The Great Man

This is a very interesting film for a variety of reasons. In many ways, it's a CITIZEN KANE knock-off, but sometimes in reverse. We see the reporter who is putting together the story of the great man, but we never see the great man himself. As in "Kane," the ex-wife is an alcoholic singer. There is also a "Rosebud" of sorts-a deathbed obscenity. Well worth watching!

Josè Ferrer both directed and starred for the first time in this movie that is a bit reminiscent of CITIZEN KANE about the true story of a famous journalist. Despite is not a classic like KANE, it's still pretty good.

Radio reporter Herb Fuller is killed in an car accident and this causes crisis in the ABC radio station. Joe Harris (Ferrer), his replacement, has to do as first assignment a one hour show discussing the life and career of the deceased journalist. As he interviews fans and the people that knew him, Harris discovers that the man hasn't really a nice reputation as it seemed. How he will discuss its life? See the film by yourself.

Josè Ferrer directs nicely and his performance is what lifts the movie. As always he has lots of charisma and no-nonsense lilt. He is surrounded by various supporting actors of those years: Edward Platt, Keenan Wynn, Jim Backus, Lyle Talbot and even gorgeous Julie London as one of Fuller's former girlfriends. However, while not a classic, it's still a very good movie in its own way and worth seeing as well.

Jose Ferrer should be better known as a director. Yes, it has some of the plot of Well's Kane, but it has more of the feel of a Jack Webb flick, he himself a greatly under rated director. Even Julie London, Webb's wife is in it.. Hard boiled hero, quirky supporting characters that are given a rounded humanity, and a great cast. See this film when it plays on Turner. And check out Webb's non Dragnet films; 30, the DI, Pete Kelly's Blues and The last time I saw Archie.

The Great Man stars Jose Ferrer, Dean Jagger, Keenan Wynn, and Ed Wynn. It is, at times, a brutal portrayal. Of the radio (and I suspect TV) business, similar to the electric "Network" that was to come out 20 years later. Dean Jagger gives the performance of his career, and Keenan Wynn also gives the performance of his career, as well. Ed Wynn is very good, and Jose Ferrer is very convincing in the lead. A great radio personality dies, and a reporter gathers all he can about him before broadcasting an hour eulogy. Like most people of the world, the radio personality is neither good, nor bad, but human. So, the reporter must decide whether to do a hatchet job or a puff piece. Some very interesting dynamics.

When I was a kid in the 1960's, my father came back from Las Vegas smitten with a singer he had seen in one of the casino showrooms. Her name was Julie London.

I hadn't seen or heard of London again until I saw this film on TCM one night. I immediately agreed with my father. She, and the rest of the cast, were great in this movie.

Ed Wynn, who I also remember from my childhood as a comic fool on 1960's TV, turns in what in my opinion was an Oscar winning performance as the oddball manager of a religious radio station in a small town. His son, Keenan Wynn, turns in his usual loud, braying performance as an abrasive talent manager. And Jose Ferrer was impeccable as the man in the middle, who has to decide between honesty and cash.

I agree with another reviewer that the sound quality was terrible. I watched it with closed captioning, and the word "(unintelligible)" popped up more often than it should. But it doesn't distract from the context, which is fascinating. I highly recommend this forgotten gem.