Good points:
-Jan Sterling
-Topicality of the subject matter
-Reliability of the supporting cast.
Bad points: -Kirk Douglas' performance is WAY over the top. A year earlier, he played the lead in Detective Story, and was more restrained (well, as restrained as Douglas ever got). The difference was quite possibly the director. Billy Wilder's style was often a bit more florid, whereas the great William Wyler (Dodsworth, The Letter, The Little Foxes, The Best Years Of Our Lives, Ben Hur) managed to get outsized actors to "bring it down." -The afore-mentioned Wilder. He directed many classics (Double Indemnity, Lost Weekend. Some Like It Hot). But also, some stinkers (Kiss Me Stupid, Avanti, a lousy remake of The Front Page). So his judgement wasn't always the best. Ace In The Hole makes that case.
Bad points: -Kirk Douglas' performance is WAY over the top. A year earlier, he played the lead in Detective Story, and was more restrained (well, as restrained as Douglas ever got). The difference was quite possibly the director. Billy Wilder's style was often a bit more florid, whereas the great William Wyler (Dodsworth, The Letter, The Little Foxes, The Best Years Of Our Lives, Ben Hur) managed to get outsized actors to "bring it down." -The afore-mentioned Wilder. He directed many classics (Double Indemnity, Lost Weekend. Some Like It Hot). But also, some stinkers (Kiss Me Stupid, Avanti, a lousy remake of The Front Page). So his judgement wasn't always the best. Ace In The Hole makes that case.
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