The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) (MOD) "Nichols"

The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) (MOD) "Nichols"Appearances are everything in Hollywood. So when conniving moviemaker Jonathan Shields realizes few mourners will show up for the funeral of his equally conniving father, he knows what to do: hire extras. Kirk Douglas gives a magnetic, Oscar nominated performance as Shields, who turns talent, charisma and ruthlessness into film success, stomping on careers and creating enemies along the way. Vincente Minnelli directs this winner of five Academy Awards

crooning the title tune and more songs

amateur sleuths Gay and Tom Lawrence AKA The Falcon were a perfect fit for the acerbic styling of siblings George Sanders and Tom Conway

then begins life anew with another man (Paul Burke) whom she marries

But - just like that - dreams of wealth and power slip from everyone's grasp

Robert Duvall

with the highfalutin' low-livin' tomcat living the life while romancing Sonja

Special Agent Tom Colby (William Reynolds) and Assistant Director Arthur Ward (Philip Abbott) on the hunt for murderers

and Dinah Shore (hosting Mel - and his chili

where a colorful cross-section of American citizens quip and quibble their way through deliberations - and where a single woman (Ginger Rogers) and a married man (Dennis Morgan) begin to fall in love

Garmes' luck hasn't changed

Is the mother truly imaginary

Elmo Lincoln