Rent Ace in the Hole (1951)

The Big Carnival - Ace in the Hole review by CP Customer

Kirk Douglas is excellent as the cynical reporter, manipulating events and people to get his big story. It is a tragic story, and no-one comes out well, but it grips and appals you all at the same time. The Big Carnival was an alternative title when they tried to re-release it after an initial flop, but it is definitely worth a watch.

Based on a true incident - Ace in the Hole review by RP

One of the great films. Ace In The Hole is as relevant today as it was when it was made. The cynicism of a press to manufacture a story out of peoples trauma at their most venerable. A public happy to appear to be supportive while enjoying the carnival atmosphere of a tragedy. Like cars slowing down at an accident hoping to gawp at the twisted metal and worse. A few close relatives only happy to find a way to exploit the situation and escape their dull lives. Brilliantly acted and directed, Ace In The Hole is the type of film that would be hard to make nowadays. There is simply no redeeming features of the lead characters. Everybody is out to get what they can from a tragic situation. Kirk Douglas was rarely better in a role. There a victims and there are those out to exploit them. Nothing changes. A film that everybody should see at least once in their life.

American Madness. - Ace in the Hole review by Steve

Billy Wilder's trademark cynicism is applied to the newspaper business and the American people. No surprises then that the press reviewed this negatively and the public stayed away. But it feels modern and maybe better reflects the present time, with the media (still) making up the news and their readers easily manipulated. Plus the current idea that the truth is negotiable.

Kirk Douglas is well cast as the standard Wilder finagler; a big city reporter who washes up in a New Mexico backwater looking for a quick fix on his career slump at the Albuquerque Sun-Bulletin. When he happens on a local man trapped in a cave he spins the small scale rescue into a national event, even though it means risking the life of the injured party.

He slows down the emergency recovery. And others are willing to exploit the casualty's misfortune. Including the wife, a disenchanted concrete blonde brilliantly played by Jan Sterling. She isn't too fussed about his return and the family diner does gangbusters out of the ensuing media circus as the locality fills up with news crews, rubberneckers and bored holidaymakers.

After WWII, Wilder was engaged by an impression of spreading corruption in American life and the threat of fascism. His films become suspicious of capitalism and the docility of the public. This isn't the best of these; occasionally the narrative gets stuck. But it confronts the issue most unsparingly. It was felt to be unpatriotic, and didn't find an audience. Yet it never stopped being relevant.