Rent Ace in the Hole (1951)
4.0 of 5 from 158 ratings
1h 51min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
- In one of the most powerhouse performances in American screen-acting, the great Kirk Douglas stars as Chuck Tatum, a newspaper reporter who stumbles upon a potentially career-making story in Albuquerque, New Mexico. When Tatum begins to influence the story's outcome, a descent begins that finds more than one man caught between a rock and a hard place. An electric narrative that stands as one of Wilder's tautest and most (melo)dramatic plots (penned with Lesser Samuels and Walter Newman), 'Ace in the Hole' plays today as both a prescient examination of the modern media landscape, and the public appetite for the disastrous news-story that leads to toxic wish-fulfillment.
- Actors:
- Kirk Douglas, Jan Sterling, Robert Arthur, Porter Hall, Frank Cady, Richard Benedict, Ray Teal, Lewis Martin, John Berkes, Frances Dominguez, Gene Evans, Frank Jaquet, Harry Harvey, Bob Bumpas, Geraldine Hall, Richard Gaines, Roy Regnier, Oscar Belinda, Martin Bendleton, Timothy Carey
- Directors:
- Billy Wilder
- Producers:
- Billy Wilder
- Writers:
- Billy Wilder, Lesser Samuels
- Others:
- Walter Newman, Hugo Friedhofer
- Aka:
- The Big Carnival
- Studio:
- Eureka
- Genres:
- Classics, Drama
- Collections:
- Award Winners, The Biggest Oscar Snubs: Part 1, The Instant Expert's Guide, The Instant Expert's Guide to: Billy Wilder
- Awards:
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 05/05/2014
- Run Time:
- 111 minutes
- Languages:
- English Dolby Digital 2.0
- Subtitles:
- English Hard of Hearing
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Full Screen 1.37:1
- Colour:
- B & W
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
- Bonus:
- New and Exclusive Video Interview with Film Scholar Neil Sinyard
- Portrait of a "60% Perfect" Man: Billy Wilder, a Film by Annie Tresgot and Michel Ciment (direction: Annie Tresgot - interview: Michel Ciment), a 59-minute 1980 documentary discussion with Billy Wilder
- Original Theatrical Trailer
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Reviews (2) of Ace in the Hole
The Big Carnival - Ace in the Hole review by PhilipC
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.
3 out of 3 members found this review helpful.
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.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.