Casting a critical eye on sensationalistic news reporting with "Ace in the Hole" on CineVerse

With a thousand things going on at the same time, some of which will be announced right here very soon, I've been remiss again in updating the blog. But check out this episode of the CineVerse podcast where we put an early critical examination of tabloid journalism under the spotlight. Directed and co-written by Billy Wilder, "Ace in the Hole" – also known as "The Big Carnival," was released to little fanfare in the summer of 1951. Starring Kirk Douglas, Jan Sterling, and Robert Arthur, the plot centers around Chuck Tatum (Douglas), a struggling reporter who stumbles upon a potentially major story: a man trapped in a collapsed mine. But instead of promptly rescuing the trapped individual, Tatum milks the situation to prolong the event, creating a media circus to advance his career.

Wilder’s work emphasizes the unethical nature of yellow journalism and the exploitation of human tragedy. By critiquing the media's manipulation of news for profit and public attention and exploring themes of corruption, avarice, and the corrosive power of personal ambition, the movie proved to be ahead of its time; its cynical tone and scathing subtextual commentary on the dark side of media help "Ace in the Hole" remain relevant today.

Fascinatingly, the film bombed at the box office upon initial release. But it has since garnered significant recognition as a thought-provoking morality play exploring media ethics and the pursuit of sensationalism. It also features one of Douglas’ most unforgettable performances.