one thing that i have always wonder be why no one look at hollywood more negatively than hollywood itself . but whatever the reason and the bad and the beautiful pull no punch in look at it topic . the movie portray some people explain how they use to be friend of producer jonathan shield ( kirk douglas ) but have since turn against him . there the director whom shield promise a directing job but betray him and the writer who lose his wife to shield action and and the actress whom shield drove to madness . i think that one of the most effective scene in the movie be kirk douglas hold lana turner in his arm . here he be and this overbearing and hostile character force to almost coddle his gorgeous female star while it might be show how he may seemingly have exalt her and but he remain in a high position and be merely use her and send her into insanity . and the scene of her drive the car while completely upset elaborates on this idea . and then and there the writer . he and his wife move from virginia hop to get really big in hollywood . until tragedy strike . it all go to show the disaster inherent in any industry ( of course and douglas character exacerbate any problem ) . but anyway and this be a formidable part of cinema history while a precursor to movie like the player . also star dick powell and walter pidgeon and gloria grahame ( who win best support actress ) .