Go see "Good Night And Good Luck"

[bpatrick]

I don't know if this is the right board, but
certainly See It Now and (particularly) the
broadcasts on Lt. Milo Radulovich and, of course,
Edward R. Murrow's expose of Joe McCarthy and his
tactics, are classic television.

"Good Night And Good Luck" is a docudrama about
Murrow vs. McCarthy. It is 1953, and CBS employees
are being pressured into signing a paper saying that
they are not, and never have been, members of the
Communist party. Disgusted with the whole idea,
Murrow runs across a news item in a Detroit paper
saying that a Lt. Milo Radulovich is about to be
separated from the Air Force because of his father's
suspected Communist leanings (his father is an immigrant
from Serbia). After the success of that broadcast,
Murrow decides it's time to expose McCarthy for what he
is.

Now, I'm not going to argue politics here. Either
McCarthy was doing the country a service or he was
a self-serving, camera-hogging, minor-league politician
who jumped on the issue of suspected Communists in the
federal government to get re-elected senator from Wisconsin.
The movie, while appearing to champion Murrow and his team
of reporters, producers, and camera people, leaves open the
possibility that McCarthy WAS doing the country a service.

The movie also points out CBS chairman William Paley's
reluctance (despite utterances to the contrary) to support
Murrow and producer Fred Friendly, mainly because of concerns
about losing Alcoa, See It Now's sponsor. It also depicts
WCBS anchor Don Hollenbeck's downward spiral toward suicide,
triggered by his on-air association with Murrow's stand
against McCarthy.

David Strathairn does a credible Murrow, and George Clooney
(who also directed) is a fine Fred Friendly. McCarthy is
shown in actual film footage; who could play him?

The one downside is a subplot involving reporter Joe Wershba
and his wife Shirley, who both work at CBS and are defying
company policy by being married. It adds little to the story.

The movie is in black-and-white, perhaps fitting for the '50s
setting; period details (lots of smoking, old commercials for
Kent cigarettes and Alcoa, for example) are, for the most part,
accurate.

At the end of the film, Murrow/Strathairn is shown speaking
at the 1958 RTNDA convention. Here he attacks television's
propensity to entertain rather than inform, and I think his
words ring more true today than they did then. And listen
to Murrow's closing comments on his various broadcasts; they
are unequalled today for their literacy.

Longtime viewers of 60 Minutes will recognize some of the
names of people who went on to be producers on that venerable
broadcast: Don Hewitt, Joe Wershba, Palmer Williams.

I saw this movie in Murrow's native city, Greensboro, NC.
When it was over I heard a man say that Murrow did Greensboro
proud. True, but the city does practically nothing to honor
his memory, save for one dead-end street grandly named
Murrow Boulevard.

Regardless of your politics, see this movie just to see
one broadcaster's courage despite great risks to his network
and his job, to see how television can change the world, and
(if you're into that sort of thing) to see how news programs
were put together in the '50s. And see if you don't agree
with Murrow that television can do a lot more to enlighten
us about the real world.

 

[CrankyYankee]

(From the WCAX TV, Burlington VT news script for Nov 5 05,6pm

"Casey Murrow says his father never would have imagined his life as a Hollywood movie. i think he'd be amazed there was still an interest in his work 50 years later. i imagine most people would be...(At a special screening Friday night, he answered questions about the movie and his famous father)...
he was a wonderful father, he taught me how to fish and hunt and drive a bulldozer."

Read more at: http://tv3.wcax.com/cgi-bin/roma.cgi?d=6&h=3

<P ID="signature">______________
"What's That?" "French Horns!"

</P>

 

[TVWorldwide]

I also considered posting a message urging people to go so see this movie. "Good Night, and Good Luck" is a wonderfully crafted, beautifully acted, and expertly directed feature not just about a pivotal moment in television history, but also about one of the major turning-points of 20th Century America. If you care about either, go check it out.

