Kirk Douglas discovers the Story Of A Lifetime. Image: Criterion
We humans are fascinated by disaster and tragedy.
Many tourist attractions (politely named “Interpretive Centres”) have been built on the sites of man-made and natural disasters. You want to tour the Chernobyl nuclear power station? Click HERE!
The gritty 1951 drama, Ace in the Hole, is one of the best films to explore disaster tourism, profitable side businesses and media coverage. “Bad news sells best,” is the film’s message. “Good news is no news.”
In this film, Kirk Douglas stars as a talented journalist who can’t keep a job. He brags about being fired from 11 newspapers with a combined circulation of seven million. When he finds himself in Albuquerque, New Mexico, he talks the publisher of the local newspaper into hiring him.
On the day he is sent out of town to cover an annual Rattlesnake Hunt, Douglas stops at a small gas station/hamburger stand and learns of a man (Richard Benedict) trapped by a cave-in inside a nearby mountain.
Now, Douglas wasn’t fired from the best newspapers for nothing, and he smells a story – a real story that could reboot his career, and maybe earn him a Pulitzer. Quickly he galvanizes the local sheriff (Ray Teal), the contractor heading up the rescue operation (Frank Jaquet), and Benedict’s unhappy wife (Jan Sterling). Douglas poses this question: If rescue workers were to take a few days to rescue the man, instead of a few hours, how much more profitable would that be for you?
Not one of the main characters in this film is untainted. Sterling’s character, for instance, wants out of her hamburger-slinging life; Teal, as Sheriff, wants to be re-elected; and the contractor Jaquet wants to keep his cozy government contracts.
See? With a cave-in, there’s something for everyone!
Douglas is pure magic in the role of the amoral journalist. He’s smooth-talking when he has to be, and doesn’t think twice about muscling others. He is ambitious and mean, and cannot wait to announce to the journalism world, “I’m back, Baby!”
Douglas’ ability to manipulate the rescue – and the story – is breathtaking. You hate him for his ruthlessness, but you almost admire his strategy.
Ultimately, it’s not how he manipulates the situation that causes us the greatest discomfort. It’s how easily he does so.
Douglas addresses the festival goers – er, the supporters of a trapped man. Image: Sound on Sight
As word of the trapped man spreads, and with an elaborate rescue operation underway, the flats at the base of the mountain start to fill with tourists. Suddenly, Sterling is making more money than she can spend. People start arriving at the mountain, on vacation, with Airtream trailers and barbeques in tow. An amusement company erects carnival rides for the kids.
Douglas is now treated like a celebrity he’s always wanted to be, and Steling can’t count her cash fast enough. “Honey,” she says to Douglas, “you like those rocks just as much as I do.”
Life has never been better!
Except it’s not. Except there is a real man whose legs have been crushed beneath rock, and the sound of the rescue drill, endlessly pounding through the mountain, tears away his nerves. “It feels like someone is driving crooked nails in my head!” he cries.
This man is important only as long as he remains the ace in the hole. He’s trapped between the mountain and Kirk Douglas and, in this film, only one of them can win.
Ace in the Hole is one of our favourite movies. If you haven’t yet seen this film, promise us you’ll do so ASAP.
Ace in the Hole: starring Kirk Douglas, Jan Sterling, Robert Arthur. Directed by Billy Wilder. Written by Billy Wilder, Lesser Samuels & Walter Newman. Paramount Pictures Corp., 1951, B&W, 112 mins.
This post is part of the My Favorite Classic Movie Blogathon in celebration of National Classic Movie Day (May 16th). Click here to view the schedule listing all the great posts in this blogathon.
Silver Screenings 
Well, now I have to see this! The list of movies I need to see continues to grow 10 times as fast as I can try to keep up with it! 😛
But seriously, great review! 😀
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Ha ha – I know EXACTLY what you mean about the ever-growing list of Must See Movies. Thanks for your kind comments. 🙂
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You’re welcome. 🙂
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Jan Sterling was the bee’s knees. In everything.
