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Ace in the Hole follows Chuck Tatum (Kirk Douglas), an ambitious but disgraced reporter that has been exiled from New York to Albuquerque for reasons that go from his alcoholism and womanizing to his work ethics (or lack of) and simply burning too many bridges. But he's determined to get back on the horse at any cost.
Opportunity strikes when a local man ends up trapped after a cave collapses and Tatum tries to manipulate the news and rescue efforts for his own advantage. It is with the above quote that he stakes his claim back to fame to the man's wife, Lorraine (Jan Sterling), a selfish and egocentric woman who's also eager to leave the small town for a better life.
This is my sixth film from Billy Wilder, and I have to say he's becoming one of my favorite directors. Not only is his direction great, but the script is full of snappy dialogue that's perfectly delivered by the cast. Douglas, an actor that 4-5 years ago I don't think I had seen anything other than Spartacus, has been surprising me with every performance I see. From his scene-stealing supporting performance in Out of the Past to his lead role in Paths of Glory, and now this.
Douglas is joined by Sterling, who perfectly conveys the weariness and disdain of a woman that's trapped, "buried" in a situation she wants out of. Porter Hall is also excellent as Tatum's no-nonsense boss, Mr. Boot, who also delivers some of my favorite lines of the film. There's also a sleazy sheriff that's neatly portrayed by Ray Teal, although at times he strays a bit into caricaturesque.
Aside from the performances, the film perfectly presents themes of media manipulation, exploitation, the ethics of journalism, and the overall seediness of the press, as well as how gullible the public can be. All circumstances that seem to be burying Tatum more and more. I think the very last act, as he tries to redeem himself, is stretched a bit too much, but I appreciate that the story didn't deviate from the tragedy of what preceded it; that of three people buried and unable to crawl out.
Grade:
ACE IN THE HOLE
(1951, Wilder)
A film from the Criterion Collection whose number includes the #6 (#396)
(1951, Wilder)
A film from the Criterion Collection whose number includes the #6 (#396)
Get this. There's three of us buried here ‒ Leo, me and you. We all wanna get out, and we're going to. Only I'm going back in style.
Ace in the Hole follows Chuck Tatum (Kirk Douglas), an ambitious but disgraced reporter that has been exiled from New York to Albuquerque for reasons that go from his alcoholism and womanizing to his work ethics (or lack of) and simply burning too many bridges. But he's determined to get back on the horse at any cost.
Opportunity strikes when a local man ends up trapped after a cave collapses and Tatum tries to manipulate the news and rescue efforts for his own advantage. It is with the above quote that he stakes his claim back to fame to the man's wife, Lorraine (Jan Sterling), a selfish and egocentric woman who's also eager to leave the small town for a better life.
This is my sixth film from Billy Wilder, and I have to say he's becoming one of my favorite directors. Not only is his direction great, but the script is full of snappy dialogue that's perfectly delivered by the cast. Douglas, an actor that 4-5 years ago I don't think I had seen anything other than Spartacus, has been surprising me with every performance I see. From his scene-stealing supporting performance in Out of the Past to his lead role in Paths of Glory, and now this.
Douglas is joined by Sterling, who perfectly conveys the weariness and disdain of a woman that's trapped, "buried" in a situation she wants out of. Porter Hall is also excellent as Tatum's no-nonsense boss, Mr. Boot, who also delivers some of my favorite lines of the film. There's also a sleazy sheriff that's neatly portrayed by Ray Teal, although at times he strays a bit into caricaturesque.
Aside from the performances, the film perfectly presents themes of media manipulation, exploitation, the ethics of journalism, and the overall seediness of the press, as well as how gullible the public can be. All circumstances that seem to be burying Tatum more and more. I think the very last act, as he tries to redeem himself, is stretched a bit too much, but I appreciate that the story didn't deviate from the tragedy of what preceded it; that of three people buried and unable to crawl out.
Grade: