. Details here.
Chicago Reader review:
'Vincente Minnelli will always be known and loved for his musicals (Meet Me in St. Louis, The Band Wagon), but the melodramas he made in the 50s are no less accomplished and often more personal. The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) is superficially a typical Hollywood “inside story” chronicling the ruthless rise of an aggressive producer (Kirk Douglas), loosely based on Val Lewton. But under Minnelli's direction it becomes a fascinating study of a man destroyed by the 50s success ethic, left broke, alone, and slightly insane in the end. Douglas is surprisingly good as Minnelli's manic everyman and is well supported by (believe it or not) Lana Turner and Dick Powell.' Dave Kehr
There's also a terrific (and longer) review by ex-Time Out deputy film editor David Jenkins in Little White Lies magazine here.
Here is the trailer.
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