Official Movie Website Theatrical Release 10/21/05 Home Video 03/13/06 MPAA Rating Rated PG for mild thematic elements and brief language Running Time 1 hour 30 minutes Genre Drama, History Director/Writer George Clooney Cast David Strathairn, George Clooney, Robert Downey Jr., Patricia Clarkson, Jeff Daniels, Tate Donovan, Ray Wise, Frank Langella Studio Warner Independent Pictures |
GOOD NIGHT. AND, GOOD LUCK.
SYNOPSIS
The year is 1953, television is still in its infancy and
the esteemed broadcast journalist, Edward R.
Murrow (DAVID STRATHAIRN), anchors the popular
news documentary show, See it Now, on CBS.
Murrow, alongside producer Fred Friendly (GEORGE
CLOONEY), oversees a show that reports on the
news items of the day. He also hosts the talk show
"Person to Person," yet "the face of television" is
happiest as a news reporter.
The CBS TV newsroom is a constant hive of activity
with secretaries typing, AP and UPI wires clicking
away and the bustling of camera crews. Murrow has
a dedicated crew of reporters that includes Don
Hewitt (GRANT HESLOV), Joe Wershba (ROBERT
DOWNEY JR.), Palmer Williams (TOM MCCARTHY),
Jesse Zousmer (TATE DONOVAN), John Aaron
(REED DIAMOND), Charlie Mack (ROBERT JOHN
BURKE) and Eddie Scott (MATT ROSS). All these
men will become broadcast legends, but right now,
their careers are just beginning. They get together
to screen the various topics of the day and discuss
potential stories.
The year is 1953, television is still in its infancy and
the esteemed broadcast journalist, Edward R.
Murrow (DAVID STRATHAIRN), anchors the popular
news documentary show, See it Now, on CBS.
Murrow, alongside producer Fred Friendly (GEORGE
CLOONEY), oversees a show that reports on the
news items of the day. He also hosts the talk show
"Person to Person," yet "the face of television" is
happiest as a news reporter.
The CBS TV newsroom is a constant hive of activity
with secretaries typing, AP and UPI wires clicking
away and the bustling of camera crews. Murrow has
a dedicated crew of reporters that includes Don
Hewitt (GRANT HESLOV), Joe Wershba (ROBERT
DOWNEY JR.), Palmer Williams (TOM MCCARTHY),
Jesse Zousmer (TATE DONOVAN), John Aaron
(REED DIAMOND), Charlie Mack (ROBERT JOHN
BURKE) and Eddie Scott (MATT ROSS). All these
men will become broadcast legends, but right now,
their careers are just beginning. They get together
to screen the various topics of the day and discuss
potential stories.
One such story is that of a U.S. Air Force reservist, Lieutenant Milo Radulovich, who was kicked out of
the U.S. Air Force for being a security risk. Declared guilty without a trial, he had been asked to
denounce his father and sister to stay on, but he refused. All charges against him have been kept
sealed. Murrow reports this on the show despite opposition from the number two at CBS, Sig
Mickelson (JEFF DANIELS), who fears he may be getting the show into hot water. Murrow and Friendly
are so committed to the program they even decide to pay for the advertising revenue lost from the
show's sponsors that have military contacts.
A powerful figure at the time is Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin, who is on a singular crusade
to rid the country of communists. His relentless pursuit of anyone he feels may have connections to the
communist party has allowed a sense of paranoia to seep into the public consciousness. Such is the
reach of his power that people from the armed services to the creative community are forced to quit
their jobs and go into exile based on his attacks.
Murrow suspects that McCarthy may have had something to do with Radulovich's dismissal and
worries that his closed hearings and theatrical vitriol both hide the fact that he has no real proof and
are eroding people's civil liberties. The Radulovich show airs and prompts an indirect response from
McCarthy. Sure enough, because of Murrow's questioning and probing of the case, he is accused of
being a communist sympathizer. The anchor knows in his heart that it is all lies purely designed to
scare his team away.
The attack only prompts the news crew into further action, and after a meeting with the supportive CBS
boss William Paley (FRANK LANGELLA), Murrow decides to fight fire with fire and report on what he
feels are all the inadequacies and lies perpetrated by the McCarthy hearings.
The McCarthy show airs and Murrow's editorial both at the beginning and the end of the show is
nothing short of brilliant. He manages to highlight the serious issues involved in the McCarthy hearings:
namely, the line between investigation and 'persecution'; that dissent is not disloyalty; accusation is not
proof; conviction depends upon evidence and due process of law; and finally, as defenders of freedom
abroad, the US cannot desert it at home. What's more, rather than direct attack, McCarthy is only seen
and heard in the context of using his own words, all of which seem to exemplify all of the above
problems. Critics hail it as a masterpiece of crusading journalism and high responsibility not often
found in television. For now, the knowledge of McCarthy's tactics is out in the public domain and
Murrow is safe.
Suddenly, Radulovich is reinstated yet McCarthy's theatrical hearings continue, still spouting
accusations at people based on hearsay. The show reports on the hearings of Annie Lee Moss
whereby Senator McClellan insists they, McCarthy and aide Roy Cohn, supply him the corroborative
evidence labeled against her. The public gets to witness how secretive, even flimsy, the accusations
are.
