Ace In The Hole (1951)

Ace In The Hole (1951) ★★★★★ 5/5

Long before James Franco found himself trapped under the rocks in 127 Hours, Leo Minosa (Richard Benedict) found himself in the same sort of predicament. Trapped in the rocks of Escadera, New Mexico while trying to steal ancient Indian artifacts. Chuck Tatum (Kirk Douglas) is a newspaper reporter who has basically been banned from the industry for his nonprofessional behavior and lack of ethics in reporting. Tatum finds himself the first on the scene of Minosa's situation and sees nothing but opportunity.

Tatum recalls the real life story of W. Floyd Collins, who suffered a similar fate in the 1920's. He goes to see Minosa trapped in the rocks and when he hears Minosa talk about how he was afraid he became trapped as the result of an Indian curse, Tatum likens it to the story of the curse of King Tut's tomb. Immediately he puts himself to work to get the story. However, he doesn't just get the story, he dictates it and wants Minosa to be trapped for as long as possible so he can write.

Minosa has a wife (Jan Sterling) who was ready to leave him. The couple run a small cafe in the middle of nowhere. She despises her life and with her husband being trapped, she knows she can leave. Tatum manipulates her way of thinking. As a family drives up to ask where the trapped man was they read about, Tatum shows Mrs. Minosa the paper and how he had written about how she was a wife in distress over her husband being trapped. He went on to explain that the people would be coming in droves and from it, the cafe would prosper. Indeed it did, and like Tatum, she too saw the benefit of dragging the story on.

Tatum works his angle to get in good with the sheriff (Ray Teal) to ensure that he is the only one with full access to the scene, thereby blocking out all other reporters. Likewise, he works his magic with the doctor and the rescue crew. He ends up in complete control of the situation and completely fabricates what could have been a simple rescue into "The Big Carnival," which was the original title of the film.

Jacob Q. Boot (Porter Hall) runs the small newspaper that Tatum works for and sees through Tatum's story. Boot is in opposition of the sheriff's politics and condemns Tatum for what he has been doing. In reaction, he quits on the spot and decides to make his fortune telling his story to the larger papers throughout the country. Mrs. Minosa also has expectations about making her fortune and moving to New York . . . in hopes of being with Tatum.

The ending rather intense. Yet knowing what the movie was saying as it progressed, it was not necessarily an unexpected ending. Alcohol and the weight of the situation the Tatum created ultimately become his own demise.

Media's portrayal of news is scrutinized very well in this film without belittling the industry. Two sides are given, the side of the professional, upstanding newsman (Boot), and the unscrupulous newsman more concern about money and fame then integrity. It draws a clear picture of how the media can manipulate an event to it's advantage in order to sell papers. Tatum saw a story and steered it in a direction that would benefit him. With his twist and writing, he drew interest so great that the location became a fairground, songs were written with Leo's rescue as the topic, trains rolled through and the entire country rallied around a man who was not a victim of the rocks, but a victim of the media using him to his advantage.

This film is still just as relevant today as it was when it was released. Paparazzi and entertainment shows like TMZ easily target people and situations and present them in a less then becoming matter to make money. This film really makes you stop and rethink what is being reported and how a story could be manipulated, jeopardizing the lives and livelihoods of the people being covered.

Strangers On A Train (1951)

Strangers On A Train ★★★★★ 5/5

This is a fantastic movie and rightfully belongs on the list of movies to see. The black and white imagery is flawless and translates on the screen smoothly. While the film boasts no major Hollywood star power, the acting is superb and believable. This is one of Hitchcock's classic movies and all the elements one would expect are there. The manipulation of an innocent character, intense emotion in the most mundane of places, and beloved national Monuments holding court to the unthinkable.

In this film two complete strangers meet on a train. Guy Haines (Farley Granger) is a professional tennis player who meets Bruno Anthony (Robert Walker) on a train. Haines is a well known professional tennis player whose life is publicly followed in the society pages. He is amidst a divorce with wife Miriam (Laura Elliott), and publicly seeing a Senator's daughter, Anne Morton (Ruth Roman). Anthony knows the divorce is not going smoothly and suggests to Haines that it might be easier to continue his life if Miriam is murdered. Anthony then goes on to explain the best way to murder someone is to have a stranger do it. He then explains how he himself has someone who he would like to have murdered . . . his Father. So before leaving the train, he outlines the perfect murder, explaining how he could kill Miriam in exchange for Haines killing his Father. Haines blows the conversation off as small talk, but Anthony seems to think that a deal has been made. The scene ends and the two men go their separate ways.

The movie takes off pretty quick with Anthony pursuing Miriam to an amusement park. In typical Hitchcock style, the unthinkable happens, and like any other Hitchcock film it is done with suspense and anticipation. With Miriam dead, Anthony seeks out Haines to tell him the news and direct him as to how it was now his turn to fulfill the murder of Anthony's Father. Naturally Haines is taken back by what has happened and intends to bring the attention of the murder to the police. But that would be too simple.

My first thought in knowing the plot line was how ridiculous. What could possibly prevent him from telling the authorities what happened. But Anthony has the logic and blackmail to stop Haines from talking. Haines carries on with his life. At all costs he avoids Anthony. Anthony persists to follow and harass Haines in an attempt for him to carry out the murder of his Father. Anthony infiltrates Haines' life. He works his way into social parties, shows up at Haines' tennis matches, and appears at outings in town.

It is at a social gathering when Anne and Barbara Morton (Patricia Hitchcock) realize something is not right with Anthony. Anne makes the connection that Anthony is in fact the murderer and Haines tells her what has happened. Together, along with sister Barbara, they devise a way to put an end to the situation.

In the end, Hitchcock places the key players together on a runaway merry go round.

The plot twists are suspenseful. Hitchcock works wonders when matching a score to a picture. He knows where to place the high notes and the low notes. The music drives the movie. This holds so true in the final scene with the runaway merry go round. This scene in itself is a masterpiece. A simple contraption built to entertain becomes a nightmare. Children become victims, innocent girls are set spinning in a frenzy, a fight ensues and the merry go round spins. Carousal horses become weapons, an old man trying to stop the merry go round crawls underneath it to stop the chaos. He moves at a snails pace in contrast to the dizzying speed of the action inches above him. There is no scene I can think of like it.

The actors are supberb. Everyone carries their role out with splendor. Farley Granger plays the innocent victim as well, if not better the Cary Grant or Jimmy Stewart in other Hitchcock movies. Robert Walker exemplifies a psychopath and makes the role believable. He is a strange mix of likeable and loath able. Ruth Roman is glamorous and beautiful. She plays the loving girlfriend without being over dramatic. She is very reminiscent of Doris Day or Grace Kelly. Hitchcock cast this film perfectly and the characters play their parts right on cue. However if there is one actor that really steals the film it would have to be Patricia Hitchcock. She brings humor to the film with witty one liners and breaks up the dramatic pieces. In one particular scene however her acting shines. This is the scene where she realizes that Anthony is the murderer. It is an under rated performance and a true highlight to the film.

This movie belongs on the list and is worth seeing.