 

[Joseph_Gallant]

Some Tidbits On Ed Murrow And TV (Was: Re: Go see "Good Night And Good Luck")

The producers of "Good Night And Good Luck" used three words from a positive New York Times review of the film: "See It Now"----which ironically was the title of Ed Murrow's famous 1950's newsmagazine series which featured the report on Senator Joseph McCarthy.

I called "See It Now" a nesmagazine because the research I have done on the show indicates that most programs during the four years that it was a weekly series (1951-1955) featured multiple subjects. Yes, "See It Now" did occassionally devote some of it's shows to a single subject, but it appears to me that the show was more of the ancestor to "60 Minutes" than "CBS Reports".

During the middle 1950's, Murrow actually hosted two prime-time shows for CBS: "See It Now" and the interview program "Person To Person", in which Murrow (usually in a New York studio) would chat with newsmakers and celebrities in their homes via a two-way TV hookup. The latter was criticized for being "soft" and "fluffy", but I would think that during the newsmaker interviews on "Person To Person", Murrow probably did ask a few substantial questions.

While neither show was a huge hit, I had heard that both programs regularlly won their time periods in the ratings race, likely due to Murrow's popularity. Nowadays, TV newsmagazine programs can become huge hits in the ratings.

Although "See It Now" ended it's run as a weekly series in the Fall of 1955, the program continued as occassional hour-long specials until 1958. Those hour-long shows usually dealt with a single topic as opposed to the multisubject approach of many of the weekly shows.

Murrow continued to host "Person To Person" until he went on a sabattical in 1959; Charles Collingwood replaced him as host of the show for the final two seasons. During the 1959/1960 and 1960/1961 seasons, "Person To Person"'s format was slightly changed, with Collingwood doing interviews on-location and being led by the interviewee through his/her home, introducing Collingwood to family members, etc.

Murrow was never fully comfortable on television; he was a "radio man" at heart. CBS actually asked him to anchor their live television coverage of both the 1952 political conventions and election night, but he turned down the request. That decision opened the way for a young Walter Cronkite to get the anchor job for the 1952 conventions and elections, which made him a major TV personality.

 

[mwebster]

Ed Murrow not anchor material

Despite his skill as a documentarian and war correspondent, Murrow probably made the right decision not to "anchor" the conventions and elections in 1952. Doing breaking news was not his strong suit. Murrow was not asked to anchor coverage on radio that year either (Robert Trout anchored for CBS radio as he had since 1932; H.V. Kaltenborn anchored for NBC radio).

Murrow read an evening newscast on CBS radio and hated doing it. He was not involved in putting together the broadcast (which was a straight read without soundbites or voicers from correspondents, like the World News Round-up). His two radio writers also produced (and wrote) Person to Person; again Murrow only served as talent and was not involved in production.

"Young" Walter Cronkie was only eight years younger than Murrow. Murrow was born in 1908. Cronkite in 1916.

Most of the big names in radio news did not want to do television originally. Douglas Edwards was a second string newscaster on radio, when he took over the what came to be the CBS Evening News. Originally the term "anchor" applied only to the person who held together coverage of an unfolding story - not to newsreaders. The two most prominent "anchors" for special event and breaking news coverage on CBS Radio were Robert Trout and John Charles Daly. Daly realized he should start paying attention to TV after "Douglas Edwards and the News" started to take off. CBS let him host a TV game show ("What's My Line") to get some experience, but the main TV slots at CBS were already taken, so he went over to ABC (to do the both the evening news and special events coverage).

In the 50's and early 60's, Walter Cronkite anchored extended coverage only, while Edwards did the evening news. At NBC, after 1956, Huntley and Brinkley did the nightly news, as well as conventions and election night coverage; other special coverage was anchored by Frank McGee (who also anchored "instant news specials," a precursor to Nightline). Daly did most everything for the much smaller and more poorly-equipped news operation at ABC.

