You Need to Watch ACE IN THE HOLE

Here I explain (with clips) what I love about Billy Wilder's classic attack on sensationalized news media cycles, Ace in the Hole! Inspired by the true story of cave explorer Floyd Collins, the film stars Kirk Douglas, Jan Sterling, Porter Hall, Robert Arthur, Gene Evans and more!

[@PatrolOfficer161]

"Call Northside 777". A clasic with Jimmy Stewart.

[@clevehardman7297]

As a now retired journalist who has always lived "Ace in the Hole" I would also recommend another classic newspaper movie "5 Star Final" starring Edward G. Robinson and Boris Karloff from 1931. It was an Oscar nominee and offers a great tale of yellow journalism.

[@firefalcoln]

In addition to films like Ace in the Hole or Network which show the consequence of journalism done unethically, it's good to see and honor films like All the Presidents Men, Spotlight or Frost/Nixon which show the value and importance of journalism done right. Spotlight is probably my favorite partly because it manages to touch on both ideas and is so well written and acted by a nice ensemble cast. I'd argue that ethical journalism is one of the most important things for a good society. But like educators, journalists are often underpaid and it's difficult for our society to incentivized exemplary work and punish bad work.

[@bobdemaree5398]

I am glad there is mention of an editor who speaks for ethical journalism because it could be this movie is a story that overshadows those reporters who dedicate themselves to fair and objective journalism. I have strongly believed that strong community journalism is important for every community to be informed. It’s the little stories as well as the big ones. So, this movie tells the story of one who misused journalism. There are many more who strive hard to do it ethically. To think of journalism in a negative way is a mistake. There needs to be an effort to report on the good and the bad to deal realistically with our community life. And it’s not all that easy for not all that great pay.

[@JoshuaSutlive]

Very true! Thanks for clarifying! I didn’t mention it in the video, but in hindsight I think it might be important to note that the film’s director and co-writer, Billy Wilder, actually started out as a newspaper journalist before working in Hollywood and so that’s partly why the Floyd Collins story interested him so much. It’s also a big reason why he created the local editor character. With him, Wilder wanted to clarify that what Chuck Tatum (Kirk Douglas) was doing is not actual journalism. When watching the film, it’s very clear from the first moment he walks in the door that Tatum is more concerned with money, fame, and attention than honest and ethical reporting. Meanwhile, the local editor keeps signs around the office which read: “tell the truth” to remind his reporters what they are ultimately there to do. Tatum on the other hand, tries teaching the young reporter that he needs a good angle and a catchy sensational headline to get more eyes on the page even if it means bending the facts.
Really, the film is about the importance of good journalism in contrast to the sensational media circuses that hop onto news stories and turn them into nation-wide events for their own profit oftentimes to the detriment of the actual people involved.

[@anthonyanderson2405]

Superb analysis of a superb and very cynical film. Favorite film about the media? Definitely not Network, much too caught up in all its speechifying. What I find great is A Face in the Crowd.

[@JoshuaSutlive]

Thanks, and great choice! As you can probably tell, A Face in the Crowd is one of my all-time favorites!

[@Anymouse6457]

This is a great movie that was not successful. I think it was a bit too cynical for 1951 audiences. There are no completely pure characters that audiences could identify with. Perhaps a few minor characters, Boot, Leo’s parents, and Father Diego, had pure intentions. Kirk Douglas and Jan Sterling took risks playing fairly rotten people. Everyone is cast well, including Richard Benedict as the doomed Leo.
As to whether it is a Film Noir, that is a difficult call. Film Noir was a style of filmmaking rather than a genre. The moral ambiguity of the main characters qualifies it in my opinion.