Friday, June 17, 2011

Scandal Sheet

Scandal Sheet (1952) starring Broderick Crawford, Donna Reed, John Derek. Ambitious newspaper editor Mark Chapman (Crawford) accidentally kills the wife he deserted 20 years ago, then finds star reporter Steve McCleary (Derek) investigating the apparent murder. As a tabloid editor, Chapman is forced to give the story big play, all the while trying to hinder the investigation. Meanwhile, a features writer (Reed) has a crucial connection which may end up getting Chapman pinched. The idea behind this movie is a good one, but the dialogue is really phony-sounding, at least to my ear. Still, I couldn't help but feel the tension ratcheting up as the vice tightened around Crawford. The subtitles are good. Grade: B

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