I watched Park Row 1952 by Sam Fuller for the first time last night, great
‘little’ film about a visionary newspaper man played by Gene Evans who tries to
get his own newspaper off the ground called the Globe, the name of the
newspaper probably gives you some idea of the mans aspirations for his paper.
I suppose the essence of the story is journalistic freedom and that is so
important especially with the Murdoch hacking scandal still with legs in it.
Phineas Mitchell (Gene Evans) the aspiring newspaper man comes out with a
great quote in the film “The press is good or evil according to the character
of those who direct it.” This rings so true in the modern era of the papers,
because to be truthful I do not know what paper to read anymore in this
country, the UK, I rarely get the real news because real journalism seems to be
a less important thing, is there any paper in the world that reflects the
ethical responsibility it should have to the public from it’s owner or
controller because I can’t find one.
Sam Fuller says something that I see allot of now, in fact I would say it’s
endemic within the news corporations and I quote “I detest seeing newspapers
judge and condemn men, without any motive but to use their power to destroy.
The fascist do that.” It seems to me that papers of the left and right employ
the same tactics of the fascists when going after certain individuals and I
find it repulsive. Anyway a great film again by Fuller one of America’s most
resonant directors and story tellers.
Also is there a decent poster for this film because I can’t find one? Shame
really.
Simon
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