Trying To Maintain Rationality

Friday, September 23, 2005

"Good Night, And Good Luck"


"Good Night, And Good Luck" was Edward R. Murrow's radio and television broadcast signoff. Now it's also the title of a feature film (official website here) which reenacts a showdown between the news media and former Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy.

From the movies.yahoo.com site:
'Good Night, And Good Luck.' takes place during the early days of broadcast journalism in 1950's America. It chronicles the real-life conflict between television newsman Edward R. Murrow and Senator Joseph McCarthy and the House Un-American Activities Committee. With a desire to report the facts and enlighten the public, Murrow, and his dedicated staff - headed by his producer Fred Friendly and Joe Wershba in the CBS newsroom - defy corporate and sponsorship pressures to examine the lies and scaremongering tactics perpetrated by McCarthy during his communist 'witch-hunts'. A very public feud develops when the Senator responds by accusing the anchor of being a communist. In this climate of fear and reprisal, the CBS crew carries on and their tenacity will prove historic and monumental.

You can see that a talented ensemble cast was assembled for this film. Interestingly, McCarthy's onscreen 'performance' is not performed by any actor -- rather it's comprised solely of historical footage of himself.

Given today's sociopolitical evironment of fear and its potential/actual effect on media I can only note that this is a very timely film, indeed. I'm going to see this one the day it comes out. Hopefully it's in a nearby theater -- it's scheduled for limited release on Friday, October 7th.

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