From "The Front Page" to "His Girl Friday," from "While the City Sleeps" to "All the President's Men," from "The Paper" to "The Post," movies about newspapers have made riveting entertainment that often carried a message. Written and directed by Richard Brooks, "Deadline - USA" is a taut, fast-paced drama that earns its place among those aforementioned classics. Brooks's film that takes place during the final days of "The Day," a newspaper about to be sold to a competitor by the heirs of its deceased founder. While the founder's wife and two daughters squabble and a contract with the competing newspaper is litigated in court, reporters working for The Day investigate the death of a young woman and her connections to a local gangster.
In one of his best roles, Humphrey Bogart is Ed Hutcheson, editor of the paper, who single handedly oversees the breaking investigation, attempts to save the paper from being sold and put out of business, and tries to coax his ex-wife back into marriage. The sterling cast of familiar faces includes four Oscar winners, including Bogart; Ethel Barrymore is the wise widow of the paper's founder, who retains loyalty to her deceased husband's goals; Kim Hunter plays Bogart's ex-wife, torn between a new beau and her still simmering affection for Ed; and Ed Begley as a tough veteran reporter. The solid support includes Martin Gabel as the gangster, and Warren Stevens, Jim Backus, and Paul Stewart in the newsroom.
Brooks keeps the pace sizzling, and his sharp script is lean and riveting; of course, Bogart delivers an inspiring speech about the importance of a free and independent press before fadeout, but his words are succinct, to the point, and still relevant. Milton Krasner's crisp black-and-white cinematography adds a newsreel touch to the story, some of which was shot in New York Daily News plants and offices. Bogart at his crusading best, Brooks in fine form, Krasner behind the camera, and a cast that includes Barrymore, Hunter, and Begley, "Deadline - USA" is an entertaining, top notch, "stop the presses" classic newspaper film.
In one of his best roles, Humphrey Bogart is Ed Hutcheson, editor of the paper, who single handedly oversees the breaking investigation, attempts to save the paper from being sold and put out of business, and tries to coax his ex-wife back into marriage. The sterling cast of familiar faces includes four Oscar winners, including Bogart; Ethel Barrymore is the wise widow of the paper's founder, who retains loyalty to her deceased husband's goals; Kim Hunter plays Bogart's ex-wife, torn between a new beau and her still simmering affection for Ed; and Ed Begley as a tough veteran reporter. The solid support includes Martin Gabel as the gangster, and Warren Stevens, Jim Backus, and Paul Stewart in the newsroom.
Brooks keeps the pace sizzling, and his sharp script is lean and riveting; of course, Bogart delivers an inspiring speech about the importance of a free and independent press before fadeout, but his words are succinct, to the point, and still relevant. Milton Krasner's crisp black-and-white cinematography adds a newsreel touch to the story, some of which was shot in New York Daily News plants and offices. Bogart at his crusading best, Brooks in fine form, Krasner behind the camera, and a cast that includes Barrymore, Hunter, and Begley, "Deadline - USA" is an entertaining, top notch, "stop the presses" classic newspaper film.