Ace in the hole

Format:

Video disc

Title:

Ace in the hole

Other title(s):

Billy Wilder's Ace in the hole

ISBN:

9781934121689

Publication:

[Irvington, New York] : Criterion Collection, [2007]

Physical Description:

2 videodiscs (111 min.) : sound, black and white ; 4 3/4 in. 1 folded sheet ([4] pages : illustrations ; 36 cm (folded to 12 x 19 cm))

Series title(s):

Criterion collection ;

Number in series:

396.

General Note:

Originally produced as an American motion picture in 1951.

Disc 2: the supplements: "Portrait of a '60% perfect man': Billy Wilder" [featurette] (60 min.); Billy Wilder at the American Film Institute [featurette] (24 min.); Kirk Douglas interview [featurette] (14 min.); Walter Newman interview [audio only feature] (10 min.); Spike Lee afterword [featurette] (6 min.); Stills gallery; Insert (a facsimile newspaper) includes essays "Noir in broad daylight" by Molly Haskell and "Chin up for Mother" by Guy Maddin.

Contents:

Disc 1: the film: Arrival in Albuquerque -- "Where's my desk?" -- Life sentence -- "Good news is no news" -- Human interest -- Leo -- "Forget the rattlesnakes" -- Lorraine wants out -- Mr. and Mrs. America -- "Everybody likes a break" -- Ace in the hole -- Twenty minutes -- New community -- Gentlemen of the press -- From the top -- Leo suffers as the carnival arrives -- Accusations from Boot -- Rounding third -- Song for Leo -- Turn for the worse -- Out of options -- Present -- Last rites -- Circus is over -- Tatum special -- "For nothing" -- Color bars Special features: Commentary by Neil Sinyard [optional audio feature]; Theatrical trailer (2 min.).

Summary:

The Ace in the Hole, in this case, is Leo Minosa, trapped in a cliff dwelling near Albuquerque, N.M. The publicity from his situation could build a winning hand for several people: Chuck Tatum, manipulative veteran newsman; Lorraine, his bored wife who dreams of city lights; Sheriff Gus Kretzer, boosting his re-election campaign; and young Herbie, a reporter who wants to make the big leagues. In 1951, there was no 24-hour cable news, and the Albuquerque paper was not on the Internet. The modern media age, however, was dawning. A veritable carnival sets up at the rescue scene, which may be one of the sources of the term "media circus."

Subject(s):

Press -- Drama.

Journalists -- Professional ethics -- Drama.

Situation ethics -- Drama.

Mine accidents -- Drama.

Mass media -- Drama.

Albuquerque (N.M.) -- Drama.

Geographic Term:

Albuquerque (N.M.) -- Drama.

New Mexico -- Albuquerque

Genre:

Motion pictures, American.

Films for the hearing impaired

Thrillers (Motion pictures)

Video recordings for the hearing impaired.

Films for the hearing impaired.

Thriller -- Feature.

Added Author:

Wilder, Billy, 1906-2002

Samuels, Lesser

Newman, Walter

Douglas, Kirk, 1916-2020,

Sterling, Jan, 1923-2004,

Arthur, Robert, 1925-2008,

Hall, Porter, 1888-1953,

Cady, Frank, 1915-2012,

Benedict, Richard, 1916-1984,

Teal, Ray, 1902-1976,

Jaquet, Frank, 1885-1958,

Ciment, Michel, 1938-

Added Corporate Author:

Paramount Pictures Corporation,

Criterion Collection (Firm),

Holds:

Available:*

Library	Call Number	Status
Searching... McMinnville Public Library	Ace	Searching... Unknown

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

One of the most scathing indictments of American culture ever produced by a Hollywood filmmaker, Billy Wilder's Ace in the Hole is legendary for both its cutting social critique and its status as a hard-to-find cult classic. Kirk Douglas gives the fiercest performance of his career as Chuck Tatum, an amoral newspaper reporter caught in dead-end Albuquerque who happens upon the story of a lifetime - and will do anything to ensure he gets the scoop. Wilder's follow-up to Sunset Boulevard is an even darker vision, a no-holds-barred exposé that anticipated the rise of the American media circus.

Summary

Chuck Tatum, an amoral newspaper reporter caught in dead-end Albuquerque, happens upon the story of a lifetime, and will do anything to ensure he gets the scoop.

Reviews (1)

Library Journal Review

Rereleased as The Big Carnival after a disappointing initial run, Wilder's underrated follow-up to Sunset Boulevard may be timelier today than when it came out in 1951. Kirk Douglas overemotes with apt gusto as discredited newspaper reporter Chuck Tatum, an unscrupulous huckster who happens upon his "ace in the hole" in the form of an unlucky man trapped in a collapsed tunnel. Exploiting the situation for all its worth, Tatum manages to protract a rescue operation while he orchestrates a frenzied media, with all-too-willing participation from the public. An archival interview with Douglas, a 1980 documentary about the filmmaker, fascinating audio commentary, and other extras complement a digitally restored presentation. VERDICT Fans of the wildly popular Wilder, best liked for Some Like It Hot, deserve to see this lesser appreciated but prescient satire.-Jeff T. Dick, Davenport, IA (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.