 

[bpatrick]

Re: Some Tidbits On Ed Murrow And TV (Was: Re: Go see "Good Night And Good Luck")

> The producers of "Good Night And Good Luck" used three words
> from a positive New York Times review of the film: "See It
> Now"----which ironically was the title of Ed Murrow's famous
> 1950's newsmagazine series which featured the report on
> Senator Joseph McCarthy.
>
> I called "See It Now" a nesmagazine because the research I
> have done on the show indicates that most programs during
> the four years that it was a weekly series (1951-1955)
> featured multiple subjects. Yes, "See It Now" did
> occassionally devote some of it's shows to a single subject,
> but it appears to me that the show was more of the ancestor
> to "60 Minutes" than "CBS Reports".
>
> During the middle 1950's, Murrow actually hosted two
> prime-time shows for CBS: "See It Now" and the interview
> program "Person To Person", in which Murrow (usually in a
> New York studio) would chat with newsmakers and celebrities
> in their homes via a two-way TV hookup. The latter was
> criticized for being "soft" and "fluffy", but I would think
> that during the newsmaker interviews on "Person To Person",
> Murrow probably did ask a few substantial questions.
>
> While neither show was a huge hit, I had heard that both
> programs regularlly won their time periods in the ratings
> race, likely due to Murrow's popularity. Nowadays, TV
> newsmagazine programs can become huge hits in the ratings.
>
> Although "See It Now" ended it's run as a weekly series in
> the Fall of 1955, the program continued as occassional
> hour-long specials until 1958. Those hour-long shows usually
> dealt with a single topic as opposed to the multisubject
> approach of many of the weekly shows.
>
> Murrow continued to host "Person To Person" until he went on
> a sabattical in 1959; Charles Collingwood replaced him as
> host of the show for the final two seasons. During the
> 1959/1960 and 1960/1961 seasons, "Person To Person"'s format
> was slightly changed, with Collingwood doing interviews
> on-location and being led by the interviewee through his/her
> home, introducing Collingwood to family members, etc.
>
> Murrow was never fully comfortable on television; he was a
> "radio man" at heart. CBS actually asked him to anchor their
> live television coverage of both the 1952 political
> conventions and election night, but he turned down the
> request. That decision opened the way for a young Walter
> Cronkite to get the anchor job for the 1952 conventions and
> elections, which made him a major TV personality.
>
All of this is true. The movie showed portions of Murrow's
"Person To Person" interview with Liberace but didn't say what
happened afterwards. Bob Dixon, Murrow's announcer and friend,
once said that Murrow was so outraged by Liberace's mannerisms
that, after the show, they went to a bar and Murrow didn't stop
talking about Liberace for three hours. He couldn't believe
that any man could be so effeminate, according to Dixon.

Murrow used to say that he hated "Person To Person," but it
made him a millionaire when he sold it to CBS. He also admitted
that the goodwill he engendered with the audience through that
show enabled him to do the tough reports, like the McCarthy expose,
on "See It Now." He believed that people recognized he wasn't
being mean-spirited when he did such reports. And yes, he did
try to work substantial questions into the "Person To Person"
interviews; his first question to Dick Clark, for example, was
whether or not Clark thought rock 'n' roll contributed to
juvenile delinquency. Clark said no, that kids who go bad would
do so with or without rock 'n' roll.

Fred Friendly was once asked what he thought Murrow would watch
if he were alive today. Friendly said he'd probably watch the
CBS Evening News, 60 Minutes, Nightline, and Sunday Morning, but
mostly he'd probably listen to NPR.

I somehow believe that Murrow would have harsh words for local
news.

 

[Nichole]

Re: Ed Murrow not anchor material

> Daly did most everything for the much smaller
> and more poorly-equipped news operation at ABC.
>
After John Charles Daly and before Peter Jennings, ABC had a 15 minute newscast with Ron Cochran. I was young at the time. I remember my mother watching him nightly. She was upset when Peter took over. She had become accustomed to Ron Cochran.

