Ace in the hole / a Paramount picture ; written by Billy Wilder, Lesser Samuels, Walter Newman ; produced and directed by Billy Wilder.
The Ace in the Hole, in this case, is Leo Minosa, trapped in a cliff dwelling near Albuquerque, N.M. The publicity from his situation could build a winning hand for several people: Chuck Tatum, manipulative veteran newsman; Lorraine, his bored wife who dreams of city lights; Sheriff Gus Kretzer, boosting his re-election campaign; and young Herbie, a reporter who wants to make the big leagues. In 1951, there was no 24-hour cable news, and the Albuquerque paper was not on the Internet. The modern media age, however, was dawning. A veritable carnival sets up at the rescue scene, which may be one of the sources of the term "media circus."
Record details
- ISBN: 1934121681
- ISBN: 9781934121689
- Physical Description: 2 videodiscs (111 min.) : sound, black and white ; 4 3/4 in. + 1 folded sheet (4 unnumbered pages : illustrations ; 36 cm (folded to 12 x 19 cm)).
- Publisher: [Irvington, N.Y.] : Criterion Collection, [2007]
- Copyright: ©2007
Content descriptions
General Note: | Originally produced as an American motion picture in 1951. Disc 2: the supplements: "Portrait of a '60% perfect man': Billy Wilder" [featurette] (60 min.); Billy Wilder at the American Film Institute [featurette] (24 min.); Kirk Douglas interview [featurette] (14 min.); Walter Newman interview [audio only feature] (10 min.); Spike Lee afterword [featurette] (6 min.); Stills gallery; Insert (a facsimile newspaper) includes essays "Noir in broad daylight" by Molly Haskell and "Chin up for Mother" by Guy Maddin. |
Formatted Contents Note: | Disc 1: the film: Arrival in Albuquerque -- "Where's my desk?" -- Life sentence -- "Good news is no news" -- Human interest -- Leo -- "Forget the rattlesnakes" -- Lorraine wants out -- Mr. and Mrs. America -- "Everybody likes a break" -- Ace in the hole -- Twenty minutes -- New community -- Gentlemen of the press -- From the top -- Leo suffers as the carnival arrives -- Accusations from Boot -- Rounding third -- Song for Leo -- Turn for the worse -- Out of options -- Present -- Last rites -- Circus is over -- Tatum special -- "For nothing" -- Color bars Special features: Commentary by Neil Sinyard [optional audio feature]; Theatrical trailer (2 min.). |
Creation/Production Credits Note: | Director of photography, Charles B. Lang, Jr.; edited by Arthur Schmidt ; music score by Hugo Friedhofer ; art direction, Hal Pereira and Earl Hedrick ; costumes, Edith Head. |
Participant or Performer Note: | Kirk Douglas, Jan Sterling, Bob Arthur, Porter Hall, Frank Cady, Richard Benedict, Ray Teal, Frank Jaquet. |
System Details Note: | DVD; Region 1, NTSC; Dolby Digital mono; aspect ratio 1.33:1. |
Language Note: | In English with optional subtitles in English. |
Awards Note: | Winner, International Award: Billy Wilder, 1951 Venice Film Festival; Best Actress Award: Jan Sterling, 1951 National Board of Review. |
Search for related items by subject
Subject: | Press > Drama. Journalists > Professional ethics > Drama. Situation ethics > Drama. Mine accidents > Drama. Mass media > Drama. Albuquerque (N.M.) > Drama. |
Genre: | Film noir. Thrillers (Motion pictures) Feature films. Video recordings for the hearing impaired. |
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Available copies
- 2 of 2 copies available at Lehigh Valley Library System.
Holds
- 0 current holds with 2 total copies.
Show Only Available Copies
Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Allentown Public Library | DVD ACE v.1-2 c.1 (Text) | 34455005309717 | Adult DVD Fiction | Available | - |
Bethlehem Main Library | DVD 2 DVD'S (Text) | 33062007281992 | Adult DVD Fiction | Available | - |