Murrow invites McCarthy onto the show to respond. The Senator agrees but his rebuttal will be
pre-filmed and he will need time to prepare. Eventually it airs, and predictably, he continues to accuse
Murrow of communist ties without addressing any of the accusations leveled against him. Evidently, if
he were to take issue with the factual content of the show itself, he would undermine his own words.
Murrow details this in the following week's broadcast and clears his character, once again denying any
involvement with the communist party, feeling that his search for the truth, even if it means the
attention of McCarthy, is worth it. Again, the Senator gets a critical drubbing from the press and sees
favorable opinion polls waver.
The show has captured, in the mind of the public, the spite of McCarthy highlighted by the
insidiousness of his investigative tactics. With this spotlight in place, the Senate begins to take steps
to censure the senator and vote him off as chairman of the committee.
For Murrow, his pioneering show and its news department, was what defined CBS. Yet, the show was
moved out of its weekly slot to Sunday and only five more episodes were ordered. Paley sited the
changing of the times and how it was entertainment that people wanted from their TV those days. Still,
the legacy of Murrow's show is one of pioneering investigative journalism. Whether it was an exposé
on such topics as segregation, apartheid, the exploitation of migrant workers or the famous conflict
with Senator Joseph McCarthy, Murrow would go on to influence generations to come.--©Warner
Independent Pictures
the U.S. Air Force for being a security risk. Declared guilty without a trial, he had been asked to
denounce his father and sister to stay on, but he refused. All charges against him have been kept
sealed. Murrow reports this on the show despite opposition from the number two at CBS, Sig
Mickelson (JEFF DANIELS), who fears he may be getting the show into hot water. Murrow and Friendly
are so committed to the program they even decide to pay for the advertising revenue lost from the
show's sponsors that have military contacts.
A powerful figure at the time is Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin, who is on a singular crusade
to rid the country of communists. His relentless pursuit of anyone he feels may have connections to the
communist party has allowed a sense of paranoia to seep into the public consciousness. Such is the
reach of his power that people from the armed services to the creative community are forced to quit
their jobs and go into exile based on his attacks.
Murrow suspects that McCarthy may have had something to do with Radulovich's dismissal and
worries that his closed hearings and theatrical vitriol both hide the fact that he has no real proof and
are eroding people's civil liberties. The Radulovich show airs and prompts an indirect response from
McCarthy. Sure enough, because of Murrow's questioning and probing of the case, he is accused of
being a communist sympathizer. The anchor knows in his heart that it is all lies purely designed to
scare his team away.
The attack only prompts the news crew into further action, and after a meeting with the supportive CBS
boss William Paley (FRANK LANGELLA), Murrow decides to fight fire with fire and report on what he
feels are all the inadequacies and lies perpetrated by the McCarthy hearings.
The McCarthy show airs and Murrow's editorial both at the beginning and the end of the show is
nothing short of brilliant. He manages to highlight the serious issues involved in the McCarthy hearings:
namely, the line between investigation and 'persecution'; that dissent is not disloyalty; accusation is not
proof; conviction depends upon evidence and due process of law; and finally, as defenders of freedom
abroad, the US cannot desert it at home. What's more, rather than direct attack, McCarthy is only seen
and heard in the context of using his own words, all of which seem to exemplify all of the above
problems. Critics hail it as a masterpiece of crusading journalism and high responsibility not often
found in television. For now, the knowledge of McCarthy's tactics is out in the public domain and
Murrow is safe.
Suddenly, Radulovich is reinstated yet McCarthy's theatrical hearings continue, still spouting
accusations at people based on hearsay. The show reports on the hearings of Annie Lee Moss
whereby Senator McClellan insists they, McCarthy and aide Roy Cohn, supply him the corroborative
evidence labeled against her. The public gets to witness how secretive, even flimsy, the accusations
are.
Murrow invites McCarthy onto the show to respond. The Senator agrees but his rebuttal will be
pre-filmed and he will need time to prepare. Eventually it airs, and predictably, he continues to accuse
Murrow of communist ties without addressing any of the accusations leveled against him. Evidently, if
he were to take issue with the factual content of the show itself, he would undermine his own words.
Murrow details this in the following week's broadcast and clears his character, once again denying any
involvement with the communist party, feeling that his search for the truth, even if it means the
attention of McCarthy, is worth it. Again, the Senator gets a critical drubbing from the press and sees
favorable opinion polls waver.
The show has captured, in the mind of the public, the spite of McCarthy highlighted by the
insidiousness of his investigative tactics. With this spotlight in place, the Senate begins to take steps
to censure the senator and vote him off as chairman of the committee.
For Murrow, his pioneering show and its news department, was what defined CBS. Yet, the show was
moved out of its weekly slot to Sunday and only five more episodes were ordered. Paley sited the
changing of the times and how it was entertainment that people wanted from their TV those days. Still,
the legacy of Murrow's show is one of pioneering investigative journalism. Whether it was an exposé
on such topics as segregation, apartheid, the exploitation of migrant workers or the famous conflict
with Senator Joseph McCarthy, Murrow would go on to influence generations to come.--©Warner
Independent Pictures
© 2003 St. Louis Movie Review Weekly. All rights reserved, except where indicated.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
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