The Carpetbaggers (DVD), Paramount, Drama

Harold Robbins' best-seller about '30s Hollywood comes to the screen in a torrent of frank, controversial and (for the times) sensational scenes that helped break the Production Code. George Peppard is the ruthless tycoon who (with amazing parallels to Howard Hughes) builds a multi-million dollar empire. Carroll Baker, who performs a razzle-dazzle striptease atop a glittering chandelier, is the Jean Harlow-type star. In addition to it's depiction of the wild life in Tinseltown's early days, the film also boasts Alan Ladd's terrific final screen performance as the hero's sidekick, Nevada Smith.