Ace in the Hole

Ace in the Hole (Criterion #396). 1951 Paramount Pictures.
Starring: Kirk Douglas, Jan Sterling, Robert Arthur, Porter Hall
Director: Billy Wilder
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This movie was Billy Wilder's first flop, although it was way ahead of its time. You might have seen this movie on cable under the title The Big Carnival. Criterion's 2007 release, which was reportedly the first for this movie on any home video format, retained the original name.

Chuck Tatum (Douglas) is a newspaper reporter working his way west to New Mexico all the way from New York City, having been fired from eleven other newspaper for slander, adultery, and heavy drinking. Fiercely ambitious and self-centered, Tatum has been writing for an small Albuquerque daily for over a year, and is still the same man he was when he walked in the door the first time.

While covering a rattlesnake hunt (This ain't the Big Apple, Chuck!), he learnes about Leo Minosa (Richard Benedict), who is trapped in a cave collapse while trying to excavate Native American artifacts. Sensing that this could turn into a huge story, Tatum manipulates the rescue effort, even persuading the local sheriff to pressure the rescue crew into using a much slower method, just so Tatum and his story can stay on the front pages longer. Sure enough, the story becomes a media sensation. Tourists start flocking to town, and the rescue site literally is turned into a carnival, with rides, games, and entertainment.

Tatum learns that Minosa is fading fast, but it's too late to switch back to the quicker rescue procedure. When he dies, the reporter is guilt-ridden.

Ace in the Hole definitely predicted the media circuses that seemed to break out surrounding any major news story, prolonging their stays on the front page, and on the TV news. Highly, highly recommended.