The Bad and the Beautiful (1952)

Told in flashback form, the film traces the rise and fall of a tough, ambitious Hollywood producer, Jonathan Shields, as seen through the eyes of various acquaintances, including a writer, James Lee Bartlow; a star, Georgia Lorrison; and a director, Fred Amiel. He is a hard-driving, ambitious man who ruthlessly uses everyone on the way to becoming one of Hollywood's top movie makers.

Genres: Drama, Romance

What to watch after The Bad and the Beautiful

• Lust for Life (1956) — Vincente Minnelli directed both
• Out of the Past (1947)
• The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)
• Bad Day at Black Rock (1955)
• Imitation of Life (1959)
• Lonely Are the Brave (1962) — Kirk Douglas appears in both