Towards the end of his wonderful career, Humphrey Bogart continued making great films. Consider THE CAINE MUTINY, THE DESPERATE HOURS, African QUEEN, THE HARDER THEY FALL as well as this film--all first-rate films with an older yet still exciting Bogart at the helm. Sure, there were a few disappointments here and there (SIROCCO and BATTLE CIRCUS come to mind),but the Bogart of the 1950s was every bit as exciting to watch as he'd ever been. In fact because Bogey often played a less glamorous and less macho characters in these films, he was quite believable and showed he was a darn fine actor.

Here we see Bogart as the head of a newspaper that is about to be sold by the family that owns it. It seems the sleazy and more sensationalistic rival paper wants to buy it just to shut it down. The commentary on the sensationalistic "if it bleeds, it leads" style of reporting is just as timely then as it is now. But Bogey doesn't want to give up without a fight and refuses to just finish up his tenure with a whimper--choosing instead to pull out all the stops to "get the goods" on a local mobster who, up until that point, has been untouchable.

The film abounds with great performances, such as Ethel Barrymore's, Martin Gabel and Warren Stevens'--and of course Humphrey Bogart's. Additionally, the cast was blessed by having an excellent script that had a lot of depth as well as something to say. Sure, there were a few times it seemed a tad over-idealistic, but for the most part it was solid and exciting. In fact, I have no criticism of the film, as it was dandy entertainment and I sure wish they made them like this today. Give it a look--you won't be sorry.

Ed Hutcheson (Humphrey Bogart) is the crusading editor of a New York newspaper. He has to tell his crew that the newspaper is closing. With his workers scattering to the four winds, he goes to try to save his marriage. When one of his reporters gets beaten by gangster Rienzi, he decides to lead a final crusade and save his paper.

This is good newspaper drama with Bogie leading the way. They could have explain the ownership situation a little better but one gets the general idea. Bogie is great. This is good.

This is possibly and probably the best film of journalism ever made, with Humphrey Bogart at the peak of his powers waging everything as an editor to save the life of his newspaper against impossible odds, seconded by his many times divorced wife Kim Hunter, Ethel Barrymore as a moral heavyweight, and editor-assistant Ed Begley among many others. This is actually a requiem for a newspaper based on a true story but written and directed by Richard Brooks in what is probably his best film. Everything in it is perfect and especially the dialogue, which keeps you breathless throughout the film - it never slows down but is always pertinent, witty and important - not a word is wasted in this torrent of argument. Although there are thriller elements, since the main theme is battling corruption with the quest for truth as the main instrument, it's at the same time hilariously entertaining, but especially enjoyable to those who relish an intelligent argument.