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I’m not that familiar with her films, but I love her in everything I’ve seen her in so far. My fave line of hers is early in this film: “I know that Sheriff. he comes by once a week for steak and never picks up the cheque.” The way she says that one line, you know all you need to know about her – and the Sheriff.
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She was great in everything! So underrated as a performer. (And that is a wonderful line!)
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Man, and I thought I submitted MY ‘thon posts early! In any case, terrific critique of a terrific movie. Back in the 1990’s, my best friend and I were discussing this movie and doing “fantasy” casting of an updated remake. We decided that Geraldo Rivera would have been good for Kirk Douglas’ role, and Madonna could take the place of Jan Sterling. Wonder who we’d choose nowadays? In any case, great blog!
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Geraldo Rivera! What is he up to these days? If the film were to be remade today – shudder – it would be interesting to see who might be cast. Thanks for dropping by!
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Love your phrase, ‘Trapped between the mountain and Kirk Douglas. Can’t recall the ending. Did Douglas pay?
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Oh yes, Douglas paid in the biggest way possible…
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One of those gritty character that Kirk excelled at and helped to secure his position in films at the time. Great film from a master director as well.
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Agreed! This film needed Billy Wilder at the helm. Not saying that anyone else couldn’t do it – just that it greatly benefitted from Wilder’s cynical touch.
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I promise! I’ve not even heard of this before, but I’m off to search for a copy right now. I can’t wait to see it. Thanks!
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Oh Sarah, you’ve got to see this one. Great story & acting – and such an important message.
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Reblogged this on Rogues & Vagabonds and commented:
This film has one of my favourite movie quotes: “I’ve met some hard-boiled eggs in my time but you, you’re twenty minutes.”
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Love this line: “Ultimately, it’s not how he manipulates the situation that causes us the greatest discomfort. It’s how easily he does so.” So true. An amazing film. It’s first on my list of the films I’m using to convert my sister into a classic movie fan.
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Good on you, for “converting” your sister. I think this film is an excellent choice…and if she’s half as smart as you, she’ll agree. 😉
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Wilder made us take a good look at ourselves, and it isn’t pretty. Great movie!
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You’re right – it isn’t pretty. The media can shoulder its share of the blame with this one, but we ourselves feed that beast.
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Love this movie. Wilder saw the press exploitation in its early stages, but it is still relevant today. I think that’s part of the reason the movie has held up so well. Great post!
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I totally agree. This movie almost seems more relevant today, no? Wilder was eerily prophetic.
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For sure. I did a lengthy graduate study on Sunset Blvd in college and even then he was right on par with the demise of the studio system and the fleeting obsession with stars. He and Brackett put out amazing work together.
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I love your comment: “Ultimately, it’s not how he manipulates the situation that causes us the greatest discomfort. It’s how easily he does so.” That perfectly sums up ACE IN THE HOLE, a film which has become only more relevant in the Internet-cable news era. These days, the media is more ready than ever before to seize a news event and exploit it–though perhaps not to the extent of Kirk’s character.
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I agree, Rick. Sometimes media manipulation is so obvious it’s almost laughable, but when it’s so subtle you don’t learn the truth until much later…that makes me worry.
Thanks for hosting this blogathon! Here’s to National Classic Movie Day! •clink!*
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Great film that you do a fine job with. Wilder is one of my all time, going way back, favorite filmmakers and this is one of top five Wilder films. An acidic nasty film that rings true more today than ever.
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Acidic and nasty are perfect descriptions for this film. It certainly doesn’t sugar-coat the story. And it really does ring true moreso today, like you said.
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This movie knocked me out when I first saw it on TV many years ago. It definitely should be better known. A more cynical frame of mind might be required to totally enjoy it, though. I once saw a revival showing of it at a theatre, and it was apparent that the movie really bummed out some of the audience. Most likely it was devastating back in 1951.
