Ace in the Hole (1951)

 Billy Wilder’s ‘Ace in the Hole’

Thematic Elements:

Wilder uses Ace in the Hole to show the corruption of media, or rather society’s fascination with sensualism, as a method to endanger society as well as enable capitalism and political corruption. Douglas’s character has an opportunity to save a man’s life but chooses to draw it out as long as possible to draw out the news story and the profitability on the news cycle. His plan ends up working, selling record numbers of newspapers and drawing record numbers of people to the site of the accident, which boosts the profits of all the local vendors. The profitability of this bad news plays well into a capitalistic society. If people will pay lots of money to hear bad news and be close to the bad news, what is to stop the media from finding and creating more bad news? This is best demonstrated in Douglas’s line, “I can handle big news and little news. And if there’s no news, I’ll go out and bite a dog.” This is suggesting that news media has the capacity to create news just to sell the news. Douglas’s character also has the ability to enable his scheme with the help of the local sheriff. He tells the sheriff that in exchange for his help, he will use his media leverage to boost positive coverage of the sheriff to assist in his political aspirations. This is also suggesting that media not only has the power to affect the economy, but to affect the political landscape as well. However, even with all of this, the most blame goes to the society that allows it. The society that is drawn to negative events like flies to a light. Without society’s fascination with sensational and violent stories, the media would not have the ability to use that attention as leverage to enable profitability and control over the political and economic landscape.

Camerawork: Wilder is known for his cynicism in his work and conveys ever aspect of this story with the upmost cynicism. Ever character is portrayed with the same un-redeeming outlook. Wilder also is totally economical as he does not waste time on exposition nor waste any shots nor displaying gratuitous shots that are unnecessary. It is almost as if Wilder is fighting back against the sensualism that is portrayed in the story. His characters do not mince words, his shots do not exaggerate, and he does not shy away from the brutality and sinister nature of his characters. His biting commentary on the media, it’s corrupting influence, and society’s dimwitted enabling of this influence is told and shot in a very matter of fact, non-sensational way. Wilder throughout his work is known for his use of direction and use of light and dark to convey dark and sinister subject matters about the human soul and the dark soul of society and the American dream. In Ace in the Hole, Wilder shows us in a very matter of fact way, as he shines a light on the American dream, showing us that is simply a nightmare instead.

Best Shot: The best shot in the film is a very simple shot (like most of the shots in the film). However, it is utilized to tell a very simple thought. And its significance is in relation to a previous shot. The shot is meant to convey the very nature that bad news has on the public and it’s very nature to profit off of that bad news.  

The shot:


The shot it relates to from previously in the film:


 



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