 

[mwebster]

Re: Ed Murrow not anchor material

Right. This was Peter Jennings' first tenure. He was replaced by Frank Reynolds. Then Howard K. Smith. Then Harry Reasoner. Then Harry Reasoner and Barbara Walters. Then a multi-anchor set-up with Frank Reynolds (again), Peter Jenning (again) and Max Robinson.

Between Daly and Cochran, ABC also had a multi-anchor set-up with John Cameron Swayze (who did NBC's nightly news before Huntley-Brinkley)and former New York Times reporter Bill Lawrence (among others). It was an interesting format. Mostly, reporters did their own stories without introductions from an anchor-figure. Lawrence as chief Washington and political correspondent had a major story most nights (and often led a wrap of Washington news with other reporters). Swayze did a wrap-up of other stories at the end of the broadcast (not unlike the "hopscotching the world for headlines" feature from when he did NBC's nightly news).

In the early 60's, ABC also did a 10 minute newscast at 11:00 (many ABC stations did not have local news operations at the time) with Bob Young and Murphy Martin among others.

> >
> After John Charles Daly and before Peter Jennings, ABC had a
> 15 minute newscast with Ron Cochran. I was young at the
> time. I remember my mother watching him nightly. She was
> upset when Peter took over. She had become accustomed to Ron
> Cochran.
>

 

[bpatrick]

Re: Ed Murrow not anchor material

> Right. This was Peter Jennings' first tenure. He was
> replaced by Frank Reynolds. Then Howard K. Smith. Then
> Harry Reasoner. Then Harry Reasoner and Barbara Walters.
> Then a multi-anchor set-up with Frank Reynolds (again),
> Peter Jenning (again) and Max Robinson.

Bob Young did the news for about three months in the winter
of 1968. Reynolds then did it solo, but his liberal-
slanted commentaries alienated many affiliates, so in the
spring of '69 Smith was brought in as co-anchor
to provide a conservative balance on the commentaries. That
teaming lasted until December 1970, when Reasoner replaced
Reynolds. Reasoner did the news solo for a year (1975-76)
before being teamed (against his wishes) with Walters.
>
> Between Daly and Cochran, ABC also had a multi-anchor set-up
> with John Cameron Swayze (who did NBC's nightly news before
> Huntley-Brinkley)and former New York Times reporter Bill
> Lawrence (among others). It was an interesting format.
> Mostly, reporters did their own stories without
> introductions from an anchor-figure. Lawrence as chief
> Washington and political correspondent had a major story
> most nights (and often led a wrap of Washington news with
> other reporters). Swayze did a wrap-up of other stories at
> the end of the broadcast (not unlike the "hopscotching the
> world for headlines" feature from when he did NBC's nightly
> news).

I've heard about this format, although Ron Cochran was anchoring
when we got an ABC affiliate in 1962 (WRAL Raleigh switched from
NBC). I believe the third member of the trio was Bill Shadel,
one of the "Murrow boys" on CBS radio during World War II.
>
> In the early 60's, ABC also did a 10 minute newscast at
> 11:00 (many ABC stations did not have local news operations
> at the time) with Bob Young and Murphy Martin among others.
>
> WLS Chicago (then WBKB) hated this because it delayed the
local news until 10:10 (CT), ten minutes after WBBM and WMAQ
began their late local news. As an o&o it had no choice but to
carry the network newscast at 10. In North Carolina, WRAL carried
it and delayed its local news until 11:10 with no apparent
adverse effect on the ratings. WNBE (WCTI) New Bern did the
same thing. WGHP High Point didn't carry either newscast until
it picked up Reynolds/Smith in September 1970. I don't recall
if the ABC affiliates in Charlotte and Wilmington ever carried
the 11 PM broadcast.

In January 1965 ABC's late newscast was cut back to the weekends
only and ran until the early '90s.
> > >
> >
> >
>