THE BAD AND THE BEAUTIFUL

Kirk Douglas plays a producer described as "ruthless" on TV Guide's summary. It's a 1952 film that portrays the inside world of Tinseltown. Although Douglas is described "ruthless", I see him more as a shrewd, complicated man willing to do whatever is necessary to get things done.

Here's a memorable scene with Lana Turner that is a lesson in life:

Georgia Lorrison: People who knew my father give me extra work and a line to say now and then. I drink what I want, see who I want. Who knows? Someday I may even get married to a nice, upright assistant to an assitant.

Jonathon Shields: And make him miserable for the rest of his life because you're a Lorrison. Haunted, born to live by make-believe. Look at you. You're acting now. Playing the doomed daughter of the great man. Well let me tell you something. The acting isn't good enough. It's a cheap performance of a bit player not a star. And that's all that it'll ever be until you can pull yourself out of this tomb. Until you can see people for who they really are - yourself as you really are. Until you can do this to your father's picture. (Shields draws a moustache and goatee on Lorrison's picture). And laugh the way he would have laughed. That's not a god talking Georgia. That's only a man.

(Shields breaks a record of Georgia's father across his knee. Georgia gives him an incredulous look and throws a bottle of wine at Shields then gets out of bed to attack him).