Ace in the Hole
1951. Directed by Billy Wilder. Written by Billy Wilder, Lesser Samuels, and Walter Newman. Starring Kirk Douglas, Jan Sterling, Robert Arthur, Porter Hall, and Richard Benedict.
"It's a good story today. Tomorrow, they'll wrap a fish in it."
To call the ethics of Charles Tatum, the newspaper writer at the heart of Billy Wilder's Ace in the Hole, questionable would be very generous. Tatum has been fired from the best papers. He was good enough but he always got into trouble. Now, he stumbles into a small town paper willing to work for pennies, hoping he can find a story that can help him reclaim his glory and get back to the bigs. He does stumble onto such a story, but he doesn't simply report it. He begins to guide the rescue of a miner trapped in a collapsed mine. He works to ensure the rescue is prolonged long enough to help him grab the attention of papers everywhere and drive up his asking price on the highest bidder. Tatum is bothered by what he is doing, but not enough to stop. The rescue becomes a frenzy, a circus, with on-lookers from all over the country. Reporters come from everywhere but Tatum has a deal worked out with the sheriff for exclusive access.
Billy Wilder was a terrific filmmaker of many genres. The accuracy of the criticism Ace in the Hole has for our unhealthy obsession with events like this has deepened even more with time. Kirk Douglas is good in the lead role though Jan Sterling is less impressive as the miner's wife. It didn't have quite the flow or bite of some of Wilder's other work but it is engrossing and ahead of its time.
My grade: B+
"It's a good story today. Tomorrow, they'll wrap a fish in it."
To call the ethics of Charles Tatum, the newspaper writer at the heart of Billy Wilder's Ace in the Hole, questionable would be very generous. Tatum has been fired from the best papers. He was good enough but he always got into trouble. Now, he stumbles into a small town paper willing to work for pennies, hoping he can find a story that can help him reclaim his glory and get back to the bigs. He does stumble onto such a story, but he doesn't simply report it. He begins to guide the rescue of a miner trapped in a collapsed mine. He works to ensure the rescue is prolonged long enough to help him grab the attention of papers everywhere and drive up his asking price on the highest bidder. Tatum is bothered by what he is doing, but not enough to stop. The rescue becomes a frenzy, a circus, with on-lookers from all over the country. Reporters come from everywhere but Tatum has a deal worked out with the sheriff for exclusive access.
Billy Wilder was a terrific filmmaker of many genres. The accuracy of the criticism Ace in the Hole has for our unhealthy obsession with events like this has deepened even more with time. Kirk Douglas is good in the lead role though Jan Sterling is less impressive as the miner's wife. It didn't have quite the flow or bite of some of Wilder's other work but it is engrossing and ahead of its time.
My grade: B+
posted by Keith Allison at 7:36 PM
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