Beanbioca
As Good As It Gets
KnotStronger
This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.
Haven Kaycee
It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film
atlasmb
Adapted from a play, "Five Star Final" is the story of a big city newspaper that--in response to dipping circulation numbers--strong arms news vendors for preferred positioning in newsstands and succumbs to titillation in order to sell more papers.The cast is excellent. Edgar G. Robinson plays the central character, Mr. Randall--the managing editor who caves under pressure from the paper's owner, circulation manager and advertising manager. Robinson is powerful as a man who attempts to ignore his own moral compass, but pays a price for doing so. Aline MacMahon plays Randall's secretary, Miss Taylor, in her first film credit. She has few lines, but projects her personality so effectively she may be the most likable person in the film. Marian Marsh plays the daughter of a woman the tabloid attacks in its zeal to provide its readers with sensationalism. Marsh had a short film career, but here she shows her ability to play both a demure young woman and a powerfully emotional victim.Though some films lose their relevance over time, "Five Star Final" is still as poignant and important today as when it was first released. Yellow journalism is arguably more mainstream today. Virtually all of the news media and entertainment press today cater to the lowest common denominator. There are hardly any news outlets that feature unbiased and serious news, devoid of the salacious. The demise of Princess Diana, the persecution of celebrities by paparazzi, the concentration on crime and violence as the focus of news coverage all attest to the fact that the press has learned nothing.This film does such a good job of detailing the issue, that I have few criticisms. The soapbox speeches at the end of the film might have been less moralizing, but they are also powerfully dramatic. The film "Absence of Malice" (1981) accomplishes the same thing with more subtlety, which I appreciate. The writer of the original play, Louis Weitzenkorn, is said to have worked at The New York Evening Graphic--among the worst of the tabloids in its time. Perhaps this story was his way of exorcising his personal demons. His voice is, in part at least, the voice of Mr. Randall.
wes-connors
Ordered to up the sleaze quotient for increased circulation, New York "Gazette" newspaper editor Edward G. Robinson (as Joseph W. Randall) dredges up the story of a local woman who shot her adulterous lover dead, and earned a scandalous reputation. The serialization sells newspapers, but the subject Frances Starr (as Nancy Voorhees) has changed her life with second husband H. B. Warner (as Michael Townsend); moreover, the couple has kept the sordid past secret from pretty daughter Marian Marsh (as Jenny), who is about to marry handsome high society's Anthony Bushell (as Phillip Weeks). When boozy staff reporter Boris Karloff (as Isopod) absconds with Ms. Marsh's picture, the consequences could prove tragic...This is a fine if dated early "talkie" with a message still reverberating. The ensemble cast, sometimes venturing into melodramatics with understandable verve, is fun. Successful Broadway star Aline MacMahon makes an impressive film debut as Mr. Robinson's lovelorn secretary. Director Mervyn LeRoy moves it nicely and includes some rich "split-screen" work.******** Five Star Final (9/10/31) Mervyn LeRoy ~ Edward G. Robinson, Frances Starr, Aline MacMahon, Boris Karloff
dougdoepke
Of all people, can that actually be Frankenstein groveling before a newspaper editor (Robinson). Yes indeed, it's the great Karloff as a reporter making extra nice-nice and a bit tipsy too—it does take some getting used to. He's certainly out of usual character, over-acting as well (perhaps the only time in a generally restrained career), but then exaggeration is the style of these early talkies.Karloff aside, the movie's a hard-hitting expose of the cut-throat newspaper industry back when 'extra editions' were the chief news outlet and people flocked around news stands. Pity poor Nancy Townsend (Starr). She's served her time for a sensational murder and is now a respectable housewife. Trouble is the Gazette, its greedy owner, and editor Randall, need to boost circulation, so why not resurrect her murder case. Who cares that it may ruin her now reformed life when there's extra dollars to be made. Some pretty dramatic scenes ensue, and few punches are pulled, especially that sardonic very last shot.No doubt about it, director LeRoy is one of the masters of early talkies. The staging of the two tragic Townsend scenes is movingly done, while the split screen run-around really brings out the cruelty of the Gazette staff. This is pre-Code (1931) and some innuendo surfaces at the beginning with chippie Kitty Carmody (Munson), otherwise there's little that post-1934 would find objectionable.This is First National Pictures on the eve of merging with Warner Bros. to complete that powerhouse studio of the 1930's. There's Warner's trademark vigor and 'every dayness' that help lift this movie beyond the ordinary and also show why the very unglamorous Robinson was such a force in early talkies. All in all, it's a smoothly energetic installment in pre-Code Hollywood.In passing-- catch that 1930 state-of-the-art radio, almost big enough to sleep in. These really old movies are a good chance to view early editions of familiar technology and be entertained at the same time.
bkoganbing
Five Star Final according to Edward G. Robinson in his memoirs was a favorite role for him. He enjoyed having to go through a film without once taking up a weapon. But Robinson did have a weapon at his disposal here, one deadlier than the tommy gun. The power of yellow journalism to ruin and destroy lives for the sake of circulation. Circulation is down at the New York Graphic, the sleazy tabloid where Robinson is the hardboiled editor. Publisher Oscar Apfel decides to rake over a 20 year old murder, one of those where are they now pieces. A woman killed a man who got her pregnant and refused to marry her and another man stepped up to the plate and raised her baby girl as his own. The couple, H.B. Warner and Frances Starr have lived quietly and anonymously on the west side of Manhattan the daughter, Marian Marsh is about to marry Anthony Bushell the son of a manufacturer.The poking and prying of Robinson's reporters results in tragedy. It also gives Robinson a severe attack of conscience, encouraged by his girl Friday, Aline McMahon.Stealing the film in the small part he's in is Boris Karloff as disgraced seminarian who affects the guise of clergyman to get the story he's after. It's one of Karloff's best non-horror film roles, he's positively creepy in the part.The reason for Karloff's disgrace is sexual one and getting Karloff's mojo going as well is Ona Munson who also has a great part as the Nellie Bly of the tabloids. She tops Karloff in what she'll do for a story.Five Star Final is a hard hitting well acted drama that does tend to go a bit overboard into melodrama, especially when H.B. Warner and Frances Stark are on screen. It was nominated for Best Picture of the year, but lost to the immortal classic Grand Hotel. It was later remade five years later as Two Against The World with Humphrey Bogart taking the Robinson part and the locale changed from a newspaper to a radio station.I can easily see Five Star Final being remade for this century with the protagonist being the owner/operator of an internet website. The media may have changed, but sleaze is still sleaze.
