Behind the news

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Movie
Original title Behind the news
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1940
length 75 minutes
Rod
Director Joseph Santley
script Isabel Dawn
Boyce De Gaw
production Robert North
music Mort Glickman
Cy Fire
camera Jack A. Marta
cut Ernest J. Nims
occupation

Behind the News is an American drama from 1940. Directed by Joseph Santley , Lloyd Nolan , Doris Davenport and Frank Albertson star in an original story by Dore Schary .

action

Jeff Flavin, who wants to become a journalist and pursues his goal full of idealism , receives a scholarship that entitles him to volunteer for six months as a young reporter with the renowned Enquirer . On the day of his arrival, he witnessed the editor-in-chief Vic Archer reproaching star reporter Stuart Woodrow that he was jeopardizing his reputation as a great author with his cynicism but also his laziness. In the hope that Woodrow pulls himself together, Archer puts Jeff under him. Woodrow, however, has an aversion to youngsters and is accordingly condescending to Jeff. Disagreements arise over the apprehension and prosecution of notorious gangster Harry "Face" Houseman, as suspicions are in the air that District Attorney Hardin S. Kelly charged Houseman only because it would help his re-election.

To get rid of Jeff, Woodrow sends him to the morgue , as there is a rumor that the dead man was a victim of food poisoning there. While trying to get hold of relevant evidence, Jeff is arrested. After contacting Woodrow, he takes care of the bail set for Jeff's release and then gets drunk because he missed an important meeting with his fiancée Barbara Shaw, Kelly's personal secretary, as a result of the whole operation. While he is out of action, so to speak, events roll over. Houseman manages to escape from prison and Jeff, who visits Houseman's sister, watches with horror as Houseman is gunned down and an innocent child is killed. The young journalist writes the story for the Enquirer under Woodrow's name. Shortly afterwards, when he got caught up in misinformation and brought the story into the newspaper, the mockery was inevitable.

The Mexican Carlos Marquez, who only speaks Spanish and needs an interpreter, has meanwhile been charged with the murder of Houseman and the child . Jeff, who speaks Spanish, hears in disbelief that the interpreter Tomas Olmedo claims that Carlos confessed to the murder, even though he did not say anything of the kind. The Mexican is then convicted. Jeff tries to convince Archer and the other coworkers that Marquez has been set up and is innocent. However, because of the story he recently spread wrongly, nobody wants to believe him. After all, it is Barbara who can convince her fiancé to investigate Jeff's statements. The three of them look for clues in Kelly's office and find out that Olmedo was paid by Kelly to kill Houseman, who knew about his crooked business for years. Kelly made it possible for Houseman to escape, only to have him eliminated. Olmedo is held responsible and, like Kelly, arrested and soon convicted. Carlos is released and Jeff is now accepted by Woodrow without restriction. It is a matter of honor that he can also report on Woodrow and Barbara's wedding.

Production and Background

The film was shot from October 22 to November 8, 1940. The production company was Republic Pictures Corp, which also sold the film. The working title of the film was A Flagpole Needs a Flag . Behind the News was released in United States on December 20, 1940.

1955 there was a remake of the Republic Studios under the title Headline Hunters . Directed by William Witney , Rod Cameron was in the lead role.

criticism

TS of the New York Times sums up his judgment in the sentence: "In short, 'Behind the News' is a stupid piece by several authors who should know better." One of the things TS is up against is the fact that seasoned editors hardly know each other would behave in such an amateurish way and also because a public prosecutor was making common cause with crooks and also because of the idealization of journalists .

Awards

1941 was Charles L. Lootens for Behind the News in the category "Best Sound" nominated, but had to Douglas Shearer admit defeat, the trophy for the musical film Hot rhythms in Chicago was able to receive.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Behind the News (1940) Full Credits from TCM - Turner Classic Movies (English)
  2. ↑ Behind the News (1940) Original Print Information at TCM - Turner Classic Movies (English)
  3. ↑ Behind the News (1940) Notes at TCM - Turner Classic Movies (English)
  4. ↑ TS: Behind the News (1940) In: The New York Times, January 16, 1941 (English). Retrieved January 22, 2014.