Ace in the Hole

 

Moviedrome Introduction

Film Details

Release Date: 1951

Director: Billy Wilder

Stars:

Kirk Douglas as Chuck Tatum

Jan Sterling as Lorraine Minosa

Plot Summary

Chuck Tatum is a disgraced, formerly successful New York journalist who finds himself stuck working for a small Albuquerque newspaper. Desperate to regain his former glory, he seizes on the story of a man named Leo Minosa, who becomes trapped in a cave while searching for Native American artifacts.

Instead of helping to expedite Leo’s rescue, Tatum manipulates the situation, prolonging the rescue effort to turn the story into a media spectacle. He works with corrupt local officials to control access to the trapped man, encouraging them to use slower, less efficient methods in order to stretch out the event for as long as possible.

As the media frenzy builds, crowds gather at the cave site, turning the rescue into a circus-like event with food stands and carnival rides. Leo’s wife Lorraine, who is unhappy in her marriage, tries to exploit the situation for financial gain, and other figures try to capitalize on the publicity. Tatum, meanwhile, gets the attention of major newspapers, making him a national star.

However, Tatum’s exploitation leads to tragic consequences. The prolonged delay results in Leo’s death, and the moral and emotional toll leaves Tatum disillusioned and broken.

Personal History

Never heard of it.

Current Review

This is a biting satire.... unexpected in its grim portrayal of all human life. There isn't a decent character amongst them. Some of the miserable actions are out front - the wife of the trapped man, loving her increase in takings at the cafe. The Police Chief who emblazons the cliff face with a message for his re-election. Other times its far more subtle. Look closely and the entry fee into the cliff homes goes from free to 25 cents to a full on dollar.

If there is an award for Moviedrome Best Actor, Kirk Douglas is the stand out favourite to date. A just the right side of over the top performance as the unapologetic newspaper hound, who manufacturers a crisis for his own gain. He gets the best lines. Frequently.

At times it felt like that episode of the Simpsons where the boy gets trapped in the well, but overall a success with a suitably grim ending. Tatum, telling everyone to jog on home, disgusted with humanity.

A far bit of tunnel action with the trapped man

Nothing to see now - time to go home

More than 70 years old, the film has lost none of its power or relevance. A real surprise. Thank you Moviedrome.

Quirky Facts

• After the film was released, it got bad reviews and lost money. The studio, without Billy Wilder's permission, changed the title to "The Big Carnival" to increase the box office take of the film. It didn't work. On top of that, Wilder's next picture, "Stalag 17 (1953)," was a hit and he expected a share of the picture's profits. Paramount's accountants told him that since this picture lost money, the money it lost would be subtracted from the profits of "Stalag 17".
• Actor Victor Desny brought a lawsuit against this film while the script was being written. He claimed the film was an unauthorized version of the Floyd Collins story. Collins was actually stuck in a cave years earlier, as mentioned in the film. Since Desny owned the rights to the Collins story, he claimed copyright infringement. Desny prevailed, although Wilder appealed. The California Supreme Court ruled in Desny's favor. ('Desny v. Wilder', 46 Cal. 2d 715, 299 (Cal. Sup. Ct. 1956).) Wilder's attorneys settled, paying Desny $14,350.

Quotes

Charles Tatum: I can handle big news and little news. And if there's no news, I'll go out and bite a dog

Herbie Cook: The old man sure looked bad. Did you see his face?
Charles Tatum: Yeah.
Herbie Cook: Like the faces of those folks you see outside a coal mine with maybe 84 men trapped inside.
Charles Tatum: One man's better than 84. Didn't they teach you that?
Herbie Cook: Teach me what?
Charles Tatum: Human interest. You pick up the paper, you read about 84 men or 284, or a million men, like in a Chinese famine. You read it, but it doesn't say with you. One man's different, you want to know all about him. That's human interest.

Jacob Q. Boot: Do you drink a lot?
Charles Tatum: Not a lot - just frequently.

Charles Tatum: Leo Minosa is dead. He died a quarter of an hour ago with the drill just ten feet away. There is nothing we can do anymore. There is nothing anybody can do anymore.
[long pause]
Charles Tatum: No go home, all of you.
[referring to the entire set up infront of the mountain metaphorically which also includes the display of the media and consumerism in general]
Charles Tatum: The circus is over!

Sustenance

Whiskey. Tatum is a man who doesnt drink a lot but drinks frequently. Although booze is banned from the office, he does get tucked in at the height of his "success".

Future Inspiration

First film that I have seen of Billy Wilder's. I can see a top 5 coming on for an iconic director.

Sunset Boulevard (1950)

Some Like It Hot (1959)

The Apartment (1960)

Double Indemnity (1944)

Sabrina (1954)

I've had a hankering to watch Kirk Douglas's Vikings for a return to childhood nostalgia.

The Book - Amusing ourselves to death by Neil Postman recommended by AI. And I have read it, giving it 5 stars in Goodreads. Maybe I should move onto another of his works - Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology.