Ace in the Hole

An unscrupulous reporter fired for bad behavior by a dozen newspapers banishes himself to the unheralded, low-circulation Albuquerque Sun-Bulletin. While covering a rattle snake hunt, he learns of a man trapped in a cave and callously manipulates the story into a sensational media circus, drawing big crowds to the remote locale as television and radio stations race to cover the unfolding rescue operation. The original name of the movie, “The Big Carnival,” is based on a real-life incident in 1925. The updated title Ace in the Hole refers to an "ace" reporter - a highly skilled "scoop" artist.

Here the mean city streets of noir wind out to the deserts of New Mexico. Chuck Tatum’s (Kirk Douglas) cynical opportunism mixes with a public thirst for spectacle, leading to unforeseen consequences. Jan Sterling, who made a film career playing femme fatales and hard-edged "bad girls," is in full character as the jaded wife of the hapless accident victim.

Director Billy Wilder had Double Indemnity, The Lost Weekend, and Sunset Boulevard under his belt. He was not accustomed to the critical and box office failure his new production endured. As with many acclaimed film noirs, Ace in the Hole received a positive reassessment a generation after its release and is now listed in the National Film Registry, where less than one percent all American movies reside.

For an immersive noir plunge into the corruption of journalism and the human soul, I recommend this film as part of a double bourbon-on-the-rocks double bill with my last Worth A Look, A Face in the Crowd.

If you enjoyed this post, please share it.