ACE IN THE HOLE (1951)
75TH ANNIVERSARY PRESENTATION
Billy Wilder brought a heavy dose of European cynicism to his work in Hollywood. It may have seemed like strong medicine for the movie capital at times, but some of his most biting works have grown in critical estimation over the years. His ACE IN THE HOLE was considered too edgy by 1951 standards and proved a rare commercial flop for the filmmaker. Seventy-five years later, it’s considered one of his best films. Kirk Douglas stars as a one-time top reporter stuck in Albuquerque, NM, when he stumbles on the story of a man trapped in a cave. With the help of the victim’s tough, amoral wife (Jan Sterling) and crooked local politicos, he tries to use his coverage to break back into the big time, triggering a media circus that is all-too-familiar to today’s audiences.
d. Billy Wilder, 111m, DCP
DCP courtesy of Paramount Pictures.