Best-Looking Bad Movies?

[dancerslegs]

Ryan's Daughter (1972) looked pretty remarkable for an ill-conceived, overblown slog. (Also applies to Dr. Zhivago, IMO, although to a lesser extent.)

Duel in the Sun (1946) about matches that billing too, with the added helping of being unintentionally, absurdly hilarious.

The Devils (1971) is one of the most amazing-looking films I've ever seen. But ye gods, what repulsive content. (Other than Oliver Reed's powerful lead performance.)

Hell's Angels (1930) has some spectacular, old-school aerial combat footage which have yet to be matched for immediacy. But scenes on the ground--which, unfortunately, comprise the bulk of the movie--are insufferable.

Waterloo (1970) looks a dream for anyone whom can't get enough of staged battle footage filmed on an utterly breathtaking scale. It nonetheless falls completely flat on any measurable human level. (Although Rod Steiger's scenery-chewing as Napoleon Bonaparte holds a certain train wreck-style fascination.)

Honorable mention to I Am Cuba (1964), which showcases maybe the most stunning black-and-white work ever seen in any feature film. Which maybe disqualifies it from this list, it's just that magnificent. You just have to look past the fact that underlying it all is some pretty heavy-handed, insidious Soviet propaganda.