Best movies like The Carpetbaggers
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
The Carpetbaggers is a 1964 American film starring George Peppard as a character based largely on Howard Hughes and Alan Ladd as a former western gunslinger turned actor with the pseudonym Nevada Smith, played the following year in a prequel starring Steve McQueen in the part. Carroll Baker portrayed an actress inspired by Jean Harlow, who appeared in Hughes' film epic Hell's Angels. The Carpetbaggers was directed by Edward Dmytryk, filmed in 70mm, and was Alan Ladd's final film; Ladd died some months before its release.In the movie, George Peppard plays a hard-driven industrialist more than a little reminiscent of Howard Hughes. While he builds airplanes, directs movies and breaks hearts, his friends and lovers try to reach his human side, and find that it's an uphill battle. The film's title is a metaphor for self-promoting tycoons who perform quick financial takeovers, impose dictatorial controls for short-term profits, then move on to greener pastures.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 150 min
Plot tags: retro, clever, serious, realistic, cynical, stylized
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Best tv shows and movies like The Carpetbaggers (1964):
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Leona Helmsley: The Queen of Mean (1990)
Plot Summary:
Spanning years of both Harry and Leona Helmsley's cutthroat control of their eponymonous empire, this made-for-TV movie chronicles both the high and low points of the couple's life together.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 286
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: sincere, serious, realistic, cynical
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Inside Daisy Clover (1965)
Plot Summary:
A girl on the road to stardom fights the dehumanizing effects of Hollywood life.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Drama, Music, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 128 min
Plot tags: realistic, tense, serious, emotional, retro, esoteric, cult classic, gloomy, surprise ending, crying
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Where Love Has Gone (1964)
Plot Summary:
A divorced couple's teen-age daughter stands trial for stabbing her mother's latest lover.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 114 min
Plot tags: slasher, sincere, serious, realistic, suspenseful, gloomy, campy
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The Anniversary Party (2001)
Plot Summary:
While celebrating their reconciliation and six years of marriage, the American actress Sally Nash (Jennifer Jason Leigh) and the British novelist Joe Therrian (Alan Cumming) receive their close friends, some colleagues and their next door neighbors in a party. Under the effect of Ecstasy, revelations are disclosed and relationships deteriorate among the group.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 9000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 115 min
Plot tags: independent film, melancholic, satirical, humorous, cynical, clever, talky, realistic, semi serious, biting
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A Perfect Stranger (1994)
Plot Summary:
A television movie based on "A Perfect Stranger," Danielle Steel's novel about an attorney who falls in love with the young wife of a wealthy man who is dying.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 632
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, sexual, sexy
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Contempt (1963)
Plot Summary:
A philistine in the art film business, Jeremy Prokosch is a producer unhappy with the work of his director. Prokosch has hired Fritz Lang (as himself) to direct an adaptation of "The Odyssey," but when it seems that the legendary filmmaker is making a picture destined to bomb at the box office, he brings in a screenwriter to energize the script. The professional intersects with the personal when a rift develops between the writer and his wife.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 35000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: France, Italy
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: art house, philosophical, erotic, grindhouse, visual, psychological, clever, witty, talky, cynical
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Valley of the Dolls (1967)
Plot Summary:
Film version of Jacqueline Susann's best-selling novel chronicling the rise and fall of three young ladies in show business.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 10000
Genere: Drama, Music, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 123 min
Plot tags: cynical, cult classic, stylized, serious, rough, realistic, erotic, suspense, dark, sad
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Harlow (1965)
Plot Summary:
Hollywood drama loosely based on the life of film actress Jean Harlow, with Carroll Baker in the title role. One of two feature film biographies, both released in 1965 and both with the same title, about the '30s platinum blonde movie star.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 125 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, sexual, entertaining, crying, sexy
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California Suite (1978)
Plot Summary:
Misadventures of four groups of guests at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 8000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: funny, clever, humorous, witty, talky, captivating, realistic, semi serious, sketch comedy, light
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The Last Tycoon (1976)
Plot Summary:
F.Scott Fitzgerald's novel is brought to life in this story of a movie producer slowly working himself to death.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 9000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 123 min
Plot tags: realistic, stylized, captivating, sentimental, retro, psychotronic, metafiction, cult classic, serious, gloomy
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Timecode (2000)
Plot Summary:
A production company begins casting for its next feature, and an up-and-coming actress named Rose tries to manipulate her filmmaker boyfriend, Alex, into giving her a screen test. Alex's wife, Emma, knows about the affair and is considering divorce, while Rose's girlfriend secretly spies on her and attempts to sabotage the relationship. The four storylines in the film were each shot in one take and are shown simultaneously, each taking up a quarter of the screen.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: psychological, enigmatic, ironic, tense, cerebral, clever, avant garde, experimental, independent film, cult classic
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John and Mary (1969)
Plot Summary:
John and Mary meet in a singles bar, sleep together, and spend the next day getting to know each other.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: psychological, sentimental, serious, realistic, talky, sincere, touching, romantic drama, independent film, clever
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The Big Picture (1989)
Plot Summary:
Hollywood beckons for recent film school grad Nick Chapman, who is out to capitalize on the momentum from his national award-winning student film. Studio executive Allen Habel seduces Nick with a dream deal to make his first feature, but once production gets rolling, corporate reality begins to intervene: Nick is unable to control a series of compromises to his high-minded vision, and it's all he can do to maintain his integrity in the midst of filmmaking chaos.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: light, suspense, entertaining, melancholic, harsh, humorous, realistic, semi serious, funny, clever
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Alexander the Last (2009)
Plot Summary:
An ensemble drama about a married actress, her sister and their myriad sexual and creative temptations.
