BEST JOURNALISM MOVIES
“His Girl Friday” (1940) “The Front Page” has gotten several screen workouts, the most successful arguably being this Howard Hawks-directed triangle among an editor (Cary Grant), his reporter ex-wife (Rosalind Russell) and her fiance (Ralph Bellamy). Turner Classic Movies shows the film as part of a night of newspaper comedies Wednesday, May 11.
“Citizen Kane” (1941) The enigma of “Rosebud” is just one of many classic elements of Orson Welles’ saga of a tyrannical publisher, rightfully one of the most acclaimed attractions in movie history.
“Sweet Smell of Success” (1957) One of the nastiest – and that’s a compliment in this case – movies yet made, this searing drama has the aroma of New York nightlife as a desperate publicist (Tony Curtis) seeks the favor of, and favors from, a powerful and unforgiving columnist (Burt Lancaster).
“All the President’s Men” (1976) The Oscar-winning dramatization of Bob Woodward (Robert Redford) and Carl Bernstein’s (Dustin Hoffman) probe of the Watergate break-in remains every bit as compelling as when the film was in close proximity to the real events it depicts.
“Network” (1976) It’s amazing how Paddy Chayefsky predicted much of the media’s future in his then-satirical script about news anchor Howard Beale (Peter Finch) and his crusade to make the viewing public “mad as hell” about the world around them. Faye Dunaway, who won an Oscar here as did Finch and Chayefsky, and William Holden also do brilliant work.
“Absence of Malice” (1981) An innocent man (Paul Newman) craftily turns the tables on those who have targeted him for investigation, including an ambitious reporter (Sally Field) and a brigade of local politicians, in director Sydney Pollack’s excellent drama.
“The Year of Living Dangerously” (1982) Unrest in mid-1960s Indonesia is covered by an Australian journalist (Mel Gibson) who becomes involved with an embassy official (Sigourney Weaver) and a somewhat mystical local (Oscar winner Linda Hunt) in this fine film from director Peter Weir.
“Broadcast News” (1987) Writer-director James L. Brooks added smart humor to then-timely aspects of the TVnews business, as well as a compelling romantic triangle involving William Hurt, Holly Hunter and Albert Brooks. Susan Zirinsky, who was a technical adviser to Brooks (and the model for Hunter’s character), became a president of CBS News.