Oliver Matheson’s review published on Letterboxd:
“Jonathan is more than a man. He's an experience, and he's habit-forming. If they could ever bottle him, he'd out-sell Ginger Ale”
My second step in paying tribute to Kirk Douglas, and man what a loss, the man was a legend. The Bad and the Beautiful is an exploration into the different ways you can hurt someone, and not just in the movie business. If there is a way to hurt someone, like stabbing a friend in the back or cheating on your significant other, Jonathan Shields (Kirk Douglas) has probably done it. And you can be sure that as Shields stabs you in the back, he’ll be telling himself he’s doing what is best for you.
The Bad and the Beautiful has a tremendous structure reminiscent of Citizen Kane, with a director, an actress, and a writer all reflecting on what happened when their paths cross with Jonathan Shields and how it changed their lives forever. The film has a sort of anthology feel too it, but the idea that we can learn about a character from three distinct stories creates a fascinating journey, and all of the stories tie together nicely in the end.
Among four others this won the Oscar for Best Screenplay, and that makes sense because when the script works it really works, filled with bits of dialogue that feel like the perfect blend of melodrama and noir. Outside of the frequent bits of incredible dialogue though the script tends to lag, and there is a significant pacing error at the start of the third story, but push through it, because it has one of the best payoffs. Between the look at old Hollywood, the Oscar-winning black and white cinematography, and a great ensemble capped with Kirk Douglas’ memorable performance you have a entertaining film that has a lot to say about abusive relationships, and how despite the despicable actions of some, we can’t help but fall right back into their arms.