L'ultima minaccia

"It's not our job to prove he's guilty. We're not detectives and we're not in the crusading business." That line from Humphrey Bogart early in the film lets you know you're watching a movie about a bygone era in journalism. Or maybe that's just an idealized fantasy and reporters were never like that, because later in the film Bogart contradicts himself by instructing his reporters to "go below the belt" and "we're gonna convict him of every crime on the books." Feelings on journalistic philosophy aside, this is an exceptional crime drama about the goings-on at a newspaper that's going out of business. Before the doors are closed, editor Bogart and his reporters try to uncover the truth about a racketeer's criminal activities.

Bogart turns in one of his finest acting turns, with terrific support from Ethel Barrymore, Martin Gabel, Ed Begley, Kim Hunter, Warren Stevens, Jim Backus, and many more. The story moves along at a smooth pace and keeps your interest throughout. There's quite a bit of monologuing but the script is packed with punch and grit. It's one of the better films in writer & director Richard Brook's career. It's worth a look on its merits as a dramatic film, as well as the added historic value it has for those looking to examine the differences and similarities between how journalism was viewed yesterday versus today.

This wonderful 1952 film - it must have been approaching Humphrey's last performance - wins on all levels.

It triumphs as an historical curiosity into how newspapers were published 50 years ago, down to the presses and the layouts and assignments, and also for its truly remarkable supporting cast, many of them, some famous, like Ethel Barrymore, Jim Backus and Ed Begley and some part of the Hollywood backdrops in score of movies.

Kim Hunter excels also as the Bogart ex. Martin Gabel eerily predicts the Tony Soprano performance of today as an underworld Kingpin shown with his perfect domestic arrangement.

The scene of the "wake" for the death of the newspaper is wonderful, and also some wonderful camera pans on continuous action in many scenes.

The script is well done and keeps the action moving along, some funny throwaway lines too, particularly in the car scene with the mobster and in his ex-wife's bedroom.

Also it is subtle and understated and not rampant with the 2X4's of some of today's instant-soup scripts. Do not miss this one, Bogie and Kim fans!!

8 out of 10.

The film opens with a businessman being questioned in a courtoom, similar to the House Un-American Committee This newspaper may be sold, right in the middle of the biggest news story of the year. Stars Bogart as the editor, and Ethel Barrymore as Mrs. Garrison, the owner. and Jim Backus (Mr. Howell, from Gilligan's Island) is in here. Bogart tries to convince Mrs. Garrison to keep the paper going, but its an uphill battle. Not a lot of votes on imdb for this one, so TCM must not show it very often. Touching scene, where the reporters all hold a memorial for the paper in the bar.... even more prescient today, when there are very few papers left, and those few are an endangered species. Some similarites to Citizen Kane, where the respectable paper can't compete with the yellow, sensational papers for circulation. Written and directed by Richard Brooks, who was married to Jean Simmons. Pretty good stuff. I had never seen this one before. It really strikes a nerve today, with the interwebs really killing off newspapers.

Being the editor of a newspaper is intense, when the world outside your window don't make sense, where gangsters rule the roost, the owners easily seduced, an ex-wife who will not give you recompense. So we follow you around and watch you play, it's fair to say, that these are not ordinary days, always going toe to toe, they could be friends, they could be foes, but you ensure everyone, hears what you say. The performances are fine and competent, the emotion and the passion sufficient, not really sure the story's deep, there's not a lot of underneath, but it's 90 minutes that can be well spent.

This film was released (as I remember) the same year as The African Queen. I have always liked it more than the latter film. Richard Brooks's prior experience working on a newspaper gives it a genuine idea of what that kind of work is like. The performances of Bogart and Barrymore are very good. I think it's one of her very best. This movie deserves to be seen and appreciated more.