Ace in the Hole (The Big Carnival) (1951)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Bruce B

  
  A Criterion Collection Film, Spime Number #396. Its one of the best I've seen from the collection.. Kirk Douglas plays a excellent part and though filmed in 1951, it shows how people are today. Out for one thing the big green dollar. Worth the rent or the purchase, in one word… More
  A Criterion Collection Film, Spime Number #396. Its one of the best I've seen from the collection.. Kirk Douglas plays a excellent part and though filmed in 1951, it shows how people are today. Out for one thing the big green dollar. Worth the rent or the purchase, in one word excellent. 5 Stars ( Revised 10-17-11)

• Ken S

  
  An amazing central performance by Douglas in probably his douche-baggiest role ever. Like most Billy Wilder fair it's totally watchable from beginning to end.

• familiar s

  
  I reckon with those who claim this to be one of the great classical movies of all time. It shows how low can certain people stoop just for the sake of fame, mostly followed by money. Having covered nothing interesting for almost a year, Charles Tatum begins to get bored by his job as… More
  I reckon with those who claim this to be one of the great classical movies of all time. It shows how low can certain people stoop just for the sake of fame, mostly followed by money. Having covered nothing interesting for almost a year, Charles Tatum begins to get bored by his job as a reporter in a small town. But when he comes to know that a man is trapped in a cave, he decides to take full advantage of the situation. He even turns the Sheriff to his side by manipulation and telling him that we've got an ace in the hole. What could have been done in hours takes almost a week. Instead of adopting the simple way to get the man out, Charles suggests drilling from the top. The man trapped could have been rescued within less than a day, but Charles greed for getting exclusive rights to cover the story extends the rescue operation to a week. Others also try to exploit this situation as much as possible. People are more interested in the 'story' as against getting the man out alive ASAP. Even the trapped man's wife hardly cares for him. She even makes a pass at Charles, but Charles slaps her. This disappoints her and sadness is apparent by her appearance. Charles said that this was necessary since he's going to portray her as a dedicated wife and people would expect her to be mourning for the unfortunate event. Charles leaves his job when he's offered a good position in his pre-employed newspaper. He asks for a permanent position for providing the exclusive details of the story. But what follows wasn't anticipated by him. This movie was real fun and Kirk Douglas gives an outstanding performance. What happened in those times stay true even to this day. The media has its own share of pros and cons. Some people even invent events (as depicted in 'Shattered Glass' which was based on real events) that haven't actually occurred so as to retain or raise the profits by offering a spicy story to its readers/viewers. Their greed knows no bounds and they hardly have any conscience. I'd have given the movie 5/5 had they ended it in a different way. I've no problems with the tragic endings, but it ought to be done in an effective manner. So, except for this glitch towards the ending, the movie is an absolute entertainer, and is surely worth your time. Don't miss it.

• AJ V

  
  This is my favourite Kirk Douglas movie and my favourite Billy Wilder movie. The story is highly dramatic, suspenseful, and exciting. And the ending is so perfect, I wouldn't have it any other way. I love this movie, it's one of my favourites.

• Conner R

  
  This is a good movie, there's no denying that. However, this has its fair share of flaws. Slow paced stories really don't suit Billy Wilder and this proves it. He tries to fit in as much meaningless talk and characters in this to have the desired feel of his other movies… More
  This is a good movie, there's no denying that. However, this has its fair share of flaws. Slow paced stories really don't suit Billy Wilder and this proves it. He tries to fit in as much meaningless talk and characters in this to have the desired feel of his other movies when this should have been treated as a very minimalist character arc. Kirk Douglas does fine in his role and is the main reason you can still admire the whole movie.