IMDB Rating: 5.1
IMDB Votes: 902
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 72 min
Plot tags: mumblecore, sincere, touching, serious, realistic, heartfelt, contemplative, independent film, sexual, sexy
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Disappearing Acts (2000)
Plot Summary:
Zora Banks is a school teacher and aspiring singer hoping to become a successful star while taking a break from heartache. Franklin Swift is a down-on-his-luck construction worker and not-quite divorced father of two hoping to start his own business. The two meet and fall in love and during the course of the stormy relationship, they both come to some startling conclusions about love and each other.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 115 min
Plot tags: sincere, serious, realistic, sentimental, talky, romantic
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Not Easily Broken (2009)
Plot Summary:
A car accident and shifting affections test the bond between a married couple.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: uplifting, sentimental, emotional, realistic, serious, inspirational, romantic, independent film, romantic drama
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One Night (2007)
Plot Summary:
Fifteen New Yorkers go into a Friday night unaware of the fact that their lives are about to change.
IMDB Rating: 4.2
IMDB Votes: 158
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: sentimental, atmospheric, touching, serious, realistic, independent film
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G (2002)
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A young Hip Hop star named Summer G falls for a middle to upper class sister while in college. After she rejects him for a fellow social climber, Summer G spends ten years building a Hip Hop empire, then moves to the Hamptons where he finds the object of his affections.
IMDB Rating: 5.1
IMDB Votes: 778
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: sentimental, serious, captivating, realistic, gloomy, modern day adaptation
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The Way We Were (1973)
Plot Summary:
Two desperate people have a wonderful romance, but their political views and convictions drive them apart.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 27000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 118 min
Plot tags: intellectual, sentimental, realistic, serious, captivating, talky, intense, romantic, touching, sweet
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The Golden Bowl (2000)
Plot Summary:
An intricately plotted tale of thwarted love and betrayal, "The Golden Bowl" tells the story of an extravagantly rich American widower and his sheltered daughter, both of whom marry only to discover that their respective mates, a beautiful American expatriate and an impoverished Italian aristocrat, are entangled with one another in a romantic intrigue of seduction and deceit.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: USA, France, UK
Duration: 130 min
Plot tags: period piece, serious, stylized, realistic, costume drama, suspense, romantic drama, historical drama, clever, biting
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The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981)
Plot Summary:
In this story-within-a-story, Anna is an actress starring opposite Mike in a period piece about the forbidden love between their respective characters, Sarah and Charles. Both actors are involved in serious relationships, but the passionate nature of the script leads to an off-camera love affair as well. While attempting to maintain their composure and professionalism, Anna and Mike struggle to come to terms with their infidelity.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 15000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: UK
Duration: 124 min
Plot tags: romantic, emotional, costume drama, scenic, stylized, atmospheric, clever, postmodern, erotic, retro
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Gable and Lombard (1976)
Plot Summary:
A biography about the love affair between 1930s Hollywood superstars Clark Gable and Carole Lombard.
