One of the reasons people love Sam Fuller is once he finally established himself in Hollywood with The Steel Helmet he went and made this uncommercial tale, dedicated to American journalism. I watched it and thought, a story about wisecracking reporters in 1880s New York, thats the sort of thing Daryl F Zanuck would want to make as a musical for Betty Grable - and apparently he offered to fiance it if Fuller turned it into one.
And you know something? I think it still would've worked - Fuller still could have hit his story points. Instead he self financed, went with United Artists - he managed to get enough of a budget for a small street set, meaning a lot of cramped scenes and close ups and no stars (Gene Evans is the lead)
It's tight and fast and full of speeches and has such love for journalism it's endearing. The low budget does hurt this one though because Evans and his reporters can't go out and about that much reporting (too expensive). It also loses points for not being in color (I know why I'm allowed to wish it was in colour) and for having a finale where his rival publisher, a woman, gives him the win by giving up her paper.
It is well acted and entertaining.
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