• First L

  
  Written and directed by Billy Wilder ("Sunset Blvd"), "Ace in the Hole" tells the story of a big city newspaper reporter (Kirk Douglas) who, by fortune's chance is trapped at a small town newspaper in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He bides his time, waiting for a… More
  Written and directed by Billy Wilder ("Sunset Blvd"), "Ace in the Hole" tells the story of a big city newspaper reporter (Kirk Douglas) who, by fortune's chance is trapped at a small town newspaper in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He bides his time, waiting for a big story to break that will push him back to the top of journalist's world, and garner him the pulitzer. He thinks his big chance has come when he stumbles upon a man who was trapped in a cave-in while looking for indian artifacts. Slowly, things get out of hand for the reporter, as the story becomes his all-consuming obsession, he loses sight of his own humanity. Let's get one thing straight: Douglas' character is rotten, through and through. It's unclear whether or not Wilder intended him to be redeemed at the end, because as he sees the error of his ways he begins to lash out at everyone but himself. It's even suggested (in a speech Douglas delivers from a mountaintop) that maybe the reporter isn't as much to blame for his actions as we, the public who demand such stories, are. He even blackmails a sheriff and then turns around and holds himself as morally superior to that sheriff, accusing him of being corrupt. Ace in the Hole is just an odd morality tale in that none of the characters are all that moral. Everyone is out for themselves and everyone is out for a quick buck. It's an ugly, seedy movie that none the less is brilliantly written.

• Randy T

  
  A stark, unflinching portrayal of rouge journalism and how one man's ambition can overtake and smother ethics and decency. A box office flop when it was released in 1951, this may well be Kirk Douglas at his absolute best. <br /><br />Director/Writer/Producer Billy… More
  A stark, unflinching portrayal of rouge journalism and how one man's ambition can overtake and smother ethics and decency. A box office flop when it was released in 1951, this may well be Kirk Douglas at his absolute best. <br /><br />Director/Writer/Producer Billy Wilder sends his main character, newspaper reporter Chuck Tatum (Douglas), down a hole, literally as well as figuratively, and presents a tale that is wonderful, brutal, dark and unapologetic. A must-see film.

• jay n

  
  Gritty drama that has a sadly contemporary feeling given the news networks willingness to exploit tragedies and the public's complictity therein. Bleak but wothwhile.

• Tim S

  
  Kirk Douglas is great at playing an All American prick. Too bad he's to old for the George Bush bio pic that Brett Ratner is probably going to direct.

• Jennifer X

  
  What was once the cynical product of a cynical director has proven to be a frighteningly prophetic story.

• Michael G

  
  I really love watching a movie where a normally likable actor plays a quintessential asshole. Douglas really digs his fangs in here as a smarmy reporter stuck in a hick town. The scene where he starts going off before being sent off by his editor to cover a story was great. The… More
  I really love watching a movie where a normally likable actor plays a quintessential asshole. Douglas really digs his fangs in here as a smarmy reporter stuck in a hick town. The scene where he starts going off before being sent off by his editor to cover a story was great. The supporting cast of unethical characters was also noteworthy as was the unscrupulous transformation of Douglas's protege. It was like watching Jimmy Olsen become an alcoholic.

• xGary X

  
  Classic tale of cynicism and manipulation featuring reporter Kirk Douglas deliberately hampering the rescue of a trapped mine worker for his own ends. A superb performance and a very clever and insightful script.

• Eric B

  
  The script's criticism of media exploitation is still remarkably relevant, and Kirk Douglas gives a gonzo performance. I'm not typically a fan of old-school Hollywood, but the story's cynicism grabbed me. I admire films like this, "The Bad & the Beautiful"… More
  The script's criticism of media exploitation is still remarkably relevant, and Kirk Douglas gives a gonzo performance. I'm not typically a fan of old-school Hollywood, but the story's cynicism grabbed me. I admire films like this, "The Bad & the Beautiful" (also starring Douglas) and "Sweet Smell of Success" that were willing to bite the hand that feeds them. "Ace in the Hole" sure is a far better title than (ugh) "The Big Carnival."

