Samuel Fuller showed a certain bravado in writing and directing a ringing tribute to freedom of the press in 1952, near the height of McCarthy hysteria; we could use more like him in 2002, where the meekest mention of separation of church and state brands one as unAmerican. End of speech. Anyway, his is a lively melodrama of 1880s New York journalism, specifically the rivalry between the new, enterprising Globe and the old, corrupt Star, presided over here by a wicked dragon-lady publisher. The cast is no-name, the central romance utterly unconvincing, the history of newspapers absurdly telescoped -- you'd think everything of import in journalism happened in one week in 1886. Still, for an independent B movie, it's impressively elaborate -- the detailed, three-block Park Row set alone makes it worth a look -- and Fuller matches his publisher-protagonist for passion and ingenuity. His dramatic black-and-white cinematography, unusual camera angles, and big effects on a small budget will remind you of the journalistic stretches of "Citizen Kane," even if his dramaturgy doesn't.
