Billy Wilder’s Ace in the Hole stands as an exceptional example of cynicism, though the world it portrays feels quite different now. Kirk Douglas is superb as Chuck Tatum, a disgraced reporter who turns a man's predicament – being trapped in a collapsed cliff dwelling – into a calculated media event. Wilder’s direction is precise, controlled, and unrelenting; the film unfolds with the deliberate feeling of someone ti…

It’s a worthwhile story for today; tomorrow, it will be used to wrap something else. Ace in the Hole comes from director Billy Wilder, who also collaborated with Lesser Samuels, Walter Newman and Victor Desny on the screenplay. The film features Kirk Douglas, Jan Sterling, Bob Arthur, Porter Hall and Richard Benedict. Hugo Friedhofer composed the music, and Charles Lang Jr. handled the cinematography. Chuck Tat…