• George M

  
  Relentless satire on journalism and many more apsects of American culture. Excellent perormances (Kirk Douglas is brilliant) and exceptional dialogue (as expected by a Billy Wilder film). But maybe a bit less good than its other sibling (that other excellent satire on journalism)… More
  Relentless satire on journalism and many more apsects of American culture. Excellent perormances (Kirk Douglas is brilliant) and exceptional dialogue (as expected by a Billy Wilder film). But maybe a bit less good than its other sibling (that other excellent satire on journalism) Sweet Smell of Success. The latter has a stronger and more focused dramatic core that allows some existential and psychological ideas beyond the satire element.

• Alec B

  
  Like Network did nearly 30 years later Ace in the Hole was like a crystal ball about the way the media was going in this country. Kirk Douglas is phenomenal here, it may be his best work. His character is totally despicable and Billy Wilder gives us no illusions about the character… More
  Like Network did nearly 30 years later Ace in the Hole was like a crystal ball about the way the media was going in this country. Kirk Douglas is phenomenal here, it may be his best work. His character is totally despicable and Billy Wilder gives us no illusions about the character or the story. The film is about a literal media circus and lengths one man will go to get the perfect story. I never expected this to be so dark and uncompromising. A great film from Wilder.

• William G

  
  Douglas hams it up, but otherwise, Wilder pre-nails modern media circus.

• Jonny C

  
  When a desperate reporter in search of a big story finally gets his break, he does whatever it takes to get him back to the big leagues. Kirk Douglas is fantastic as the manipulative reporter, as he gives a performance so believable that I actually forget that he was acting at one… More
  When a desperate reporter in search of a big story finally gets his break, he does whatever it takes to get him back to the big leagues. Kirk Douglas is fantastic as the manipulative reporter, as he gives a performance so believable that I actually forget that he was acting at one stage. Ace in the Hole is full of horrible corrupt characters which writer directer Billy Wilder deliberately exploits through human nature's self serving opportunism. Overall a great movie, well worth searching for.

• Anastasia B

  
  excellent! another Billy Wilder great piece of film-making, makes you go "ah... they don't make films like that anymore". Kirk Douglas is EXCELLENT as the opportunist reporter Chuck Tatum. I prefer him when he's playing the villain, I think his "heroic"… More
  excellent! another Billy Wilder great piece of film-making, makes you go "ah... they don't make films like that anymore". Kirk Douglas is EXCELLENT as the opportunist reporter Chuck Tatum. I prefer him when he's playing the villain, I think his "heroic" persona is less convincing. Of course this story has to do with media ethics and the exploitation of people as sources of information, that's why I like it so much. It is one of my favorite subjects and also the one I based my thesis on, so I can't be very objective- hahah. Anyway, this morality tale plays the hand to the end- just like the protagonist, with some very interesting results- for the audience. Don't miss this film- rent it, download it, steal it... do what to have to do to watch :D

• matt s

  
  Kirk Douglas. You watch this movie to see how this guy wheels and deals, gets his story, then plop. An ingenious film. If ever anybody wanted to know where his son got his Wall Street-evil from, check this out. Mikey got it from daddy dearest.

• Buddy A

  
  This film is, without a doubt, the most cynical anti-media film ever made. Wilder gives us a spectacular film with a great script, excellent pacing, and fantastic performances, especially from Douglas, Hall, and Sterling. Douglas is really in his element here as the newspaper reporter… More
  This film is, without a doubt, the most cynical anti-media film ever made. Wilder gives us a spectacular film with a great script, excellent pacing, and fantastic performances, especially from Douglas, Hall, and Sterling. Douglas is really in his element here as the newspaper reporter who just doesn't quit. Most interesting is that the consumers of media come out looking just as bad as the tabloid makers here. Of course, this makes perfect sense; if no one ever bought into media hype, it wouldn't exist in the first place. An excellent film which is just as relevant today as it was in the 1950s (perhaps even more so, considering media outlets such as Fox News and the like...). Highly recommended.

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