Dir: Phil Karlson | John Derek, Donna Reed, Broderick Crawford | US 1952
Reviewed by Richard Chatten
Samuel Fuller drew upon his days as a newspaper reporter during the twenties – name checking events of the period like the Lindbergh kidnapping – which served as the basis for this coruscating attack on tabloid journalism replete with graphic accounts of axe murders.
John Derek plays Fuller’s youthful alter ego as a cub reporter reporting to newspaper editor Broderick Crawford – prophetically named Mark Chapman – whose cynical attitude could apply to journalism today. While Rosemary DeCamp is cast well against type as Crawford’s chain smoking “neurotic screwball” wife, as well as Ida Moore as a cherubic little mortuary attendant.
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