I do love a film whose main character is a complete and utter piece of trash and Charles Tatum is very much that in this film.
Tatum (Kirk Douglas) is a talented journalist but having been sacked from respectable papers takes a low-paid job at the small paper the Sun Bulletin in Albuquerque knowing sooner or later he'll find a story that will propel back to the big leagues. That comes when he stumbles upon a man trapped in a cave and Tatum engineers it to create a huge media circus around the story and ensures the rescue takes many days longer than it needs to.
It's only really towards the end of the film that Tatum becomes in any way redeemable. From the moment he waltzes into the offices of the Sun Bulletin it's clear he is a complete and utter arsehole yet also one who is very competent. There's something oddly delightful in watching him grasp great power from controlling the story and manipulating every person involved so that it goes the way he wants it to.
Few people here are much better than Tatum is, happily going along with his suggestions in order to gain power or money. It's fascinating to see people be very reluctant until Tatum reveals what is in it for them and suddenly they happily go along with it. Really it's a film all about greed in different forms. There's a great subtle example of this where the price of entry to the caves starts as free, raises to 50 cent and then to $1 as more and more people turn up.
It's interesting that the story was inspired by several real life stories including Floyd Collins who is mentioned in the film. I also couldn't help but consider how recent incident that are not too dissimilar also created media circuses such as the Chilean Miners and the Thai Cave Rescue. It's another of those film that with only a few minor tweaks could be made today.
The film was heavily criticised by film critics at the time with many saying journalists would never behave like this. Of course film critics at the time nearly all worked for newspapers. Many critics also talked about the American institution of a democratic government is respected and effective which feels very at odds with what many would say today. It's a deeply cynical film from a more innocent time but it feels horrifically plausible as a modern viewer.
Billy Wilder's most cynical film, and indeed one of Hollywood's most cynical, with a great performance by Kirk Douglas. It doesn't make you feel good but it's an excellent film.
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