IMDB Rating: 5.1
IMDB Votes: 639
Genere: Biography, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 131 min
Plot tags: realistic, stylized, semi serious, sexual, sexy
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Lovin' Molly (1974)
Plot Summary:
Spanning nearly 40 years from 1925 to 1964, two Texas farm boys; straight-arrow Gid and laid-back Johnny fight over the affections of the beautiful and headstrong Molly Taylor, who consistently refuses to marry either of them.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 590
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: sincere, touching, serious, realistic
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The Great Gatsby (2000)
Plot Summary:
Stock broker Nick Carraway consents to play Cupid for his rich married first cousin Daisy Buchanen and her former love, successful bootlegger and forger Jay Gatsby.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: sentimental, captivating, stylized, serious, realistic, gloomy, period drama
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The Dark Side of Tomorrow (1970)
Plot Summary:
While their husbands are away on a hunting trip, two bored housewives get together to commiserate. One thing leads to another, and they wind up in bed. For one of the women the incident was just a pleasant diversion, but for the other it's turned into a fixation, and when she sees her "lover" going after one of the male neighborhood hunks, things take a turn for the worse.
IMDB Rating: 5.1
IMDB Votes: 178
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 84 min
Plot tags: grindhouse, independent film, erotic, sexy, serious, realistic, sexual, campy
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My Normal (2009)
Plot Summary:
"My Normal" is the story of Natalie, a young lesbian from the Lower East Side, who's struggling to find a balance between her dreams of becoming a film maker and her lifestyle as a dominatrix. Her exotic looks and unconventional techniques make her one of the most desirable mistresses in the NYC underground. After befriending her weed dealer and igniting a steamy love affair with her new girl, Natalie gets an internship on a real movie set. But if everything she ever wanted is becoming a reality, why is her life falling apart? When it seems that all is lost, Natalie realizes that the only way to turn her dreams into reality is to use her unique talents as a dominatrix to get exactly what she wants.
IMDB Rating: 4.2
IMDB Votes: 787
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 77 min
Plot tags: sexy, serious, realistic, captivating, humorous, talky, independent film, sexual, queer cinema
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Indecent Proposal (1993)
Plot Summary:
Robert Redford stars as billionaire John Gage, who offers a down-on-his-luck yuppie husband (Woody Harrelson) $1 million for the opportunity to spend the night with the man's wife (Demi Moore).
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 77000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 117 min
Plot tags: sexy, sexual, emotional, psychological, romantic, thought provoking, suspense, sensual, sentimental, serious
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One Night Stand (1997)
Plot Summary:
In Los Angeles, Max Carlyle makes a good living directing commercials and has a happy home life with his wife, Mimi, and two children. When Carlyle travels to New York City to visit his friend Charlie, who has been diagnosed with AIDS, he has repeat run-ins with a beautiful woman, Karen, and eventually sleeps with her. Though he goes home the next day and doesn't return until a year later, Carlyle's infidelity still lingers.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: sexy, melancholic, light, intense, touching, serious, realistic, erotic, clever, romantic
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Liz & Dick (2012)
Plot Summary:
On the set of Cleopatra, Hollywood's most beautiful star, Elizabeth Taylor, fell into the arms of one of the world's greatest actors, Richard Burton - and she didn't leave. Their subsequent white-hot, scandalous love affair gave rise to the paparazzi and they became the most hunted and photographed couple on earth. Their rocky, passionate, relationship, born in front of the cameras, was subsequently captured in a series of films, including The V.I.P.s and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? The last of the great, extravagant stars, flaunting diamonds, yachts and private planes, they continually seized the headlines. They even divorced and married again - only to divorce again - but remain in each other's hearts. This Elizabeth Taylor - Richard Burton story is a no-holds barred account of their undying, but impossible love.
IMDB Rating: 4.0
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, stylized, sexy, ridiculous
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Falling in Love Again (1980)
Plot Summary:
Harry and Sue Lewis met in the 40s as teenagers living in the Bronx. He was an aspiring architect, she was the most beautiful girl in school, and both had a fondness for bran muffins. They fell in love, got married, moved to Los Angeles, and had two kids. While struggling with his midlife crisis, Harry receives an invitation for his high school's reunion back so he takes Sue and their teenage kids on a cross-country car trip back to the Big Apple. Will they see in the Bronx what they expected? Will the good memories from their past help rekindle their fading love? Is it too late to dream?.
IMDB Rating: 5.0
IMDB Votes: 444
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: romantic, sweet, melancholic, light, entertaining, intense, sentimental, touching, serious, realistic