Directed by Vincente Minnelli • 1952 • United States
Starring Lana Turner, Kirk Douglas, Walter Pidgeon

Appearances are everything in Hollywood. Kirk Douglas gives a magnetic, Oscar-nominated performance as conniving producer Jonathan 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 that’s more than a compelling insider’s look at Tinseltown: it’s a juicy opportunity for buffs to guess which real-life stars and moguls inspired the roles played by Douglas, Lana Turner, Walter Pidgeon, Dick Powell, Gloria Grahame, and more.