The Bad and the Beautiful (1952 Vincente Minnelli)

You have to be careful making a film about the making of films, because they draw your eye even more to the way the film is made and acted. Luckily this one has tons of good stuff going on in it. Robert Surtees' camera elegantly tracks around Kirk Douglas' ruthless film producer as he both seduces and rejects various collaborators: director Barry Sullivan, actress Lana Turner and writer Dick Powell (their stories told in flashback).

A film made with lovely touches, such as the tankard (in use as we see the other glasses are broken) which makes its way into a draft crest in the sand and then a real one. And Powell's attempts to start working, frequently foiled by wife Gloria Grahame ("You have a dirty mind... I'm pleased to say"). And three eavesdropped phone conversations.

Walter Pidgeon is the long-suffering producer and Paul Stewart the PR agent, Gilbert Roland is 'Gaucho', Leo G Carroll and Ivan Triesault (Notorious) play film directors and Elaine Stewart is the wannabe star.

Well written by Charles Schnee (George Bradshaw story).