Watch Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills
- R
- 1989
- 1 hr 35 min
-
5.9 (1,444)
Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills is a 1989 film with a plot that revolves around the complicated relationships between a group of wealthy residents living in Beverly Hills. With its focus on sexual intrigue, family dynamics, and social class, this movie tells a story that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. At the center of the film is Clare Lipkin (Jacqueline Bisset), the wealthy and beautiful wife of a wealthy Beverly Hills doctor named Jack (Robert Beltran). Clare is a woman who appears to have everything: money, power, and a beautiful home. However, as we soon learn, her seemingly perfect life is actually filled with secrets and lies.
As the movie progresses, we are introduced to a variety of other characters who are also living in Beverly Hills. There's Jack's mistress, Lisabeth (Mary Woronov), who is obsessed with her own beauty and will stop at nothing to maintain her youthful appearance. And there's also the flamboyant, over-the-top opera singer, Peter (Ray Sharkey), who loves nothing more than indulging in his own hedonistic pleasures.
As these characters interact with one another, we get a glimpse into the world of the wealthy and powerful. We see how they use their money and influence to get what they want, and how their relationships with one another are often more complex than they appear on the surface.
The film is directed by Paul Bartel, who is known for his work in the black comedy genre. And indeed, there are plenty of moments in Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills that are darkly comedic. Whether it's Lisabeth's obsession with her own appearance or Peter's outrageous behavior, there are moments that will have you laughing out loud.
But at the same time, the movie doesn't shy away from the more serious themes it explores. We see how social class can impact people's lives in profound ways, and how money can create both opportunities and problems. And we also see how the pursuit of power and pleasure can lead people down dark and dangerous paths.
Throughout it all, the film is anchored by the superb performances of its cast. Jacqueline Bisset is particularly strong as Clare, bringing both a sense of vulnerability and a steely determination to the character. And Ray Sharkey is a scene-stealer as Peter, injecting every moment he's on-screen with his magnetic energy.
In the end, Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills is a film that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. It's a story that explores themes that are just as relevant today as they were when the movie was released in 1989, and it does so with wit, insight, and plenty of laughs along the way.