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I always thought this would be interesting to see on the big screen, but didn’t anticipate how much of a downer that would be. I’m going to research audience reactions when it was first released. Thanks for dropping by! 🙂
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As I make my ay thought the many wonderful posts for this blogathon, I’m beginning to think it might end up being a Billy Wilder blogathon! You picked a great film, not one often seen, and you did a marvelous job. Douglas is at his very best here – not always likable, but still compelling.
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Ha ha – I think you’re right! It certainly says a lot about Billy Wilder’s talent. And isn’t Douglas mesmerizing here? He is a-maz-ing.
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Oh what an amazing review. I have never seen this but must do now. Here is my entry for the blogathon.
https://crystalkalyana.wordpress.com/2015/05/16/my-favorite-classic-movie-blogathon-national-classic-movie-day-may-16th-the-spiral-staircase-1946/
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Oh yes, you’ve got to see this one! It’s a haunting, hard-hitting film. Will visit your blog soon – thanks!
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I knew this film as “The Big Carnival” and had never heard the other name until well into adulthood. This is one of the few movies that elicited the same emotional responses when I was a kid and again when I was an adult. Man’s cruelty to man, greed, callous exploitation — I can’t think of another movie that explored those things as well and as realistically as this one. Great choice of film!
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Agreed. This film doesn’t shrink from the ugly side of human nature. Even if you’ve seen the film before, you still get that same shocked, almost sick feeling as the movie progresses. Thanks for dropping by!
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I love how you write with small paragraphs and yet delivers all the messages you want to.
A few days ago I thought about this film and how tragedies are exploited to benefit someone or something like the press. It is a very powerful film, and I think I’ll never forget it as long as I live! Kirk Douglas and Billy Wilder are spots-on in the movie.
Kisses!
Le
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I don’t think I’ll forget this as long as I live, either. It’s just that powerful, no? Thanks so much for your kind comments. 🙂
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I’ve been thinking a lot about disaster tourism recently, when in Rome a few weeks ago we also visited Pompeii and, whilst it was incredible, I felt so uncomfortable sightseeing around what’s essentially the final resting place for so many people. I have a well-known fascination with the macabre, but this just felt different.
It’s interesting to think about this idea explored on film too – will give it a watch in the next fe weeks!
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This is one of Billy Wilder’s films that I have yet to see! I must buy the dvd as the film never airs on tv (at least in my country). Great review, thanks!
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Thanks for the great review! I have never seen this film, but I surely will as Billy Wilder is my second favourite movie director and I’m sure I’ll enjoy it because I enjoyed every Wilder’s films I’ve seen so far! 😀
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Oh yes, you must see this film! It’s quite an indictment and will stay with you long after its finished.
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Great review for what sounds like a great movie! My list of movies to watch keeps getting longer via this blogathon 🙂
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I hear you! There were a number of movies I hadn’t seen – some I’d never even heard of.
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Wow, I honestly thought this movie was about something completely different…how interesting though! Definitely seems like it would still play well to a modern audience. Am adding this one to my list now!
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Yes, it really does fit well with modern audiences. It’s a grim movie, but well worth it, if you have the chance!
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Wow, this sounds so good – even though a bit depressing when you see where our society is at now. Sounds like it should be a requirement for every journalist or newsperson to see, although it applies to all of us because we are the ones that watch. Your term disaster tourism is a phrase I had never heard before. Really makes you think. Thank you, Ruth. I’m going to look for this on Netflix.
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Shari, this is one powerful, hard-hitting movie. I was quite shocked the first time I saw it because you have no idea where the story is going to end up. The acting is so good! The movie packs a lot of meaning into its run time, and it’s one you’ll never forget.
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Oh! So that’s what ‘Ace in the Hole’ stands for. Great Review ( as always 🙂 ). I promise to chk it ASAP (which, in this country, could be ages; but at least, it’s a movie, I’ll be on the lookout for).
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Oh yes, you’ve got to see it. Well worth the effort in tracking it down.
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