Exposure

'a woman has no business trying to run a newspaper'--and this came from a WOMAN in this film!!

Walter Byron isn't exactly a household name and so when I saw that this low-budget film starred him, I assumed it would be terrible. Fortunately I was wrong, "Exposure" is far better than I'd assumed it would be.

The film begins with Andy Bryant destroying his career as a reporter in New York. After going off on an alcoholic bender, he finds himself on the West Coast and out of a job. However, he doesn't stay destitute for long and gets himself a job running a dying newspaper. The Dispatch is being crushed by its competitor and Andy convinces the lady who owns the paper to give him a chance--and his sort of sensationalistic journalism saves the day. However, what about his alcohol abuse? Can Andy remain sober for long? And, what about his relationship with the owner? She sure seems unwilling to gamble that he's kicked his alcohol dependence.

While very little super-exciting happens in this film, it's a nice slice of life picture. Byron handles the lead very well--making you wonder why his career in films would soon fizzle. All in all, very watchable and enjoyable.

): Walter Byron wakes from his bender in California, far from the newspaper he writes for. He phones his editor for fare back and is fired. He's done this once too often. There are two papers in town. He tries the larger one, run by Tully Marshall. Marshall doesn't hold with Byron's no-holds-barred style of reporting, and doesn't want drunks. So he heads over to the other paper, where they've just put their last edition ever to bed. Publisher Lila Lee sees no hope, but Byron talks her into keeping it open. He'll work for free and not touch liquor while he works for her.... and defer any compensation until he's proven himself.

Some time later, the paper is doing well. It's doing so well that Marshall's bosses want Byron to take over. But it doesn't hold with Byron's code to kick a man when he's down. Even if Miss Lee keeps turning down his marriage proposals, he'll stick with her. But she's getting antsy with the damage that newspaper exposure can do. When Marshall's daughter, Mary Doran, is caught in a speakeasy raid, she asks him to kill the story. With his thirst returning, Myron agrees, orders the story killed, and quits to head back east. But the movie isn't over then.

Writer-director Norman Houston's movie is fast, fun and clearly betrays its tiny Poverty Row budget, even if cinematographer Harry Forbes. Does manage a few traveling shots early. But Byron is too much a paragon of virtue, and subplots are solved too easily, the reporters rush in and out, and it's over. Still, it's fun while it lasts. With Bryant Washburn, Pat O'Malley, Lee Moran, Spec O'Donnell, Nat Pendleton, and Billy West.